INDIANAPOLIS — On Monday, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES announced their 2024 schedule. One thing missing on it was the shared NASCAR weekend here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. While it’s not a guarantee that the Cup Series returns to the oval in 2024, I think there’s enough signs pointing to that direction. From cryptic social media messages to even a two-day tire test in the days following this past year’s Verizon 200.

I don’t see NASCAR coming back to the road course and leaving INDYCAR behind.

With that said, I also wonder if the schedule release tipped some potential dates. When the Brickyard 400 was run on the 2.5-mile oval, it’s not like INDYCAR wanted to necessarily go head-to-head elsewhere. They typically had an off weekend during the Brickyard weekend.

If that’s the case next year, then the Brickyard may be moving to a playoff date then.

Think about it, you’re not going to run the Brickyard during the spring. Then, with INDYCAR racing June 2, June 9 and June 23, the only June dates are Fathers Day weekend and June 30. I don’t see a turnaround worthwhile to do the Indy 500 and then the Brickyard 400 three weeks later. Even 5 weeks seems too soon.

In July, INDYCAR races every weekend before the Olympic shutdown. Unless NASCAR run during the Olympics, then you are now into the middle of August.

INDYCAR is in St. Louis on Aug. 17, Portland Aug. 25 then Milwaukee over Labor Day weekend. We know Daytona is likely remaining as the cutoff race so that’s the Portland weekend and Labor Day is reserved for Darlington. Why risk moving that again?

So, that leaves either St. Louis weekend for Aug. 18 OR a playoff date.

Does the week off between Milwaukee and Nashville make sense? INDYCAR is giving the teams a reset break before the season finale and a round of historical venues would add up.

Daytona to close the regular season then to Darlington, Indianapolis and Bristol?

We know at some point playoff races need to move around since Texas is likely moving to the spring. Does Indy fill that gap and in turn you move Kansas back a round?

The 2024 IMSA weekend is Sept. 22 which would be the first race of the second round.

So having a Cup date in early September and IMSA to close the month isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially seeing that NASCAR owns IMSA. OR maybe you can work out a way if you stay on the road course to pair with IMSA too.

Nevertheless, June 30, an early August race during the Olympics, Aug. 18 or a playoff date is where the Brickyard has to be heading.