New year, new hypothetical league format for IndyCar, as we enter year six of this exercise.
Here is how it works....
Imagine the IndyCar season as any other sports league season. Teams are placed in conferences and each week of competition the teams go head-to-head against one another with one team coming out as the winner and the other being the loser. Each victory counts in the league standings with a playoff to determine the champion while the worst teams are relegated. Meanwhile, in the division below, teams are fighting to earn promotion into the top league.
The top division remains 16 teams, split into two conferences where each team completes a double round-robin with no inter-conference play.
Where were we?
Last season, the #9 Chip Ganassi Racing entry of Scott Dixon took the league championship over Patricio O'Ward and the #5 Arrow McLaren team.
It was the first year a Team Penske car did not win the league championship, as no Penske car even made the finals for the first time. The #3 Penske and #12 Penske cars of Scott McLaughlin and Will Power respectively each lost in the semifinal round.
Quarterfinalists included Álex Palou (#10 Ganassi), Colton Herta (#26 Andretti), Josef Newgarden (#2 Penske), and Kyle Kirkwood (#27 Andretti).
Though they did not make the playoffs, Alexander Rossi (#7 McLaren) and Marcus Ericsson (#8 Ganassi) were fifth in their respective conferences and those entries were guaranteed safety in the top division for the 2024 season.
In the relegation playoff, Romain Grosjean (#28 Andretti) and Graham Rahal (#15 RLLR) won in the semifinal round to assure safety for the next season. The #11 Ganassi entry of Marcus Armstrong defeated the #60 Meyer Shank Racing of Tom Blomqvist in the relegation playoff final. The #11 Ganassi entry clinched a spot in the top division while the #60 MSR entry was relegated.
Relegated for finishing last in the two conferences after the regular season was the #21 Ed Carpenter Racing entry and the #18 Dale Coyne Racing entry.
The top three teams from League Two earned promotion to League One for 2024. The #45 RLLR entry won the League Two championship with the #6 McLaren and the #77 Juncos Hollinger Racing entry earning the other two promotion spots.
How do things look for 2024?
Conference One
#10 Ganassi #5 McLaren
#2 Penske
#45 RLLR
#26 Andretti
#6 McLaren
#28 Andretti
#11 Ganassi
Conference Two
#3 Penske
#8 Ganassi
#12 Penske
#7 McLaren
#27 Andretti
#15 RLLR
#77 JHR
For competitive balanced, I made sure all three Ganassi, McLaren, Penske and Andretti entries were not in the same conferences. Each is split two and one over the two conferences.
Schedule
League One:
Week 1 (ST. PETERSBURG):
#10 Ganassi vs. #11 Ganassi
#5 McLaren vs. #28 Andretti
#2 Penske vs. #6 McLaren
#45 RLLR vs. #26 Andretti
#9 Ganassi vs. #77 JHR
#3 Penske vs. #15 RLLR
#8 Ganassi vs. #27 Andretti
#12 Penske vs. #7 McLaren
Week 2 (LONG BEACH):
#10 Ganassi vs. #28 Andretti
#5 McLaren vs. #11 Ganassi
#2 Penske vs. #26 Andretti
#45 RLLR vs. #6 McLaren
#9 Ganassi vs. #15 RLLR
#3 Penske vs. #77 JHR
