INDIANAPOLIS — A day after NASCAR released their 2021 schedule, the NTT IndyCar Series followed suit. It was almost a carbon copy from what I speculated on Wednesday. The streets of St. Pete will kick start the season once again on March 7. Laguna Seca closes it down on Sept. 19. The entire team of INDYCAR did a phenomenal job of making this work and I applaud them for coming up with a plan for next season too.
My take on everything in between here.
Loss Of Ovals
I get why people are mad that the art of oval racing is a dying. I truly do. I always referred to myself of a circle track guy more than road courses for most of my life. Now, we lost another two oval races between 2020 and 2021. Iowa’s long rumored shutdown is closer than ever with Richmond unfortunately never able to get off the ground.
Factor in the loss of Pocono from last year to this year and Phoenix before that and you get the sense that oval racing may be a lost art.
Before you blame INDYCAR, it’s all around folks.
I mean NASCAR’s new schedule features six road courses for 2021. Four years ago they had just two. INDYCAR will have 13 races on road/street courses themselves next season. It’s not just INDYCAR that’s doing this, it’s all around North America.
That’s because road course racing, in most cases, puts on a better show now for racing fans. It’s harder and harder to pass in both INDYCAR and NASCAR which hasn’t exactly given fans much to see in terms of on track action on them.
Plus, road courses feature on track action all day long. Ovals typically haven’t.
You go to a local dirt track or even asphalt for that matter, in lower divisions of racing, and you see several racing series’ sharing the same track on any given night. It’s never just one. They jam pack the entire night of racing for a reason.
That is what has shown to contribute to a decline in attendance on ovals. I wrote this several years ago for another outlet that unless fans start to show up for these races, INDYCAR will reverse the course of their mindset. They didn’t purposely leave off ovals just to piss you all off. That’s not their intention. It never was.
INDYCAR’s attention is to go where the fans will show up. I mean, just look at the recent moves. The tracks on the schedule now will play host to big crowds. I warned and warned and warned, if you want Phoenix, Chicago, Kentucky, Kansas, etc to stay on the schedule, then you better show up. You better make this appointment viewing. If you don’t, they’ll get left in the dust.
Everyone wanted Phoenix back, no one showed. INDYCAR listened to you. We want Phoenix! Did you really? The attention or lack there of showed you didn’t.
Iowa is left off the schedule because NASCAR didn’t want them anymore. The only way that they were going to stay was if Roger Penske bought the track. But, we’re in a pandemic. He spent millions on a shiny series and a historic track. Every time a lap is turned in an INDYCAR this season, the Captain is losing money. It’s not a very good business move to buy a track in the middle of this, especially one that fans were already coming to less and less. He’s still upgrading IMS, why spend more money to buy another track only to spend millions more making it Penske perfect?
Now, if everything turns back around in 2021 and the money is there again, maybe Penske revisits Iowa and a future acquisition. But, how can you blame him for NASCAR not wanting the track anymore? How can you blame him for not wanting to pour in the millions to purchase a race track in the middle of cornfields? It didn’t make dollars and cents (sense).
For Richmond, that was more of a NASCAR call too. The track lost a Cup date and in the other hosted no fans. They lost a lot of money in 2020, so scaling back in 2021 makes sense for them too.
Is Kentucky/Chicago An Option?
It depends on whom you talk to. I spoke to Kentucky Speedway officials a couple of years ago and they wanted to start a dialogue for an INDYCAR return. Now that they and Chicago are left off the NASCAR schedule, it makes sense for some conversations to take place.
But, why did you all expect INDYCAR to make those talks this year? It’s 2020. We’re in a pandemic. It’s hard to secure sponsorship money right now with so much uncertainty. Could there be interest for 2022 or beyond? Sure. But, I again warn, what makes INDYCAR believe that they can trust that you’ll show up?
WE WANT MORE OVALS!
