The majority of this post are based solely on rumors. But if these rumors prove to be true, it could be the beginning of the end for IndyCar.
The racing so far in 2013 for the IndyCar Series has been the same, if not better than the great action we saw in 2012. With May only a day away, it is looking like we could have some bumping on bump day if the rumors that Buddy and Jacques Lazier, Pippa Mann, Buddy Rice, Townsend Bell, Jay Howard and according to Robin Miller, John Andretti will be entering the 500. Finally, some IRL vets in Buddy and Jacques, and one darn good oval driver Buddy Rice will be back at the greatest race course in the world. Not only that, but you have Dario Franchitti and Helio Castroneves going for their 4th Indianapolis 500. Add on the fan favorites of Tony Kanaan, Takuma Sato, Simona de Silvestro, the always dominant oval drivers of Ed Carpenter and Marco Andretti, the defending IndyCar champion, Ryan Hunter-Reay, and the one off's of AJ Allmendinger, Conor Daly, Ryan Briscoe, and Michel Jourdain Jr, and you have a recipe for success. You also can't count out guys like Will Power, Sebastien Bourdais, Alex Tagliani, and James Hinchcliffe to be up front battling it out. It is slowly seeming like the 97th Running of the Indianapolis 500 will be even better than last year's. And last year's was pretty incredible.
But with so much optimism going into the month of May, why would I headline this post the way I did? Simple answer. The swirling rumors around 16th and Georgetown. I have been reading more and more news about something I thought I'd never read. Apparently, after seeking consulting advice, we could see for the first time ever, a second race at Indianapolis. No, not another NASCAR event. Not another sports car event, none of that. A second IndyCar race. On the road course. If that doesn't have you already disgusted, or if it get's you excited, you are not alone either way. Fans all over hearing of this are divided. But the overwhelming response is no. Whether you would like it, odds are, tradition trumps all. I never understood the dislike of Indianapolis' road course. I always thought it was one of the better rovals in existence. Perhaps that's just bias talking, but that's a whole different can of worms. But, even with this, it simply should not happen. Some say tradition was killed once stock cars tested at Indianapolis. Others say it was gone once the split occurred. I say, it's still around. And we shouldn't kill what's left of it. I don't care how many series race at Indianapolis. The more the merrier I say. But where I draw the line personally is when IndyCar stages a second race at IMS. There should only be one race a year for the IndyCars at the greatest racecourse in the world. One more would just further detract from the track's history and sentimental value. Less people would flock to the 500, and even lesser would attend the second race. Now, no one knows how the DW12's will drive on the road course. Personally, I hope to never find out. But if IndyCar is serious about this, how about they try and revive the Indy Lights instead of letting it sit on life support with an ever dwindling car count.
The Indy Lights, or Indy Pro Series as it was called when they last ran the Liberty Challenge, put on one of the greatest shows I had seen on the road course. I attended the first event in 2005. It was held after Formula 1 qualifying for the US Grand Prix. I had also attended the first ever United States Grand Prix at the track in 2000 and the racing in the Liberty Challenge actually one-upped that of the Formula 1 cars. How is that even possible? Well, magically, it was. There is no video of it that I can find on the Internet, but I do remember the Lights cars drafting down the front stretch, then dive-bombing turn 1, and racing side by side through the first 3 turns, then repeating down Hulman Boulevard. It was awesome. Now tell me, why they discontinued the race? Then come up with this? I don't have that answer right now.
Now, on to something else the folks at IMS have done. They have gotten Indiana government approval of a new tax that will allow them to make facility improvements. Alright. There's one lesser known tradition down the drain. But, I digress. A few months ago, it was said that this was done to improve the grounds, add in newer big screens around the track, and improve seating. Alright. All good and fine. Oh by the way, they wanna add in lights too. Yes. Very soon, the long anticipated, debated, pondered, and disliked idea of Indianapolis Motor Speedway adding lighting fixtures around the track could be a reality. Now, there are a few pros and cons to this. The pros are simple. Make the Brickyard a night race. It is just too darn hot in July in central Indiana to have this race run during the day anymore. I know for a fact that the heat is one thing that keeps fans away from attending the Brickyard and resulting in the grandstands looking like an absolute joke. It has always bothered me that no one gets out to see the Brickyard. Since 2010, the racing hasn't been as bad as people say it is. You just can't watch it on TV to see the great racing that occurs in nearly every turn. But a night time Brickyard 400 could boost attendance. At least for the first two years or so. I mean, who wouldn't want to say they were a part of history and attended the first ever race at night at Indianapolis? Only the purists who boycotted the first 400 in 1994. The second pro is the possibility for a 12 or 24 hour endurance race at the grounds. Alright, there were mixed feelings on the first Brickyard Grand Prix. Personally, being in attendance and waiting out the rain, I enjoyed it a great deal. And the racing was really good. If the Indianapolis Road Course is included on the 2014 United Sports Car Racing schedule, I will cheer. And if those lights get put in and it becomes an endurance race, all the better. Many will argue with me on this fact, but just get out there and see it for yourself. The racing is always better in person.
Now here are the cons. First off, there is the possibility of the Indianapolis 500 being finished under the lights. Personally, I would rather those lights not be used on Memorial Day weekend (with the exception of the Freedom 100. I'm OK with that being under the lights) and I would rather they just reschedule it to Monday, seeing as it's a holiday, and many people will return as they have the day off anyway. I mean, if there are lights, it's inevitable that that will happen. But for now, just don't let it. Another con is the high possibility that IndyCar could use these lights to make the 500 a night race and compete head to head with the Coke 600. Seems incredibly far fetched and almost stupid, right? That's what I thought about them racing IndyCars on the road course, until I found out it is an actual rumor. Perhaps they will actually believe that they can drag people away from the Coke 600 by airing the 500 at the same time as NASCAR's race. On paper, yes, it should work if it is promoted well enough. But realistically, more people will just tune off both. I'm not saying it will happen, and it probably never will. But you never know sometimes. We didn't think the IRL would win.
Happy May.
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