Look Forward, Not Backward

The recent news about Oriol Servia and Panther DRR Racing closing up shop after the Indy 500 is certainly disheartening, especially for Servia, who has shown such promise as a driver. Couple that with the off-season rhetoric about Randy Bernard's firing (including numerous fan threats to be "done with IndyCar") and you might think that IndyCar is on the decline. I, however, prefer to think differently. I have noticed quite a number of positive indicators that IndyCar is on an upswing. The following evidence is presented to silence all those naysayers and to get us to focus on looking ahead rather than looking back and wishing for the glory days of the past.

Signs IndyCar Is on the Mend:

• The St. Petersburg race saw a 78% increase in TV ratings over last year's first race, and a 53% increase in viewers versus the first NBCSN race last year. More eyeballs on the TV means more appeal to sponsors and advertisers.
• The Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama set an attendance record this year, with over 83,000 people attending over the race weekend. Long Beach's attendance also saw an increase of about 3,000 people, bringing an estimated 200,000 people to the area for the weekend. These numbers should help keep these events on the schedule, so fans can plan accordingly.
• In fact, both St. Petersburg and Alabama have renewed their contracts with IndyCar, ensuring the races will remain in those locations through 2017 and 2016, respectively. Evidently they see IndyCar as a profitable, mutually beneficial investment worth continuing.
• So far this year, there have been three different race winners, including two first-time wins by enormously popular drivers. Sato's win in particular should ignite more global attention. Only Helio Castroneves has been on multiple podiums. The Long Beach race featured three different race teams on the podium, and none named Andretti, Ganassi, or Penske. IndyCar seems to have achieved parity, and the suspense of not knowing who will win each weekend maintains curiosity and intrigue.
• In a SPEED.com survey on April 22, 2013, readers were asked "What was the best race of the weekend?" This question is frequently asked, but I have noticed that almost every time, NASCAR receives the most votes. On April 22, however, readers/viewers voted the Long Beach IndyCar race as the best of the weekend, with 40% voting for it versus 26% for the NASCAR race.
• Turbo! 'Nuff said. This movie will be the best thing to happen to IndyCar in years, because it will give exposure to the motorsport, particularly among kids. IndyCar's fan base needs to get younger if it is to thrive, and this film will seemingly help that.

So to all of those Negative Neds and Nancies out there, I say: Phooey. I prefer to focus on the positive. I didn't even mention how exciting the racing has been over the past year. That alone should be evidence that IndyCar is moving in the right direction.