On Texas...and a NASCAR/IndyCar Doubleheader

I guess I provided some evidence that a NASCAR/IndyCar doubleheader could work, because I attended both the NASCAR truck race on Friday night at Texas Motor Speedway and the DXC IndyCar race on Saturday night. It wasn't difficult for me to choose which race was better--the truck race was a crash-filled embarrassment, with a seemingly scripted winner in Greg Biffle, and the IndyCar race came down to the final few laps. I have some other observations about both races, but more on that later. First, a recap of the IndyCar race at Texas.

Three Stars of the Race

#1 Star: Colton Herta

I chose Herta as the top star of this race because he was noticeable all night. I couldn't take my eyes off the battle between him, Alexander Rossi, and James Hinchcliffe in the mid to late stages of the race. He showed speed and fearlessness, and seemed to be the only one who could pass on the outside of turn 1. But his aggression eventually got him in trouble, as he tried to pass Scott Dixon on lap 229. Though some say Dixon should have given Herta more room, I have to disagree. I watched Herta inching closer and closer to him each lap, and I saw him dart to the inside of turn 3. I thought to myself, there's no way that's going to work, and I was right. Now you can say Dixon should have given Herta more room and considered the big picture of the championship, and allowed Herta to pass, but Dixon had such a good car he could have eventually caught Newgarden and Rossi for the lead. That would yield even more points. To me, this crash was on Herta trying to impatiently force a pass. I do like that he was going for the win, however. Right now I feel like there are too many drivers simply driving around hoping for a decent finish, not really challenging for the lead. I also applaud Dixon for accepting some responsibility (at first, at least). Herta is exciting to watch, and I can only dream about what a super team he and Pato O'Ward would have been this year.

#2 Star: Ryan Hunter-Reay

RHR led more laps than anyone (90), but poor strategy took him out of contention for the lead. I'm not completely sure why he wasn't able to save fuel as well as some others, but I imagine leading so many laps contributed to it. It definitely looked like he had one of the best cars in the race, and I felt bad for him. He needs a win, and this could have been his first one at Texas. He and his team will have to talk this one out and try to ensure it doesn't happen again.

#3 Star: Tim Cindric

I will confess, I looked up at the pylon at one point late in the race and was shocked to see #2 listed in second place. As Rossi noted, Josef Newgarden was not in contention at all during this race. He and Team Penske looked to be having a terrible race (by their standards). But Cindric called Newgarden in during a caution, putting him in position to outlast other drivers who still needed to pit. This is two weeks in a row now where Cindric has pulled off a winning strategy, and he may have just handed Newgarden his second championship. To be honest, I felt deflated and cheated when Newgarden took the checkered flag. Rossi, Dixon, Herta, Hinch, RHR...all of them had better cars, consistently ran toward the front, and were in position to win the race. I know, Newgarden kept it clean whereas Dixon, Herta, and Hinch did not. But I just want to see someone different win a race for a change. I am so tired of Team Penske, and I liked Newgarden much better when he was with Ed Carpenter Racing (and others), probably because he was a bit of an underdog then. I imagine Rossi has to feel similar frustration, coming in second behind a Penske car for the third time in three weeks. I feel like the parity that was so characteristic of IndyCar at the beginning of the year has quickly dissipated. Right now it feels like the only drivers who can win a race are Team Penske, Rossi, and Dixon. Takuma Sato could have won this race had he not violently hit one of his crew members--wow, was that scary, and I'm glad the crewman was alright (and a true badass, wanting to get back out there during the race!). And Dixon has now crashed two races in a row after not doing so in several years. So really it comes down to Penske vs. Rossi--a rivalry that could be good for IndyCar, but only if Rossi can actually beat Penske one of these days.

Race Storylines

As for the race itself, I thought it was very good. I didn't feel like I was able to relax until Zach Veach brought out the first caution, even though the first 100 laps or so were a bit of a parade. This race felt a lot like the Indy 500, with limited action until the second half of the race, and when it picked up, ooh boy was it exciting. Sato and Dixon pulled away easily from the field, but once the sun went down, things changed, as they often do at Texas. Suddenly cars ran closer, and passing was difficult but not impossible. The last few laps were thrilling, and the crowd cheered when Rossi and Newgarden swapped positions at the front. Personally I would've liked to see a little more passing or side-by-side action, but that also makes me nervous so maybe I'm good with what we saw.

