Off Track: Kyle Fairchild and the Business of Motorsports in Indianapolis

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway stands as one of the most iconic sporting venues in the world and a defining symbol of Indianapolis. The site of the legendary Indianapolis 500 brings over a quarter of a million people together every year to witness The Greatest Spectacle in Racing®. Kyle Fairchild serves as Corporate Counsel for Penske Entertainment, the parent company of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and INDYCAR. In this article, I am going to reflect on my interview with Mr. Fairchild to go “Off Track” and discuss his contributions to the operations of IMS and the Indianapolis sports law scene overall.

Mr. Fairchild told me that sports have been a part of his life since a young age. From watching his hometown Pacers battle Michael Jordan's Bulls growing up, to playing high school tennis and golf, and of course, going to the race every May. “I always hoped I could marry sports and a career. I just didn’t know what that would look like.” After completing a finance degree at Xavier University, Mr. Fairchild started law school at McKinney School of Law at Indiana University in Indianapolis. 

Law school was where he began to see his career in sports take shape. Situated in downtown Indianapolis, a hub for sports organizations, Mr. Fairchild got the opportunity to do externships at USA Track & Field and the NCAA. These opportunities served as his first look behind the curtain at the business of sports.

“That’s when I realized I could shape my career toward sports law.”

Following graduation, Mr. Fairchild took an intern position in Loyola Chicago’s athletic department. While many of his law school colleagues were taking jobs at big private firms or in the public sector, having a first job out of law school as a compliance intern might not have been what he initially thought he would be doing upon graduation when he first enrolled at McKinney, but he knew then it was a step up the ladder he wanted to climb. “It wasn’t glamorous, but it was a path into college athletics.” And he was exactly right. After a short time at Loyola, Mr. Fairchild moved to a job at the Horizon League conference office, where he was promoted twice within 8 years.  With family ties to racing and a deep appreciation for the Indianapolis 500, Mr. Fairchild didn’t have to be convinced to begin working in motorsports when the opportunity at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened up. “It was one of those opportunities you can’t say no to.” In this role, Mr. Fairchild’s legal expertise is a crucial part of the unseen infrastructure that keeps one of the world’s most iconic sporting venues operational. Managing such a major event like the Indianapolis 500 involves numerous vendor and facility agreements. Drawing crowds of around 300,000 people together into one place requires extensive risk management planning. When I asked about an aspect of his job people might not know about, he said, “We do much more than just the Indy 500. We handle legal work for the series and other promoted events throughout the year. We’re busy well beyond May.”

Outside of his work at Penske Entertainment, Mr. Fairchild remains actively involved in the Indianapolis sports law community. He serves on the executive committee of the Indianapolis Bar Association’s Sports & Entertainment Section, where he contributes to programming focused on legal issues within sports and entertainment. Through continuing legal education events and networking opportunities, the section brings together attorneys and industry professionals to discuss topics such as motorsports law, risk management, sponsorship agreements, and emerging legal issues in athletics. His involvement reflects a commitment to engaging with and strengthening the broader legal community in Indianapolis beyond his corporate role.

Speaking with Mr. Fairchild provided valuable insight into the legal and operational work that supports the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. While fans see the excitement of race day each May, his journey highlights the essential business and legal foundation that allows that tradition to continue. His career demonstrates how a passion for sports can evolve into meaningful work at the intersection of law and motorsports.