Q: So as a non-points, participation required, huge payout race, is there any chance or talk about non-IndyCar drivers making an appearance at Thermal Club behind the wheel? Unlikely as I feel it is, it’d be awesome to see the likes of Kyle Larson and Lando Norris make an appearance. Especially if you’re trying to draw in a certain (hella rich) group to IndyCar, it couldn’t hurt to at least have some major names that somewhat have ties to the sport wandering the pits.
Michael, Brownsburg, IN
MP: We’re in the early days of this $1 million deal, so I haven’t heard anything yet on super star guest drivers, but there’s plenty of time. Lando would be amazing. Larson would get destroyed.
Q: Really enjoyed Canapino’s rookie season, very happy for his results and the interest his presence generated for the series. He looks like he belongs in IndyCar. But he also looked petered-out and in need of a nap after every race. His contemporaries don’t look like that after a race. If he plans on sticking around, JHR needs to highly encourage a very serious workout regimen for him in the off season to prepare for 2024. Just sharing an observation.
Tulsa Indycar Fan
MP: Being depleted at the end of a race doesn’t mean a driver lacks a serious workout regimen. Some drivers climb out looking fresh while the driver who finished in front or right behind might look exhausted. And yet, they all raced hard and ran strong, so if there was a lack of fitness, it would show during the race, which isn’t the case here with Canapino.
Q: So my desk failed to survive the resultant impact from my head which was induced by the reactions to the announcement of the non-points race at Thermal Club. On top of people actually finding a way to be upset at more racing, it was also very apparent that many of the commentators didn’t even read all the details, as many weren’t even aware that there is a sizeable payday attached to it. The IndyCar fan base has fallen to levels that go beyond belief — people wonder why the series is hesitant to listen to them? This is why!
Even when they give us something that is, at worst, going to cause zero harm, a sizeable portion of the fanbase still whines about it. Mark Glendenning’s subsequent piece on this issue put it all very well, but it’s incredibly sad that it even needed to be said.
Yes, IndyCar has problems. But dwelling on them to the point of drowning out the good is only harming the series that they claim to love. We’re past needing a deep well of negativity to force the powers that be to fix the problems. I have lost count of how many potential fans I have seen give the series a chance, like what they saw on track, only to be driven away by a fan base that acts like it’s the worst thing in the world.
If IndyCar dies, it won’t be Roger Penske’s fault. The blame will lie squarely on the fan base.
FormulaFox
MP: It’s just a culture thing that can’t die fast enough. I interact with a ton of fans at every race — IndyCar, IMSA, and vintage events — and the raw passion on display is beautiful. Some folks have criticisms to offer, and they’re welcome, but for the most part, the people I come across who attend motor races tend to bring a lot of love for the sport with them and focus on supporting it and bringing friends and family to the party to help with its growth. Those people are part of my tribe.
The decisions made or not made by Penske Entertainment can just as easily kill IndyCar, so I would not agree with the last sentences.
Q: A really good article by Mark Glendenning, with a great title.
For me and my friends, who grew up in Southern California with easy access to Riverside, Ontario, Fontana and the Long Beach Grand Prix, I can see why some people would be a bit perturbed to find that they cannot attend the Thermal race. On the surface it seems like a play for the wealthy at the expense of the little guy. I admit it bugged me at first. After all, isn’t it the little guy, the average race fan who builds the sport?
But, after reading your article, I’m willing to step over the “poop” and say that this seems to be an outside-the-box style event, and if it brings in more sponsors or owners, more wealthy people who would like to invest in our sport, then I, as your average working stiff, applaud it! It sounds like a great idea, and yes, I will be watching it on TV.
Lord knows American open-wheeled racing needs help in the way of money and exposure for its growth. Maybe a TV executive will be there and want to do a deal for a great IndyCar “Drive To Survive” style show. Maybe an owner of XYZ company will decide to do another Hy-Vee style event at an IndyCar track. Maybe the next Helio or Dixon or Mears will be inspired to start a racing career. Or… maybe the next promoter of IndyCar racing will be there and buy the Fontana speedway and promote the hell out of the next 500-mile event (from my mouth to God’s ears).
Let’s just go with it and see what happens. How could it hurt our sport? Step over the poop and start looking for unicorns.
Sean
MP: I’m all for calling out idiocy and bad ideas. This Thermal event doesn’t warrant the nuclear bomb treatment. ‘Nuff said.
Q: I read with interest the various championship points scoring permutations that your statistician friend Scott Richard showed us last week and the differing results.
As we know when points systems change in a series, comparing like for like is not always accurate.
This highlighted my firm belief that the champion should always be driver scoring the most wins in a season. When drivers tie then it goes back to the most seconds or thirds etc.
Palou correctly is still the winner in 2023 as he won the most races!
Oliver Wells
MP: As Scott often tells me, he uses the CART points from 1983 as the cutoff point when doing comparisons between today’s IndyCar points and the back-in-the-day stuff since it’s the closest to the structure we have now. As much as I appreciated Power’s consistency that delivered the 2022 title, the one-win champion scenario, or Marco Andretti’s zero-win SRX crowning, doesn’t sit well with me.