INDYCAR gave you Fontana, Pocono and Phoenix. You didn’t show. Everyone gave excuses too. It’s too far. It’s too late. I have a birthday party. I have this. I have that. Everyone looked at everyone else to go thinking that they’d carry the slack and pack the grandstands in the desert or in the Pennsylvania mountains. In all reality, no one did. So, INDYCAR left. Why risk the danger aspect for a Little League baseball crowd.
WE WANT WATKINS GLEN!
INDYCAR gave you that. You again didn’t show. The excuse game was back on. We want it but not on that weekend. We have something else going on. You wanting something sure didn’t reciprocate to what INDYCAR gave.
So, why would INDYCAR and these tracks just assume you’d show up to Kentucky or Chicago? I know some will point to the promoters, which that’s a part of this and the World Wide Technology Raceway is a good example, but if you are complaining it means that you’re a fan of the series and if you’re a fan of the series and want the series to list to you, you have to do your part and show up at least. That includes traveling when necessary.
It’s a pandemic. They don’t necessarily trust you’d show up in general but even more so when funds may be tight. So, the 2020 schedule is the way it is for a reason.
Want new ovals or old ones to come back? Show up to the tracks now.
Better Be On Your Left And Right Turn Game
With the addition of a road course and the loss of two ovals, yes I know COTA was dropped too, the end of the season is something to behold. This year, five of the final eight races were held on ovals. Next year, nine of the final 10 are on road/street courses.
Road America Stays Put
I thought maybe Road America would move up or back on the schedule. Instead, their weekend will remain the same. That’s because NASCAR is invading the Wisconsin road course two weeks after INDYCAR. That’s a tough turnaround for two major series coming to one place. Plus, INDYCAR will be at Mid-Ohio in July too. Both races are highly attended by the same fan groupings. I see a lot of familiar faces at each.
Can they swing two race weekend’s in a two weeks span after spending the Month of May at Indy? I hope so.
Belle Isle Moves Back Which Helps Indy Hangover
Lets be honest, by time the teams get to Road America each June, they’re emotionally and physically drained. They had to endure a challenging Month of May at Indy for the GP, qualifying and the ‘500, then go to Belle Isle for a doubleheader, followed by certain 95+ degree heat at Texas before showing up to Road America.
This year, they get some much needed relief. Texas moves to the start of May and Belle Isle moves a week back. This will absolutely give the teams some much needed rest following what is sure to be a busier Month of May now with the addition of a doubleheader at Texas.
The only problem is, does the Indy 500 champion lose some momentum in terms of coverage for the series with a two week gap between Indy and Belle Isle now?
Broadcast TV!
INDYCAR’s schedule is great in the sense that nine of the 17 races are on network NBC. In fact, two of the first three races are with St. Pete and now Long Beach on NBC. Texas will air on NBCSN following the Kentucky Derby coverage on NBC. You know they’ll get highly promoted for that weekend. Then, the May 2 race will air post NASCAR race at Kansas.
That’s big.
That leads into both Month of May races at Indy to be covered on NBC as usual with both at Belle Isle also on NBC. That’s six of the first nine races on network NBC.
Mid-Ohio is on network NBC on July 4 which is HUGE. Finally, the last two races of the season move back to NBC.
On top of this, you get the Indy road course weekend on NBCSN, but they can piggyback each other and Nashville on NBCSN during the final day of the Olympics.
The cross promotion is going to be huge even for the races not on NBC. I expect mega ratings for INDYCAR a year from now.
Should Jimmie Johnson Go Full Time?
With two ovals moving away, 13 of the 17 races are on road/street courses. That leaves me to believe, Jimmie Johnson should do this full time next season. I mean, why not?
He will take place in the first three races, then it’s to Texas to where he’s won seven times in his NASCAR career. After that it’s to Indy to where lets be honest, the allure may be temping for him. Then, it’s nine of the final 10 races being on road/street courses. If he starts off strong, why get out of the seat?
Race Review Online 