How A Decade Can Change Things

2002: CART ran 19 races, at 19 different tracks on 5 ovals, 5 natural road courses and 9 temporary circuits.
2013 IndyCar looks the same by the numbers, 19 races, 16 different tracks, 6 ovals, 3 natural road courses and 7 temporary circuits.

However the circuits are different. No Road America or Laguna Seca in 2013, who would have thought IndyCar would have a successful race in Alabama ten or eleven years ago? Milwaukee and Fontana are the only ovals on both schedule (Indianapolis was apart of the IRL, we all know that). Pocono, Iowa and Texas in, Ganassi's Chicago, Motegi and Rockingham out. No race in Europe but a race in Brazil. No races in Mexico or Australia. Long Beach is still around but fan-favorite Cleveland is gone. Toronto is the only Canadian round but is now a doubleheader. Houston and Baltimore are both on the schedule, while Vancouver and Denver and long gone.

Now it is not American open-wheel racing that has change. Look at the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
2002: 34 races, 26 tracks, all ovals. 2013: 33 races, 23 tracks, 20 ovals and 3 road courses.
IndyCar may not be at Road America, but NASCAR is and they are heading to Mid-Ohio for the first time ever. The series has already been to Mexico and Canada in the last ten years but have since left. And most noticeable: The Nationwide Series is at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

What the hell has happened? Why has IndyCar left the great natural road course? I know the easy answer is money but it is terrible. Since the Nationwide Series returned to road course in 2005, the quality of road course races in all of NASCAR have gone down considerably. Drivers just run over each other. Road America and Montreal take nearly three hours to complete. Over 25% of Montreal was run under caution this year, Road America surprisingly ended a lot quicker than the first two editions.

IndyCar cannot live on temporary events. Only 2 have lasted since 2002. Sure St. Pete has done well and it started in 2003. Houston has been off the schedule for five years and is returning, Baltimore is going into year three but is in a financial hole and nearly did not happen last year. São Paulo is working, For Toronto, attendance has been down since IndyCar has taken over and while Belle Isle is back, it is barely better than it was. They are talking about Fort Lauderdale but how long will that last? Every city says "it'll be just like Long Beach" or "it'll be just like Monaco." No it won't. Try all you want, these cities do not have the same type of support as the grand street races of Monaco and Long Beach.

There is a great new track in Austin and I do not care if Formula One races there. It is the best damn facility in the country and it has not even hosted a race yet. Let's hope IndyCar can get there before NASCAR does and brings back Road America, Watkins Glen and Portland while they are at it. A man can dream, can't he?