Alternate IndyCar Series Rules & Regulations

The Market

ALL teams must secure some form of budget, and may sign a sponsor to purchase the advertising space of a car.
Sponsors only occupy one car, unless stated otherwise.
A team may also waive the sponsor signing process, and instead directly hire a pay-driver. See "Drivers" section.
A team may not sign two sponsors within the same industry. This extends to Indy 500 one-off entries.
A sponsor will only pay out if its criteria are met. Example: Dustless Blasting will pay $2M if BK Racing signs a US Southern driver. If BK Racing sign Corey LaJoie (born in North Carolina), they receive the $2m.
If the team conducts a driver change where the replacement does not meet the criteria, the team must pay back a portion of the sponsor's payment back based on the number of races remaining.
Sponsors may also make bonus payments, based on a car's performance. Again, the bonuses only relate to the car that the sponsor funds.
The RNG used to assign sponsors may be biased in favour of a team, based on past results and from purchased Marketing upgrades.
Below are the US states which make up each of the four regions.

After the sponsor signing process, teams are able to hire drivers.
As mentioned, only a driver which fits a sponsor's criteria will be eligible to receive the payout.
A team must leave the sponsor and driver signing processes with finances equal or greater than $0.

The cost of signing a driver(s) to a seat may cost a minimum of $1m. Example: Premium Motorsports' #55 is split between DJ Kennington and Gray Gaulding. Both Gaulding and Kennington may receive a minimum offer of $500k each, totalling $1m.
There may be cost reductions based on drivers' allegiance to family/self-owned teams.
For fictional drivers, a multiplier is added to ensure strong drivers are not underpaid, levelling the salaries.
Pay-drivers and promoted drivers do not command a wage.
Sacking a driver returns no money, as the rest is paid as a cancellation fee.

Pay-drivers can be signed in lieu of a sponsor, and pay their available budget up-front.
Sacking a pay-driver mid-season requires the repayment of money relative to the number of races remaining.
A pay-driver can be signed to meet sponsor criteria, but will not bring their personal budget.

Promoted drivers are regular drivers who offer a small cash incentive for their services. They do not require a wage.
A promoted driver's income is supplementary to that brought by a sponsor.
Sacking a promoted driver requires a full repayment of their cash incentive.

The 2020 Indy 500 entry process will be opened some time after the season begins, most likely after Round 2.
All twenty-six full-time entries will be automatically entered for the Indy 500.
One-off Indy 500 entries must be realistic or relevant, and may be denied at the series owner's discretion
One-off entries must secure a full budget to enter the race, either by:
- 1. Signing a full roster of sponsors, which total to a 100% budget
- 2. Signing a pay-driver or promoted driver to contribute to the budget.
One-off entries may consist of a stand-alone team, or an additional car to an existing team. A two-car team owner may submit a third car, but a four-car team owner may enter a fifth in partnership with another member.
Like the main season sponsorship system, a sponsor only delivers its part of the budget if their criteria (if any) are met by the team.