Here is a rundown of what got me thinking…
Scott Dixon did that thing again. Dixon also had a rather comprehensive historic weekend, the kind that only he could do. Kyle Larson also made some history, and unveiled a car. Hélio Castroneves confirmed he will run only the Indianapolis 500 next year, but Castroneves did get some ownership stakes. Tom Blomqvist will likely get to complete at least one race lap, as Blomqvist was announced as Castroneves' replacement at Meyer Shank Racing. Indy Lights teammates collided, and a car owner may want to think before he acts. It did rain in Indianapolis, but it is not the weather that is on my mind.
This Should Continue
There is only one weekend where you can see IndyCar and NASCAR's top two series compete on the same racetrack. Think about what kind of weekend that is! And not to mention, one could attend at a reasonable price. It was steal! What was once a fever dream became the greatest deal in North American motorsports, and for the last three years Indianapolis Motor Speedway has hosted this combination weekend, a wonderful summer event before both series enter the thicket of their championship battles.
The cruel turn is this summer could be the last time we see the combination weekend.
Over the next two days, NASCAR will run a Goodyear tire test on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, and this test isn't taking place to test a tire for Pocono. With the new Cup car, this is the first shake down before the inevitable return of the Brickyard 400 in 2024. With a Brickyard 400 return means curtains on the IndyCar-NASCAR combination weekend, a celebrated gathering since day one.
Letting this combination event die is a failure and a show of hypocrisy from both sides.
Ever since the pandemic sent both IndyCar and NASCAR thrashing to remain afloat, the two series came together to run at the Speedway on Independence Day weekend for mutual benefit while the only audience was watching at home over the television monitor. Both sides of the aisle were speaking about working together and a rising tide lifting all boats. Separating now is the antithesis of what has been preached for the last three years, and confirms it was nothing but hot air.
In a cluttered motorsports landscape, especially in the summer, the combination weekend was the one time no overlap was ensured. There wasn't going to be an IndyCar race starting at 2:30 p.m. ET Sunday with a NASCAR Cup race taking green 30 or 45 minutes later. You didn't have the two series competing in two Midwest states and splitting the region’s audience. Each series got its own window with no competition.
Whether the races are held in the right order is another discussion, but IndyCar knew it was clear at 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, not to mention it had NASCAR's second division following it on USA, meaning a race fan could turn on the television and have six hours of racing without having to change the channel. USA was the place for you on Saturday. Then the Cup race was Sunday afternoon, again, with no IndyCar race happening simultaneously.
There will likely be a weekend or two where the overlap is unavoidable, but to create one where we knew it wasn't going to happen benefits all series. That guarantee will likely be gone in 2024.
If everyone was serious when saying the series must work together, both parties should have already been attempting to make this weekend happen next year and beyond even if it is at a different circuit.
The rumors have been loud for quite sometime that the Brickyard 400 would return, and with the Speedway's preference not to have races on the oval and road course on the same weekend, it was no surprise that this weekend likely would not be feasible at IMS in 2024, but there are plenty of circuits that could host this weekend.
The obvious one is adding IndyCar to Watkins Glen. IndyCar would love it. It might force NASCAR to run the boot, but even if it didn't IndyCar would tear up the short course and put on a race that would leave everyone catching their breath. Looking at the Watkins Glen weekend schedule, there is plenty of time. There is nothing on-track Friday until 1:45 p.m. local, and that day only has historic racing and ARCA. There is room for IndyCar and pieces can be shifted around to fit an IndyCar race on Saturday. Heck, there is time Sunday for a noon IndyCar start with the Cup race starting at 3:30 p.m. to make a ticket really worth buying.
Even if it wasn't Watkins Glen, there is Michigan, which has concerns over being an oval without lights that just had a rain-delayed Cup race, but IndyCar would take the Saturday headliner spot. It could be a full 500-mile race with how fast IndyCar drives. Hell, it could be Pocono. The IndyCar crowds there were already respectable, and IndyCar had two strong races on big ovals in 2023. A third big oval would be welcomed.
IndyCar was on the goal line of racing at Richmond in 2020 and then the pandemic dashed those hopes. Over three years later and IndyCar is not closer to racing in Virginia's capital... on its own. But if NASCAR keeps going to Richmond in July, it would be reasonable to add IndyCar as Saturday night headliner. Move the Truck race to Saturday afternoon, have IndyCar close out the night.
If Richmond didn't work, Loudon is another short oval option. IndyCar is chomping for short ovals after all. If it isn't an oval, there is always NASCAR's potential move to Montreal.
For two entities run by billionaires, they sure know how to drop the ball on a good thing and not have any vision for it long-term. I know in the future when television partnerships change and the series might go in different directions it might no longer be feasible. That is just business, but as long as the two series are going to be competing at the same time on the same broadcast partner, there is no excuse why they don't get together at least one weekend each summer. Nothing lasts forever, but not everything has to end after three years.
After all the sunshine that was blown up our skirts, this isn't something either side can say they tried and moved on from. This was historic and was run rather well (credit to Indianapolis Motor Speedway under the leadership of track president Doug Boles). What could have been a gathering that left either or both sides with hurt feelings, neither side ever raised a gripe with one another. There wasn't bickering back-and-forth. Nobody got their toes stepped on. Everyone was well behaved. Both sides got along and had a good time. We call that a success. Heck, this year saw an increase in attendance, and it had been growing since when spectators were first allowed back in 2021.
If it has been working, why end a good thing? Even if Indianapolis Motor Speedway is no longer a suitable option, why not try and make it work elsewhere? We aren't short on venues that could host both simultaneously.
IndyCar and NASCAR cannot talk about the greater good and then immediately neglect it. If they are serious about the greater good and creating motorsports fans who will watch at least both series then the IndyCar/NASCAR combination weekend must continue and not be shuffled to the middle of a history book as a factoid for a bunch of noisemakers on social media to constantly post about "remember when?" and "how cool was that?" in five years time.
Cut that crap off before it starts. If IndyCar and NASCAR could make this work and have it born during the uncertainty of a global pandemic, there is no damn reason it cannot continue with no restrictions in place.
Winners From the Weekend
You know about Scott Dixon, but did you know...
Michael McDowell won the NASCAR Cup race from Indianapolis, his first victory since the 2021 Daytona 500. Ty Gibbs won the Grand National Series race. Ty Majeski won the Truck race from Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Hunter McElrea won the Indy Lights race from the IMS road course.
Kyle Larson won the 62nd Knoxville Nationals, his second Knoxville Nationals victory.
Coming Up This Weekend
MotoGP should have doozy in Austria.
NASCAR has its penultimate race of the regular season at Watkins Glen.
Super Formula races at Motegi.
Supercars is at Tailem Bend.
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters will be at the Lausitzring.
Road America has another race weekend, this time with GT World Challenge America.