There were several possible explanations for why we didn't see as much action in the first half of the race. For one, tire falloff wasn't as great as some expected. I got a look at some of the tires after the race, and while some belonging to Team Penske looked extremely blistered, many others didn't. I think Firestone has some work to do with this tire, and I'm sure they will get better. Second, Texas is still recovering after a repave and lowering of the banking between turns 1 and 2. There never seemed to be a second groove for passing in that area. Rossi tried numerous times to pass in turn 1 but couldn't make it work. And when Hinch did try to pass coming out of turn 2, he spun and hit the wall. I imagine in a few years, the track will be more rubbered in and will return to its old form. Three, teams had limited practice time, with the first practice, and the only one under the lights, shortened by rain. I wish they could have added another practice but I understand they don't want to add one on race day in case any problems arise. And finally, it was incredibly hot when the sun was up--around 95 degrees air temperature, with the track temp much higher. That can certainly have an effect on tires, cars, and drivers. I saw someone suggested pushing the start time for this race ahead a half an hour, to level the playing field some and give us better racing. I fully support that suggestion.

As I said, I attended the NASCAR truck race Friday night and was reminded of why I prefer IndyCar racing. Apparently there were a record number of cautions in the race, and once I saw the third caution in the first 28 laps, I actually was pissed. Under green flag conditions, there was close, side-by-side racing, but these drivers couldn't go more than a few laps without someone crashing. And then, when there was an exciting battle at the front, the caution flag would wave because it was the end of a stage. It was without a doubt the worst race I have ever witnessed in person. But fans were happy because Greg Biffle won. There was definitely a different (and much smaller) crowd at the track on Friday, and while that type of "racing" may have appealed to some of those fans, it did not appeal to me one bit.

At one point either before or during the race on Saturday, I overheard a self-admitted NASCAR fan say that he tried to watch the Detroit IndyCar race (I'm not sure which one) and that after giving it a go, he said he'd rather watch paint dry. I'm guessing he watched race 1, or tuned out quickly during race 2. I also saw some comments by NASCAR fans describing the Texas IndyCar race as boring. As much as these comments infuriate me, I understand them. If you don't know the drivers and the cars, and don't know which battles to follow, racing can indeed be boring or uninteresting. I thought my first NASCAR race, also at Texas, was incredibly boring--because I didn't know many of the drivers. But imagine if that fan had been next to me and I had the opportunity to educate him about the drivers, the cars, the style of racing, etc.--and he could do the same for me about NASCAR. Perhaps this is a pipe dream, but I think the two fan bases can coexist, if we can get over competing with each other about which form of racing is better. The truth is, it's a matter of personal preference. I don't like to see crashes, stages, or gimmicky entertainment. I think IndyCars look sleek and sexy, and I can't pick a favorite driver because almost every driver is incredibly likable. I marvel at IndyCar drivers' skill when they are side-by-side with other open wheel race cars. I love that they race on different types of tracks, so that an IndyCar champion is truly a diverse and deserving race car driver. As I saw this weekend, NASCAR is primarily about entertainment and marketing its drivers. At times the racing is great, but even if it's not, fans will be happy as long as "their" driver wins. You will never, ever persuade me that NASCAR is better than IndyCar, as I'm sure you'll never, ever persuade some NASCAR fans that IndyCar is better. But I will watch both, and I bet many NASCAR fans would too. I hope that I get to see a doubleheader with these two American motorsports sometime in my lifetime.

Three Races, Six Stars, and One Big Blunder

With three races in two weeks, this extremely busy part of the schedule is demanding and exhausting for teams, especially the mechanics. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to go from a prestigious superspeedway (Indianapolis) to a bumpy street course doubleheader to another fast oval in the span of just a few weeks. But this is a great time to be an IndyCar fan. Let's recap the past three races.

Indy 500 Stars

#1 Star: Simon Pagenaud

Of course, Pagenaud won the race so he earned the top star, even though I think we will remember Alexander Rossi's performance more. Listening to Pagenaud explain his thinking over the last 12 laps showed why he won. He displayed patience and intelligence, and really dominated the entire race. It's always nice to see a first-time winner at IMS, and Simon is a deserving champion. He and Rossi gave us a tremendous, exhilarating finish to an enjoyable but otherwise ho-hum race.

#2 Star: Alexander Rossi

Rossi is quickly becoming an IndyCar star and a fan favorite, and his driving at the past two Indy 500s have shown why. Whether he was shaking his fist at lapped Oriol Servia for not allowing him to pass (meaning that he was driving with one hand at 220 mph!), banging on the steering wheel when his fueler couldn't get the hose into the car, or showing daredevil moves by passing as many cars as possible, Rossi was a thrill to watch. The past few races have highlighted to me that not everyone in the paddock actually wants to win--there seems to be some drivers and teams who are content with a podium or a top ten finish, as long as the car comes back clean. As a fan, that is aggravating, so it's refreshing to see someone like Rossi, who clearly wants to win every week and will do whatever it takes to get to Victory Lane. He will get his second Indy 500 win eventually, I'm pretty sure about that.

