IndyCar missed out on a golden multi-year opportunity

As a long-time IndyCar fan with decades of memories etched into my heart, I can’t help but feel a mix of frustration and disbelief when it comes to the circuit’s scheduling woes, especially in the Northeast. It seems like we’ve been stuck in a perpetual wait for a return to the glory days of racing on unique, historic tracks like Pocono, Watkins Glen, and Michigan.

Since August 2019, neither IndyCar nor Pocono Raceway have held a race, the same goes for Watkins Glen International since September 2017, and Richmond Raceway since June 2009. In simpler terms, it’s been quite some time since these three raceways hosted an IndyCar event.

As a devoted fan, I was eagerly anticipating the possibility of a transformative shift in our favorite series. It seemed there was a chance for a remarkable three-year rotation to be established for the beloved Northeastern venues.

Contrarily, over five years have passed since IndyCar last raced at any of those three locations, and unfortunately, none of them appear on the 2024 or 2025 racing calendars.

For the upcoming year 2026, it seems unlikely that there will be significant shifts indicating an increased interest in exploring that specific market, as suggested by the series’ general apathy towards it so far.

In 2019, there was a suggested idea for IndyCar that included a rotating position in their annual calendar for three east coast circuits: Richmond, Watkins Glen, and Pocono. Each of these tracks would hold a race once every three years.
— nascarman (@nascarman_rr) July 24, 2024

Since Texas Motor Speedway, a venue hosting IndyCar annually since its opening in 1997, will no longer hold races after the 2023 season, only one superspeedway race remains on the IndyCar schedule: the Indy 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

IndyCar racing at superspeedways is generally considered the most competitive, but outside of the Indianapolis 500, it seems to have lost its prominence and almost feels like a relic of times gone by.

Is it too late now to go back to the Tricky Triangle with hopes of making a change? That’s a question worth pondering.

The fact that not even one of these three tracks is on the calendar remains a travesty.

It appears that Pocono initially intended to rejoin the IndyCar schedule in 2020, following seven straight years of hosting a race in 2019. However, when Richmond returned for the first time since 2009, discussions about Pocono’s participation faded away and eventually came to a halt.

2020 saw the unexpected arrival of COVID-19, causing the Richmond race to be cancelled. The following year, IndyCar failed to reinstate the track on their schedule, even though they had signed a multi-year contract with the short track. Consequently, it missed out on its opportunity to run properly.

Even though Pocono wasn’t initially scheduled for 2020, it was still impacted significantly by pandemic-related restrictions that seemed excessively stringent in retrospect. Essentially, if Richmond had been removed from the calendar as planned, it would have been logical to extend Pocono instead.

Despite many people labeling Pocono as too risky, it seems quite clear that we’ve recently witnessed Sting Ray Robb flipping at Iowa Speedway and Santino Ferrucci colliding with the catch fence on the streets of Toronto, both happening within an eight-day span in July.

It appears that Richmond may be relinquishing one of its two NASCAR Cup Series race events. This potential change could theoretically simplify the process for IndyCar to resume racing there.

Unfortunately, that in itself is no reason for IndyCar fans to get their hopes up, based on recent history.

1) To start off, the IndyCar schedule for 2025 has been revealed, and there are no alterations in terms of venues. However, the significant changes include Thermal Club being assigned as the host for a points-scoring event instead of an exhibition, and the Milwaukee Mile doubleheader being scaled down to a single race.

By the way, isn’t it noticeable that significant alterations to the schedule are frequently hinted at annually, but the actual changes often amount to minor adjustments such as reducing a race by five or ten laps?

Any IndyCar fan who heard about the rumored addition of Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez to “either the IndyCar or NASCAR schedule” could have told you it wasn’t going to be IndyCar. But I digress.

Moreover, Pocono hasn’t staged two NASCAR race weekends since 2019. Interestingly, its decrease from two to one events occurred around the same time it was removed from the IndyCar schedule. However, returning there might not be challenging, but it doesn’t seem to materialize either.

As a devoted racing enthusiast, I can’t help but notice the similarities between Michigan International Speedway and myself. You see, much like this iconic track, I too have seen changes in my life. Once bustling with the energy of two IndyCar races, it now hosts just one NASCAR weekend instead. Just as I still stand strong, so does it, offering an unmatched racing experience that remains unparalleled, even with the alterations. Yet, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, it continues to captivate and excite its visitors.

The calendar space is there, but the ambition to get a deal done simply isn’t.

The venue, Pocono, consistently attracted a substantial audience throughout its tenure, making it a viable option for future events, particularly towards the end of the decade.

Despite being a significant success annually since its addition in 2022, sponsored by Hy-Vee, the doubleheader weekend at Iowa hasn’t managed to fill up the grandstands as one might expect.

A great promoter does make things a lot easier, even if that means, whether we like it or not, that IndyCar effectively becomes a sideshow for a bunch of concerts. Because even though no one wants to admit it, that’s exactly what Iowa is.

During a NASCAR-IndyCar doubleheader weekend, it’s widely accepted that the NASCAR race takes center stage. This is simply the status quo, and having both events is far superior to none at all.

In 2016, Watkins Glen made its comeback on the racing schedule for the first time since 2010. However, heavy rain in 2017 deterred many spectators, leading to its removal from the calendar.

Seven years ago, on just one rainy Sunday, an event took place that kept one of North America’s most iconic racing venues off the IndyCar schedule ever since.

It’s bizarre.

It’s perplexing that IndyCar hasn’t found success in the Northeastern region. A three-year rotation of three distinct venues could have provided an effective, long-term solution to this issue.

Instead of holding all three events in one year, spreading them out could have added excitement. This would make each event more significant for local spectators who wouldn’t get another chance soon. It would also keep the remaining two races within easy reach for fans willing to travel, considering the other races are now located quite far apart.

Instead, the racing schedule would involve a cycle among Pocono Raceway, Auto Club Speedway, and Twin Ring Motegi.

Maybe there is some hope, however.

2024 brings me great excitement as Milwaukee returns to the schedule for the first time since 2015! Additionally, Nashville Superspeedway, despite its name suggesting otherwise, is making a comeback in 2024 – it’s been ten years since we last saw it. These additions mark the first oval season finale for IndyCar in a decade, and I can hardly wait!

After a two-year hiatus, I found myself eagerly anticipating the return of Iowa to the calendar in 2022 – a significant moment for this event that had never before been absent since its inception.

So it’s not always “out of sight, out of mind” when it comes to old IndyCar venues.

For the past five years, there hasn’t been any talk about this three-year agreement, but as more and more IndyCar fans express disappointment with the organization’s perceived lack of ambition regarding scheduling, maybe this chance will come up again. All the necessary components are already set if the involved parties take the necessary actions to bring it to fruition.

2024-09-01 16:02

Here’s What’s New on Netflix in September 2024

Netflix fans in awe of romantic drama that was so moving it made them cry ‘every time’ they watched it

Richard Gere turns Venice Film Festival into a family affair as he celebrates 75th birthday with wife Alejandra Silva, 41, before attending event with son Homer, 24