Kyle Novak, longtime race director for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone, has been re-elected to serve on the FIA International Court of Appeal and the FIA International Tribunal.

Novak was initially elected in 2022 and has completed his first four-year term. His re-election marks the beginning of a second four-year term following a Dec. 12 vote at the FIA General Assembly in Uzbekistan.

He was appointed by ACCUS (Automobile Competition Committee for the United States). That group was founded in 1957 and serves as the official liaison of the U.S. sanctioning bodies to the FIA.

The appointment places Novak among just 36 judges worldwide, a group composed of motorsports and sports attorneys from across the globe. Typically, each country is limited to no more than two representatives. Novak is one of two appointed from the United States, alongside Gary Crotty, legal counsel for NASCAR.

“My participation on this court provides me the opportunity to interact with some of the finest motorsports legal minds in the world,” Novak said. “Our days are filled with discussions on some of the most intricate topics in motorsports governance.

“These cases provide the backbone for future motorsports governance, both internationally and here in the United States. While FIA statutes are not binding on our championship, INDYCAR must constantly adapt to meet the challenges of an ever-evolving global motorsports landscape.”

The FIA International Tribunal serves as the first-instance judicial body and hears disciplinary matters brought before it by the FIA president. The FIA International Court of Appeal functions as the final appellate authority, reviewing decisions issued by stewards and other FIA sporting and disciplinary bodies, including the International Tribunal.

Serving on the FIA’s International Court of Appeal and International Tribunal is widely regarded as the motorsports equivalent of the United States Supreme Court – the final court of last resort once all internal FIA appeals have been exhausted.

Kyle Novak

An attorney who passed the bar in Michigan, Novak (photo, above) is the sole representative from the NTT INDYCAR SERIES among the FIA judges.

Novak said it’s an honor to represent the series when hearing cases or attending annual conferences, noting everyone involved is a racing fan. As an example, he recalled having breakfast last fall in Paris with a Spanish colleague who knew everything about the NTT INDYCAR SERIES through following four-time series champion Alex Palou, who also hails from Spain.

“I was initially surprised by the high level of interest in INDYCAR from my colleagues,” Novak said. “That interest demonstrates the global reach INDYCAR has. I hope my involvement on this court continues to raise awareness and further strengthen INDYCAR’s status as a premier motorsports sanctioning body.”

Over the past several years, Novak has heard cases involving competitors and member clubs across multiple disciplines, including sports car racing and karting, as well as a case between a member club and the FIA itself. All proceedings are conducted in person, either in Geneva or at FIA headquarters in Paris.

Novak said the experience has produced a direct impact on his officiating duties in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

“Even in cases where I’m not sitting as a judge, we receive all the correspondence, which allows us to observe how regulations are written and how much litigation can arise from their interpretation and application,” Novak said. “Whenever we hear a case, I’m always thinking about how a similar situation might play out at INDYCAR.

“Some of these matters can be surprisingly small. One karting case involved a competitor making an obscene gesture, which resulted in a full-weekend disqualification. Seeing how other sanctioning bodies handle situations like that immediately makes you ask: ‘What would we do here? If it were appealed, how would it turn out? Are our regulations strong enough to handle it, and if not, how can we improve them?’

“Everything I learn in this role can be applied directly back to INDYCAR.”