#8 Ganassi vs. #7 McLaren
#12 Penske vs. #27 Andretti
Week 3 (BARBER):
#10 Ganassi vs. #6 McLaren
#5 McLaren vs. #26 Andretti
#2 Penske vs. #11 Ganassi
#45 RLLR vs. #28 Andretti
#9 Ganassi vs. #27 Andretti
#3 Penske vs. #7 McLaren
#8 Ganassi vs. #77 JHR
#12 Penske vs. #14 RLLR
Week 4 (GPOI):
#10 Ganassi vs. #26 Andretti
#5 McLaren vs. #6 McLaren
#2 Penske vs. #28 Andretti
#45 RLLR vs. #11 Ganassi
#9 Ganassi vs. #7 McLaren
#3 Penske vs. 27 Andretti
#8 Ganassi vs. #15 RLLR
#12 Penske vs. #77 JHR
Week 5 (INDIANAPOLIS 500):
#10 Ganassi vs. #45 RLLR
#5 McLaren vs. #2 Penske
#26 Andretti vs. #11 Ganassi
#6 McLaren vs. #28 Andretti
#9 Ganassi vs. #12 Penske
#3 Penske vs. #8 Ganassi
#7 McLaren vs. #77 JHR
#27 Andretti vs. #15 RLLR
Week 6 (DETROIT):
#10 Ganassi vs. #2 Penske
#5 McLaren vs. #45 RLLR
#26 Andretti vs. #28 Andretti
#6 McLaren vs. #11 Ganassi
#9 Ganassi vs. #8 Ganassi
#3 Penske vs. #12 Penske
#7 McLaren vs. #15 RLLR
#27 Andretti vs. #77 JHR
Week 7 (ROAD AMERICA):
#10 Ganassi vs. #5 McLaren
#2 Penske vs. #45 RLLR
#26 Andretti vs. #6 McLaren
#28 Andretti vs. #11 Ganassi
#9 Ganassi vs. #3 Penske
#8 Ganassi vs. #12 Penske
#7 McLaren vs. #27 Andretti
#15 RLLR vs. #77 JHR
Week 8 (LAGUNA SECA):
#10 Ganassi vs. #11 Ganassi
#5 McLaren vs. #28 Andretti
#2 Penske vs. #6 McLaren
#45 RLLR vs. #26 Andretti
#9 Ganassi vs. #77 JHR
#3 Penske vs. #15 RLLR
#8 Ganassi vs. #27 Andretti
#12 Penske vs. #7 McLaren
Week 9 (MID-OHIO):
#10 Ganassi vs. #28 Andretti
#5 McLaren vs. #11 Ganassi
#2 Penske vs. #26 Andretti
#45 RLLR vs. #6 McLaren
#9 Ganassi vs. #15 RLLR
#3 Penske vs. #77 JHR
#8 Ganassi vs. #7 McLaren
#12 Penske vs. #27 Andretti
Week 10 (IOWA):
#10 Ganassi vs. #6 McLaren
#5 McLaren vs. #26 Andretti
#2 Penske vs. #11 Ganassi
#45 RLLR vs. #28 Andretti
#9 Ganassi vs. #27 Andretti
#3 Penske vs. #7 McLaren
#8 Ganassi vs. #77 JHR
#12 Penske vs. #14 RLLR
Week 11 (IOWA):
#10 Ganassi vs. #26 Andretti
#5 McLaren vs. #6 McLaren
#2 Penske vs. #28 Andretti
#45 RLLR vs. #11 Ganassi
#9 Ganassi vs. #7 McLaren
#3 Penske vs. 27 Andretti
#8 Ganassi vs. #15 RLLR
#12 Penske vs. #77 JHR
Week 12 (TORONTO):
#10 Ganassi vs. #45 RLLR
#5 McLaren vs. #2 Penske
#26 Andretti vs. #11 Ganassi
#6 McLaren vs. #28 Andretti
#9 Ganassi vs. #12 Penske
#3 Penske vs. #8 Ganassi
#7 McLaren vs. #77 JHR
#27 Andretti vs. #15 RLLR
Week 13 (GATEWAY):
#10 Ganassi vs. #2 Penske
#5 McLaren vs. #45 RLLR
#26 Andretti vs. #28 Andretti
#6 McLaren vs. #11 Ganassi
#9 Ganassi vs. #8 Ganassi
#3 Penske vs. #12 Penske
#7 McLaren vs. #15 RLLR
#27 Andretti vs. #77 JHR
Week 14 (PORTLAND):
#10 Ganassi vs. #5 McLaren
#2 Penske vs. #45 RLLR
#26 Andretti vs. #6 McLaren
#28 Andretti vs. #11 Ganassi
#9 Ganassi vs. #3 Penske
#8 Ganassi vs. #12 Penske
#7 McLaren vs. #27 Andretti
#15 RLLR vs. #77 JHR
The playoff format remains the same. Top four from each conference advance while the bottom team in each conference will be relegated. Fifth place from each conference will be assured safety in the top division for 2025 while sixth and seventh from each conference will compete in a relegation playoff.