#3 Star: Santino Ferrucci

Ferrucci also gained some fans, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., with his slick driving at Indy. He raced former champ Tony Kanaan cleanly out of the pits, ultimately passing him, and he managed to avoid all the carnage caused by Sebastien Bourdais' and Graham Rahal's crash, cutting through the grass at full throttle. This solid driving garnered him a seventh place finish and Indy 500 Rookie of the Year honors. It also showed a maturing Ferrucci, who seems grateful for the second chance that IndyCar has given him, and who seems to be having the time of his life.

Side note: This really is an impressive rookie class. Every full-time rookie in the field has won something this year: Colton Herta won the race at COTA, Marcus Ericsson won the Indy 500 pit stop challenge (and a podium at Detroit), Ferrucci won Indy 500 ROTY, and Felix Rosenqvist won the pole for the Indy Grand Prix. It will be a dogfight for the overall Rookie of the Year award. Pato O'Ward, it's your turn next!

Detroit Stars 

#1 Star: Scott Dixon

This was a difficult choice, because the two winners of the Dual in Detroit both had awful races along with their victories. It was shocking to see Dixon crash in Race 1, something he apparently hasn't done since 2014 (I believe it was Texas, I was there--he crashed coming out of turn 3). He took responsibility for the wreck, claiming "driver error." Then he followed it up with a clean, Dixon-like effort in Race 2. He is just an all-around amazing driver.

#2 Star: Josef Newgarden

Again, Josef won Race 1 but made an aggressive, mental error in Race 2 and did not finish. But like Dixon, he took responsibility for the error, which was refreshing. Newgarden was the beneficiary of a timely caution in race 1--he was in the pits when the yellow came out, but he managed to hold off a hard charging Rossi to win. Rossi had to be frustrated beyond words to take second place behind a Team Penske Chevrolet for the second race in a row, which may have him longing for a spot on the team. Full credit to Tim Cindric, who called Newgarden in when the track started drying, anticipating a yellow flag. I did not like how he kept telling Newgarden when Rossi was using push-to-pass, and I think that's something IndyCar may want to look at when the season's done. Not so long ago that information was secret, which keeps things more interesting and fair.

#3 Star: Marco Andretti

Marco was the first one to take off the rain tires in Race 1, and should have catapulted to the lead when the caution flag came out. But unfortunately he got inexplicably screwed by Race Control. Race Control essentially rushed to open the pits before bunching up the field, which allowed other cars to come out in front of Marco. It's a real shame for Marco, who needed and, in this race, deserved a good result. The on-board camera showing Marco skillfully driving on slick tires in still-wet conditions was fantastic. For that alone, his performance was star-worthy.

A Frustrating Blunder

That being said, I thought Detroit Race 1 was the worst race of the year, one that overall left a bad taste in my mouth. I don't understand why it became a timed race, only 75 minutes, when NBC knew its window ended at 6pm EST, and when it knew it could switch to CNBC, another network, or at the very least, the NBC Sports app. It doesn't bother me that it moved to another network--this has happened in the past with ABC and with other sports. But someone did not calculate their math correctly if they thought the race would finish by 6pm. Seasoned event planners like those at Detroit and NBC should know to plan for the worst, or at least have some ideas in place if things don't go as planned. Did the race organizers, IndyCar, and network representatives not talk about contingency plans in case of weather? Did they not look at a forecast or the radar? And then, to give fans absolutely no explanation, and to not take responsibility for this error is unacceptable. Dixon and Newgarden admitted their mistakes, the network should do the same. I feel extremely bad for anyone who bought a ticket to the race, traveled out of city or state to attend, only to have the race shortened by almost 30 laps for no good reason. I just want someone at NBC to say, "we messed up, and we will do better next time," which is what effective leaders do. Why is that so hard?

The shortened race, coupled with the failure to bunch up the field and allow Marco to at least have a chance at taking the lead, and Newgarden's lucky yellow, just made me mad and disappointed. I like to see different winners, so I'm hoping we see someone new on the podium's top step this weekend (Conor Daly, perhaps? We can dream, right? Anything is possible at Texas!). Fortunately Race 2 was much better, and we were treated to some great racing and drama. Another side note: How did Will Power take 3rd after his miserable weekend?? Incredible, and worth an honorable mention. Texas always brings nervous excitement, and I'm hoping it will also bring some redemption for a tough Detroit weekend. For now at least, it's not supposed to rain! Let's hope NBC has a plan just in case it does.

