It is that time of the year where many families and friends come together and for Christmas and spend valuable time together creating memories that will hopefully last a lifetime.
With this time of the year comes the exchanging of gifts. With that in mind I came up with a list of what the different motorsport series and fans would like this holiday season.
Let's start with Formula One:
I will give them normal points for the final round of the 2014 season. A race worth double points is not needed.
I will also give them a return to places such as Imola, Zandvoort, Paul Ricard and Brands Hatch.
Tires that last for just the right amount of time during a race. Not too long so a team can do one stop and be done but not so short that drivers are pitting every ten laps or having to worry about unexpected failures.
For the teams of Formula One, a little more testing so they can develop a car and driver during the season.
On to IndyCar:
Ovals. More specifically Phoenix, Michigan, Richmond, New Hampshire and Pikes Peak.
Road courses. Natural-terrain road courses. More specifically Road America, Watkins Glen, Austin and Portland.
If IndyCar is going to have an international series, three ovals (Motegi, Rockingham and Lausitz), three road courses (Mugello, Kyalami and Motegi for a doubleheader) with a race in Australia. Could be at Surfers Paradise, the circuit around Sydney's Olympic Park or Phillip Island.
IndyCar head lining the Saturday of the Formula One weekends at Austin and Interlagos with the Interlagos race being 500km around a renovated perimeter circuit.
Along with that gift would come Formula One putting aside their superiority complex and let IndyCar race, IndyCar putting aside their superiority complex and understand racing on a Saturday where 78,000 people show up is better than racing on your own for a weekend where only 60,000 will show up for three days and fans being able to realize that just because IndyCars run slower lap times doesn't mean the racing is bad and just because Formula One runs faster laps times doesn't mean the racing is better.
And then there is NASCAR:
Another revamped point system. No more points for every driver. Let's limit it to the top ten. The Formula One point system would do wonders for NASCAR.
Get rid of the Chase.
A rule limiting Cup drivers from competing in the Nationwide and Truck Series. Maybe something like this.
Places such as Texas, Pocono, Michigan and Dover re-gifting Cup races to Rockingham, North Wilkesboro, Road Atlanta and Iowa.
Shorter Cup races across the board. Only the Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600, Southern 500, July Daytona race and a race at Talladega remain untouched. All other ovals are shorten to 300 miles or 300 laps. All Nationwide oval races shorten to 250 miles or 250 laps. All Truck oval races shorten to 150 miles or 150 laps.
And then there are the other series around the world:
For USAC a batch of paved oval and more opportunities to IndyCar for their drivers.
A removal of the ridiculous pit stop rule in the DTM.
For MotoGP a team to help develop riders from the United States and the rest of the Americas.
Speaking of MotoGP, a return to Laguna Seca and a round at Barber Motorsports Park.
For the United SportsCar Championship, a solid prototype class with an even balance in performance not to mention a way to accommodate full-time entries and other teams competing part-time in the North American Endurance Cup.
The Indy Lights series gets a dozen cars to balloon the grid up to twenty entries with more partnerships with IndyCar teams.
V8 Supercars not only get to return to Austin but a race at Laguna Seca.
With any Christmas list, there are items that we have as good a chance of getting as catching lightning in a bottle but we still but them down just hoping they come fruition and end up under the tree the morning of the 25th. Granted it's not like any of the above is going to happen but these items that much less likely to happen.
An IndyCar doubleheader on the Daytona road course during Speedweeks with one race the Friday night before the Sprint Showdown and the other taking place the next day, hours prior to the Showdown. Not sure if IndyCar would use the long 3.5-mile circuit that uses all four corners of the oval or the shorter motorcycle circuit that only uses oval turns three and four. The way I see it is if IndyCar's cathedral can host NASCAR annually, why can't NASCAR's include IndyCar in the weeks that feature everything from prototype sports cars to Chevrolet Silverados?
For the NASCAR Nationwide Series, an endurance race on a road course that allows for Cup drivers, road course ringers and more to compete with series regulars. How about a 1000km race on the grand prix circuit at Watkins Glen?
A return of IROC and this time it's actually going to be an International Race of Champions. I want Vettel vs. Johnson vs. Dixon vs. McNish vs. Ogier vs. Kristensen vs. Jordan Taylor vs. Whincup vs. Muller vs. Rockenfeller vs. Kanaan vs. Alonso. I want the Tesla Roadster as the car for the series because it is neutral to all the drivers competing and promotes the use of electric vehicles. I want six races, three ovals, three road courses. Start the season at Daytona the Friday night before the Daytona 500, a race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Carb Day, a race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve the Saturday afternoon during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend and a race Saturday afternoon on Circuit de la Sarthe before the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the season finales needing it's own explanation below.
The season finale for said IROC series would be held during the Italian Grand Prix weekend at Monza. First, a complete renovation of the oval to be able to host a race. Two, lights for the oval. Three, bring back the Race of Two Worlds and make the Italian Grand Prix another doubleheader with Formula One and IndyCar with the 500-mile Race of Two Worlds taking place the Saturday night before the Italian Grand Prix. The IROC season finales take place with a race Friday night on the oval after IndyCar qualifying with the race on the road course taking place on Saturday after Formula One qualifying but prior to the Race of Two Worlds.
A return of Ford and Ferrari to the top of sports car racing and entering LMP1 to go head-to-head with Audi, Toyota and Porsche and the LMP1 class returning to the United States to run at least Daytona, Sebring and Petit Le Mans.
I would give Conor Daly and Sam Bird each $5 million to find a ride somewhere. It's hard to believe both these drivers are without rides for 2014 and it's five days until Christmas. You know what? I am just going to give them their own IndyCar team for Christmas. That would be a team to look out for.
I'd give every race track a safer catch fence that catches a car without tearing it to bits and in turn would decrease the amount of injuries.
More importantly though I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I realize those things above may never happen let alone happen this Christmas. It would be nice if they were to happen but ultimately you can't control what you receive. You can however control who you are with and the memories you make. Christmas isn't about the gifts under the tree or how many are under the tree but who is around it. Who you spend time with is the most important part of the holiday. These are the days that you want to remember for a lifetime. The gifts are material. The toys will break, the chocolates will be devoured, the electronics will be thrown in a drawer once obsolete and replaced but the people you are with will hopefully be there for a long time and when they are no longer there, the memories will remain. That is more valuable than anything you can put a bow on.
Merry Christmas from For the Love of Indy.
Covering All Motorsports. From Indianapolis to Le Mans, Daytona to Monaco.