League Two
Last season, with 11 teams in League Two, we did an 11-team double round-robin. With that number of head-to-head matchups, oval qualifying for each oval round was incorporated into the season.
Last season, with 11 teams in League Two, we did an 11-team double round-robin. With that number of head-to-head matchups, oval qualifying for each oval round was incorporated into the season.
This year, I explored different ways to organize League Two that would at least be easier for me and, after spending way more time than I should have trying to come up with a new concept, I settled on what is likely the easiest solution.
League Two will be an 11-team single round-robin, meaning each team will face each other once. At the end of the 11-week regular season, the top two teams will earn automatic promotion. The 11th-place team's season will end.
Third through tenth in the standings will advance to the second phase of the season. The eight teams will be split into two groups, where another single round-robin will occur.
Group A will be composed of third, sixth, seventh and tenth from the regular season. Group B will feature fourth, fifth, eighth and ninth from the regular season.
The top two teams from each group after the group stage will advance to the promotion playoff where the winner will earn the final promotion spot to League One's 2025 season.
Who are the participants?
#21 ECR
#18 DCR
#14 Foyt
#66 MSR
#20 ECR
#30 RLLR
#60 MSR
#78 JHR
#51 DCR
#41 Foyt
#4 Ganassi
And the schedule...
Schedule
Week 1 (ST. PETERSBURG):
#21 ECR vs. #78 JHR
#18 DCR vs. #51 DCR
#14 Foyt vs. #60 MSR
#66 MSR vs. #20 ECR
#30 RLLR vs. #41 Foyt
Bye: #4 CGR
Week 2 (LONG BEACH):
#18 DCR vs. #30 RLLR
#14 Foyt vs. #20 ECR
#66 MSR vs. #51 DCR
#60 MSR vs. #4 CGR
#78 JHR vs. #41 Foyt
Bye: #21 ECR
Week 3 (BARBER):
#21 ECR vs. #20 ECR
#14 Foyt vs. #30 RLLR
#66 MSR vs. #4 CGR
#60 MSR vs. #41 Foyt
#78 JHR vs. #51 DCR
Bye: #18 DCR
Week 4 (GPOI):
#21 ECR vs. #14 Foyt
#18 DCR vs. #20 ECR
#30 RLLR vs. #60 MSR
#78 JHR vs. #4 CGR
#51 DCR vs. #41 Foyt
Bye: #66 MSR
Week 5 (INDIANAPOLIS 500):
#21 ECR vs. #60 MSR
#18 DCR vs. #41 Foyt
#14 Foyt vs. #4 CGR
#66 MSR vs. #30 RLLR
#20 ECR vs. #78 JHR
Bye: #51 DCR
Week 6 (DETROIT):
#21 ECR vs. #30 RLLR
#18 DCR vs. #4 CGR
#14 Foyt vs. #51 DCR
#66 MSR vs. #78 JHR
#20 ECR vs. #60 MSR
Bye: #41 Foyt
Week 7 (ROAD AMERICA):
#21 ECR vs. #66 MSR
#18 DCR vs. #14 Foyt
#20 ECR vs. #51 DCR
#60 MSR vs. #78 JHR
#41 Foyt vs. #4 CGR
Bye: #30 RLLR
Week 8 (LAGUNA SECA):
#21 ECR vs. #18 DCR
#14 Foyt vs. #78 JHR
#66 MSR vs. #41 Foyt
#20 ECR vs. 30 RLLR
#51 DCR vs. #4 CGR
Bye: #60 MSR
Week 9 (MID-OHIO):
#21 ECR vs. #51 DCR
#18 DCR vs. #78 JHR
#14 Foyt vs. #41 Foyt
#66 MSR vs. #60 MSR
#30 RLLR vs. #4 Ganassi
Bye: #20 ECR
Week 10 (IOWA):
#21 ECR vs. #41 Foyt
#18 DCR vs. #60 MSR
#14 Foyt vs. #66 MSR
#20 ECR vs. #4 CGR
#30 RLLR vs. #51 DCR
Bye: #78 JHR
Week 11 (IOWA):
#21 ECR vs. #4 CGR
#18 DCR vs. #66 MSR
#20 ECR vs. #41 Foyt
#30 RLLR vs. #78 JHR
#60 MSR vs. #51 DCR
Bye: #14 Foyt
Let's see how this plays out. League One, I believe, has all the top drivers in it and there is no clear team that should earn promotion from League Two. This year will be interesting because there appears to be a number of entries that will likely rotate drivers. Ed Carpenter Racing is splitting the #20 entry with Ed Carpenter and Christian Rasmussen. Both Dale Coyne Racing cars will likely see multiple drivers in them. It will be intriguing to see how it plays out.
