It’s no secret that animals have often wandered onto the racetrack, no matter the series. What you may not know are the types of animals that have ventured out of their habitat, often causing cautions or red flags.
From foxes and groundhogs in NASCAR, to geese and rabbits in the NTT IndyCar Series, to seagulls and lizards in Formula 1, here’s a look at just some of the many instances of wildlife at racing venues.
NASCAR
Oftentimes the critters running across the road were small, like squirrels. At Michigan International Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series earlier this year, one such animal ran across pit road right into the path of Ty Dillon entering his pit box.
Rest in peace, Mr. Squirrel.
One also appeared at EchoPark Speedway, though Kevin Harvick thought it was a cat at first.
Yeah … that’s a squirrel. He was a bit more fortunate than the one from this year, though.
Foxes are a bit larger than squirrels, but they move pretty fast, as track workers found out at Pocono Raceway during NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying in 2017.
One of his buddies must’ve traveled to Darlington Raceway in 2020, as one came out during a red flag near the end of the race.
Pocono Raceway was known for various wildlife coming on to the track (which makes sense given the environment surrounding the facility). A groundhog had an unfortunate ending in 2012, with Stephen Leicht hitting the creature and sending it into the air.
During Xfinity practice at Michigan in 2016, a groundhog caused a red flag, with track workers trying (and failing) to capture the animal.
One of the other lengthy delays during a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series practice was at Bristol Motor Speedway. A rabbit evaded almost everyone in 2015.
The currently closed Auto Club Speedway had a few unusual wildlife, with bees in 2016, an owl in 2017 and a cat in 2023.
Animals have always been around racetracks, as the late Dale Earnhardt found out when he hit a seagull in 1991 at Daytona International Speedway.
One creature rode inside a racecar in the 1950s. Tim Flock told the story of how a monkey called Jocko Flocko, dressed in a little firesuit, rode with Flock in his car in several races.
IndyCar
Indianapolis Motor Speedway had quite a few animals at the track.
In 2018 during testing for the Indianapolis 500, a Canadian goose went on the course.
During practice for the Indy 500 one year, one of Tricky’s relatives scurried across the track when cars were approaching. Definitely a close call, but he got out safely.
Two years ago, some birds had a close call with an Indy car.
A rabbit caused a yellow flag in the 1988 Indy 500, with one of the cars hitting it. RIP.
More recently, in 2021 at Laguna Seca, Colton Herta also ran over a rabbit.
In 1969, AJ Foyt was at DuQuoin State Fairgrounds for a dirt race when a lion came out after him. He changed his firesuit and went on to race.
Formula 1
With F1 travelling all over the world, it’s no wonder that a variety of creatures come out when the drivers are on track. Some of these animals are wild, though.
One such animal was a giant lizard crossing the racetrack in Singapore in 2016.
Oh deer! One of those larger animals came out in Austria in 2001. Juan Pablo Montoya‘s team didn’t get the joke, though.
There were two seagulls that decided to stay on the track in Canada in 2016 when a Ferrari came around, but flew away when Lewis Hamilton got near them.
Like Pocono, Canada is known for its wildlife, as there was a groundhog in 2015 and a fox and a squirrel there in 2012.
Another fox ventured out during qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix.
Dogs trekked onto the racetrack in India in 2011 and Bahrain in 2020.
And in 2020 the Imola Cat in Italy stole the show during a driver’s interview, while earlier this year a cat nicknamed Furrari even got a pit pass in Azerbaijan.
Joy joined Frontstretch in 2019 as a NASCAR DraftKings writer, expanding to news and iRacing coverage in 2020. She's currently an assistant editor and involved with photos, social media and news editing. A California native, Joy was raised watching motorsports and started watching NASCAR extensively in 2001. She earned her B.A. degree in Liberal Studies at California State University Bakersfield in 2010.
You left out Dale Earnhardt hitting a bird.