Here is a rundown of what got me thinking...
IMSA announced its 2025 schedule, so it's got that going for it. Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Global took victory with Louis Delétraz, Jordan Taylor and Colton Herta. Sebring had about three passes that could have been pass of the year, and that isn't even taking into consideration Formula E had a candidate in São Paulo. MX-5 Cup had another stellar photo finish. There was less dirt at Bristol, and somehow NASCAR avoided a tire debacle. There was testing at North Wilkesboro. Kamui Kobayashi is going to run the NASCAR Cup race in Austin next week. However, focus is on a race next week that is technically for nothing.
What Are We Doing?
Soon, the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains will be hosting IndyCar, but the second event of the 2024 season is not greeted with much fanfare. Despite only one race in the previous six months, the excitement has dipped from the St. Petersburg season opener ahead of the "$1 million" exhibition race held at The Thermal Club in Palm Springs, California.
New track, new format, big (albeit inaccurately stated) prize, and yet, the general sense is everyone is waiting for Long Beach in over a month's time.
For a series that does not do much outside the box, IndyCar's exhibition race at Thermal Club is different. It is something the series has never done before, but it has fallen flat and was not received with warmth when it was first announced late last year, nor has the sentiment changed in the last few months.
IndyCar only has 17 races a year as it is. The offseason is as long, if not slightly longer, than the season itself. Does IndyCar really warrant having an exhibition race?
The answer is yes because Thermal Club is paying for it. IndyCar isn't going to say no to a paycheck that is large enough. As has been the case for going on two decades now, not many tracks are lining up to host IndyCar. Anytime one is showing up at the door and waving money around, IndyCar must listen, even if the proposal is for a convoluted exhibition race that will neither draw in new viewers nor please those already watching.
Despite the announced prize, does this event even matter?
It is being billed as an "all-star race," but there are the same drivers already competing in IndyCar that really isn't turning that many heads. No offense to Nolan Siegel, but he isn't going to be the new face that gets the people excited.
It is being billed as a "$1 million prize," bur it is only $500,000 for the winner after the decision to split the prize with a Thermal Club member was dropped. Whether that was dropped over the poor optic of giving a millionaire another half-million remains to be seen. Either way, the promoted prize really isn't the prize. It might be more than every other non-Indianapolis 500 IndyCar race winner has received, but it really isn't enough to make anyone gasp nor grease any peaches with excitement.
What is the point of this race and how should we treat it?
I don't know. Without this weekend, IndyCar would be in the middle of a six-week break between the first and second championship races, and no on would be happy about that either. Yet, it is still another month until the next event with championship implications. Arguably, the one thing that could grab people's attention is a race with stakes that carry over the entire season.
There is also the fact that the limited $2,000 tickets that were being sold to non-Thermal Club members were reduced to $500 tickets a few weeks ago, and fans that had purchased at full price were given $1,500 back. I don't think there is a better way to illustrate how this event has been received and a lack of an embrace than a 75% reduction on ticket prices.
This race will be different from other IndyCar races, but isn't an earth-shattering format. The field will be split in half for two 10-lap heat races with the top six from each race advancing to the 20-lap main event. The main event will be held in two 10-lap segments. It doesn't lead one to believe what one will see on track is really going to make them tune into Long Beach next month.
After all, 12 cars on a three-mile circuit isn't all that breathtaking. It is actually constraining what is best about IndyCar. There will not be traffic nor any strategy the teams must work through.
If the hope is this will be an all-out event where drivers don't have to worry about tires or fuel and everyone will be tight together for the entirety of each race, well, Hollywood is a few hours west. Bring your script with you.
IndyCar is doing something different. It is the stereotypical back-and-forth between fans and sanctioning body...
Fans: "Do something different."
IndyCar: (Does something different).
Fans: "No, not that!"
Some credit is due to IndyCar. It is using this weekend as a test of sorts for procedural elements of the series. During the qualifying session ahead of the heat races, teams will be allocated 40 seconds push-to-pass to use during the session. Push-to-pass will reset mid-race, and perhaps that is an element that could be used in actual races moving forward. It is a new track, though Thermal did host the preseason testing ahead of the 2023 season. This was always going to be a networking event, attempting to showcase IndyCar to millionaires who might not be involved in a series but has a company that could use the advertising space or maybe is having a mid-life crisis and either wants to purchase a team or start a team.
IndyCar is living in a state of cognitive dissonance. It is a series that requires millions of dollars to compete with drivers making more than they have in the previous two decades and it requires wealthy individuals for the series to exist. Simultaneously, it is a series with an overwhelmingly primary fanbase that is firmly in the middle class and does not spend exorbitant amounts of tickets that thinks $100 for a seat is too much let alone $2,000 just to get in the door. IndyCar needs both but pleasing both is a challenge.
With how the lead up has gone to year one of this race, it is difficult to imagine there being a year two. It was always going to be an event where if one side of the series' economy divide is happy with how it turns out, the other will be disappointed and IndyCar would lose in some way. If this is a one-and-done, IndyCar will have lost a nice payday despite the celebrations that would come from the existing fanbase. If Thermal Club does turn out to be a success and the club members are willing to pony up more for next year, a return would alienate its Midwestern base even more.
Conversations will continue beyond Thermal Club about what must be done to increase IndyCar's exposure and interest in the series. Just remember, in the end, money always wins.
Winners From the Weekend
You know about the overall Sebring winner, but did you know...
The #18 Era Motorsport Oreca-Gibson of Ryan Dalziel, Connor Zilisch and Dwight Merriman won the LMP2 class at the 12 Hours of Sebring. The #14 VasserSullivan Lexus of Jack Hawksworth, Ben Barnicoat and Kyle Kirkwood won the GTD Pro class. The #57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG of Indy Dontje, Philip Ellis and Russell Ward won in the GTD class.
Sam Bird won the São Paulo ePrix with a last lap pass on Mitch Evans. It ended a 35-race winless drought for Bird.
Denny Hamlin won the NASCAR Cup race from Bristol. Christian Eckes won the Truck race.
Jett Lawrence swept the Triple Crown races to win the Supercross round from Indianapolis, his third consecutive victory and fifth of the season. Cameron McAdoo won the 250cc round with finishes of first, secon and third. Haiden Deegan and Tom Vialle won the other two races in the Triple Crown format.
Coming Up This Weekend
The aforementioned IndyCar exhibition in Palm Springs.
Formula One will be in Melbourne.
Supercars will be on the Melbourne undercard.
MotoGP is at Portimão.
World Superbike is across the Iberian peninsula in Barcelona.
NASCAR is in Austin.
Supercross sweeps into Seattle.
