Not enough to field a car to run the full USAC Schedule and be competitive. I have heard costs from the low end of $150,000 a season to over $300,000. As a driver you make a precentage of what the car makes and the owner and sponsers bare the brunt of the expenses. If you have the talent and can get a ride without paying for it(that doesn't happen very often if at all anymore) you can make a little bit of money but it's not Indy Car and NASCAR where you sign a contract to make X amout of money with incentives and bonuses to win big races.