The bigger news is on the IMS road course race. The Grand Prix of Indianapolis will happen May 10th on a redesigned 2.434 mile layout that includes changes to the turn 5, 6, 8 and 9 section. The race is believed to an 80-lap event and feature the cars going clockwise (same direction as Formula One went around IMS), will utilize the section in turn one created for MotoGP; the race will feature standing starts and the race weekend will feature all series of the Mazda Road to Indy.
Here is a mock 2014 schedule (Confirmed dates in bold):
St. Petersburg: March 28-30th.
Barber: April 6th.
Long Beach: April 13th.
IMS road course: May 10th.
Indianapolis 500: May 25.
Belle Isle: May 30-June 1st.
Texas: June 7th.
Milwaukee: June 14th.
Iowa: June 22nd.
Pocono: July 6th
Toronto: July 19-20th.
Mid-Ohio: August 1-3rd.
Houston: August 16-17th (holding out the possibility of a Saturday night event due to summer heat).
Sonoma August 24th.
Fontana: August 30-31 or September 1st (depends if it is a Saturday night, Sunday, Sunday night, Monday or Monday night).
My take on a IMS road course race:
I understand it. I do. I'm not going to ignore it and act like it won't be happening. It will happen and I'll watch. For all those who throw out tradition, Carl Fisher had planned for IMS to include a road course in 1909. So you tell me what tradition is suppose to be?
I like the course changes. I would rather see them run oval turn one because it would lead to higher speeds down the front straightaway but oh well. I like that they will be using standings starts. ABC coverage will help the race, I'm not sure it will hurt the Indianapolis 500. We'll have to wait and see. Will the place look empty? Probably. I'm not sure what would look good. If 100,000 show up, would we know by the way it looks? And considering other IndyCar races, 100,000 would be fantastic. I don't expect 100,000, I'll go lower and say 35,000 would be nice.
It makes sense to run a race on the IMS road course but it's a terrible sign. The only new track that can be added is owned by the series because other tracks do not see an IndyCar race as a possibly profitable venture and pass up the opportunity. Now maybe this is just because 2014 is a transition year but you hope venues that are beloved by drivers, teams and fans will one day return and soon.
I see what they are getting at. This will get more eyes on and people at opening weekend. That is a good thing. Now, according to Mark Miles, modifications to Indianapolis 500 qualifying are being considered and "it is not a (qualifying) race." If he wants to makes modifications to qualifying A. Make sure there are more than 34 cars. Make sure there are closer to 40 cars. That will make qualifying more interesting B. Fill the field on day one and not only the top 24 and C. Limit it to three qualifying attempts for the whole month. Qualifying is only two days. No need to have six attempts to qualify.
The times are a changing people. And it's not the end of the world.
