Another Christmas is upon us and it is amazing how there is always something you want, especially in motorsports. There is always something you would like to see be done differently or a driver you want to see get a shot on the grid or a track on the schedule. If I was a motorsports Santa Claus this is what I would be bringing now the chimney for all the boys and girls.
Let's start with Chip Ganassi and I would give him a heart and a soul so he could let Kyle Larson run the Indianapolis 500. He let's him run the 24 Hours of Daytona and we all know the consequences. The Memo Gidley accident is fresh in our minds. It's pretty hypocritical of him to not let Larson run at Indianapolis. Just shut up and give him the ride. I am tired of team owners giving driver's ultimatums, such as win a championship and then you can run Indianapolis. That's backward thinking. Qualifying for one race is much easier than winning a title. Let them run Indianapolis and get that distraction out of the way so they have a clearer conscience when going for that title. And besides, Ganassi is never going to win a NASCAR Cup championship so he has given Larson an impossible task while all he wants to do is one that is very possible.
Also to Chip Ganassi: Accepting doubleheaders in IndyCar.
To IndyCar:
Virtual Safety Car! They need it and they need it badly and it would improve races by a thousand percent.
A return to Milwaukee, Michigan, Richmond and Fontana. Milwaukee being the week after Indianapolis and Belle Isle moving to Labor Day weekend after Boston fails or Labor Day if Boston somehow miraculously makes it.
A return to Laguna Seca. It would be the perfect venue for starting the season the week after the Super Bowl in February.
A third engine manufacture to lighten the load for Chevrolet and Honda.
Competency in race control.
Getting rid of the rule that the teams need functioning radio to compete. It cost Stefano Coletti a shot at a top five at Sonoma. Just use pit boards if a radio goes out. Don't ruin someone's race because of it.
Actual support series for oval events. If only IndyCar had a lower-level series that could go to places such as Pocono and run as an undercard to give fans more on-track action.
Better TV windows. 5:00 p.m. ET on a Sunday for Iowa and 3:00 p.m. ET on a Sunday for 500 miles at Pocono is idiotic.
To Formula One:
A return to France.
Competency to realize that 65 spot grid penalties sound absurdly stupid.
Track run-off. Actual track run-off to discourage track limits from being abused like it's nobody's business.
To NASCAR:
Consistency in race control.
A points system that isn't the Chase.
The ability to get over wanting "game seven moments" and accepting that they are a motorsports series.
To the Entire Sports Car World:
A better driver ratings system.
To IMSA:
LMP3 to be the replacement for Prototype Challenge. Just adopt it. The rest of the world has. Stop being difficult. Yeah, it's going to cost money. Get over it you cheapskates.
To Formula E:
Events at actual, existing racetracks.
An oval race. Why not run a one-mile oval when they are stateside? They could double-up with IndyCar at Phoenix.
Now that the series have been handed presents, what about individuals?
To North American GT3 fans: A removal of SRO's ridiculous geo-block on online coverage of Blancpain GT Series and other events. What are they getting out of that?
To JR Hildebrand: A full-time IndyCar ride.
To Spencer Pigot: The same thing as Hildebrand.
To Scott Dixon: An attempt at the Daytona 500. He already has an Indianapolis 500 victory and four IndyCar championships, he mind as well pursue history. Winning the Daytona 500 isn't that hard. If Trevor Bayne can do it, anyone can do it.
To Sébastien Bourdais: An experienced teammate.
To Alexander Rossi: A full-time shot in Formula One.
To Regan Smith: A ride to attempt and qualify for the Indianapolis 500 and make history in becoming the first driver with the last name Smith to qualify for the race.
To Daniel Ricciardo, Lewis Hamilton and Romain Grosjean: Each getting their own ride for the NASCAR Grand National Series at Watkins Glen.
To Nick Tandy, Earl Bamber and Nico Hülkenberg: A chance to defend their 24 Hours of Le Mans victory.
To Nick Tandy: A chance to run a short-track NASCAR race.
To Felix Rosenqvist: A ride in one of the Road to Indy series. I think he could jump into IndyCar right now and be competitive but he deserves at least a ride in Indy Lights.
To Circuit of the Americas: A few million dollars to keep the United States Grand Prix. That or Formula One lowering its sanctioning fees to be more conducive for business.
To all the Nissan employees affected by the shutting down of their LMP1 program: Steady jobs elsewhere in the motorsports industry.
To Sage Karam: A full season in IndyCar.
To sprint car fans: USAC returning to pavement racing.
To Valentino Rossi and Marc Márquez: A pair of boxing gloves for each.
To Stoffel Vandoorne: A full-time Super Formula ride and a shot at the Indianapolis 500 paid for by Honda.
To Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button: An upgrade to their sense of humors because they might need it if Honda doesn't make a big stride forward in 2016.
To Extreme Speed Motorsports: A stable car for the 2016 season.
To Ford and Ford fans: Patience when it comes to the Ford GT program in both IMSA and WEC.
To Alexander Wurz and Jeff Gordon: Peaceful retirements.
And finally I would like to wish everyone a Happy and Merry Christmas. Fortunately, Christmas leads into a weekend this year, so hopefully everyone will get a little more time for rest and relaxation and a little more time with loved ones. More predictions for 2016 will come after the weekend. Enjoy the time with your family.
Merry Christmas from For the Love of Indy.
Covering All Motorsports. From Indianapolis to Le Mans, Daytona to Monaco.