Who are the participants?
#21 ECR
#18 DCR
#14 Foyt
#66 MSR
#20 ECR
#30 RLLR
#60 MSR
#78 JHR
#51 DCR
#41 Foyt
#4 Ganassi
And the schedule...
Schedule
Week 1 (ST. PETERSBURG):
#21 ECR vs. #78 JHR
#18 DCR vs. #51 DCR
#14 Foyt vs. #60 MSR
#66 MSR vs. #20 ECR
#30 RLLR vs. #41 Foyt
Bye: #4 CGR
Week 2 (LONG BEACH):
#18 DCR vs. #30 RLLR
#14 Foyt vs. #20 ECR
#66 MSR vs. #51 DCR
#60 MSR vs. #4 CGR
#78 JHR vs. #41 Foyt
Bye: #21 ECR
Week 3 (BARBER):
#21 ECR vs. #20 ECR
#14 Foyt vs. #30 RLLR
#66 MSR vs. #4 CGR
#60 MSR vs. #41 Foyt
#78 JHR vs. #51 DCR
Bye: #18 DCR
Week 4 (GPOI):
#21 ECR vs. #14 Foyt
#18 DCR vs. #20 ECR
#30 RLLR vs. #60 MSR
#78 JHR vs. #4 CGR
#51 DCR vs. #41 Foyt
Bye: #66 MSR
Week 5 (INDIANAPOLIS 500):
#21 ECR vs. #60 MSR
#18 DCR vs. #41 Foyt
#14 Foyt vs. #4 CGR
#66 MSR vs. #30 RLLR
#20 ECR vs. #78 JHR
Bye: #51 DCR
Week 6 (DETROIT):
#21 ECR vs. #30 RLLR
#18 DCR vs. #4 CGR
#14 Foyt vs. #51 DCR
#66 MSR vs. #78 JHR
#20 ECR vs. #60 MSR
Bye: #41 Foyt
Week 7 (ROAD AMERICA):
#21 ECR vs. #66 MSR
#18 DCR vs. #14 Foyt
#20 ECR vs. #51 DCR
#60 MSR vs. #78 JHR
#41 Foyt vs. #4 CGR
Bye: #30 RLLR
Week 8 (LAGUNA SECA):
#21 ECR vs. #18 DCR
#14 Foyt vs. #78 JHR
#66 MSR vs. #41 Foyt
#20 ECR vs. 30 RLLR
#51 DCR vs. #4 CGR
Bye: #60 MSR
Week 9 (MID-OHIO):
#21 ECR vs. #51 DCR
#18 DCR vs. #78 JHR
#14 Foyt vs. #41 Foyt
#66 MSR vs. #60 MSR
#30 RLLR vs. #4 Ganassi
Bye: #20 ECR
Week 10 (IOWA):
#21 ECR vs. #41 Foyt
#18 DCR vs. #60 MSR
#14 Foyt vs. #66 MSR
#20 ECR vs. #4 CGR
#30 RLLR vs. #51 DCR
Bye: #78 JHR
Week 11 (IOWA):
#21 ECR vs. #4 CGR
#18 DCR vs. #66 MSR
#20 ECR vs. #41 Foyt
#30 RLLR vs. #78 JHR
#60 MSR vs. #51 DCR
Bye: #14 Foyt
Let's see how this plays out. League One, I believe, has all the top drivers in it and there is no clear team that should earn promotion from League Two. This year will be interesting because there appears to be a number of entries that will likely rotate drivers. Ed Carpenter Racing is splitting the #20 entry with Ed Carpenter and Christian Rasmussen. Both Dale Coyne Racing cars will likely see multiple drivers in them. It will be intriguing to see how it plays out.