Rookie Wins at Rookie Track

I attended the inaugural IndyCar Classic at Circuit of the Americas on March 23, 2019 and I have some thoughts on both the race and the track. I wouldn't call it the best road race I've ever seen, as apparently some have, but it was a good debut for IndyCar for sure. Let's recap.

Three Stars of the Race

#1 Star: Colton Herta
Some will say that Herta lucked into this win, because an ill-timed caution forced leaders Will Power and Alexander Rossi to pit and shuffle to the back. However, Penske and Andretti know the game. They should understand that waiting to pit is a risk, especially when you have a lead. Herta's team chose to pit earlier, and it paid off. Even before the caution, Herta showed he could mix it up with the big boys. He was fastest in the test at COTA, qualified in the Firestone Fast Six, and passed Rossi during the race. He became the youngest IndyCar winner ever, not because of his name and not just because of some luck. He had to hold off former champion and St. Pete winner Josef Newgarden on the restart--no easy task, and I'll admit, I thought Newgarden would get him. Herta's win was a fabulous story on a rookie weekend, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for him in IndyCar.

#2 Star: Patricio O'Ward

Speaking of rookies, there was another standout rookie in the field, one who was Herta's teammate for a short time (but we won't talk about that debacle except to say what a team this would've been!). Indy Lights champ Pato O'Ward received a huge ovation from the crowd when he was introduced, and it's safe to say he's an even bigger fan favorite now after he showed some daring moves. Watching him and Graham Rahal trade passes was a thrill, and that was IndyCar at its finest. Here's another rookie I look forward to watching this year.

#3 Star: Graham Rahal
I'm not sure if they showed all of Rahal's moves on TV but I definitely had my eye on him during the race. His battles with O'Ward were spectacular, and he fought hard for a fourth-place finish, constantly passing throughout the race and taking full advantage of the no track limits.

 Three Stories of the Race

#1 Story: Closed Pits
The untimely caution for Felix Rosenqvist's accident likely cost Rossi (not Power) the race. Power ended up with a mechanical problem and did not finish the race, and this problem likely would have appeared with or without the caution. But it looked like Rossi was just biding his time and would eventually pass Power, and he probably would have assumed the lead since Power had the problem in the pits. Power criticized IndyCar for closing the pits under caution, but since Rosenqvist's car was blocking pit entry, I certainly understand why they did that. That's not always the case though, and IndyCar regularly waits to open the pits under caution. I have no strong feelings on this subject but I'm not in the car. It might be worth exploring opening the pits under caution at least. But again, Rossi's team chose to wait to pit, and that is ultimately what cost him the race. The caution, at the very least, gave us a great story for the weekend.

#2 Story: No Track Limits
I cannot understand why anyone would criticize IndyCar's decision to implement no track limits at COTA. OK so F1 enforces track limits. And how does that affect their racing? IndyCar's drivers were able to really race by taking advantage of the wider track. In the process, they gave us some thrills and led to the aforementioned "best road race I've seen" comments. Let's hope they continue this guideline in the future.

#3: COTA's Debut
Alright, I have some thoughts on COTA. Some good, some not so good. Let me start with the bad. First of all, they are definitely not Texas Motor Speedway. Or Pocono Raceway, or St. Pete, or some of the other tracks I've attended. It seemed to me that they have this kind of elitist mindset, probably from hosting F1 and MotoGP races for several years. They put a cap on the number of IndyCar paddock passes sold and refused to sell any more. Yet IndyCar prides itself on being accessible to fans. I was able to get autographs and photos from three IndyCar champions on Saturday (all from Team Penske)--and I highly doubt I would have had that opportunity in F1. Not only that, unlike TMS, they strictly enforced seating. After qualifying on Saturday, we tried move to the Turn 1 grandstands but were turned away. This in spite of the fact that the Turn 1 stands were nearly empty and the "main event--" IndyCar--was over. Our seats were in the Turn 15-16 area, so we paid more than general admission. I don't understand why you wouldn't let fans who have paid a similar price sit in a similar section, especially when there were plenty of seats available. I definitely appreciate that TMS and other tracks will let you move around more and explore different areas.

Second of all, this was an expensive race. We paid $175 each for three days in Turn 15-16 and we weren't even able to attend on Friday due to work commitments. (COTA seemed to discourage buying single-day tickets.) Our stand was not full at all, and I suspect the high ticket price was a reason why. Contrast this to TMS, who just emailed me a promotion for two tickets and two scanners for $59 for the June IndyCar race. Not only were the race tickets expensive, the food and drinks were pricey as well. AND hotels raised their prices significantly for the weekend so we had to pay a lot for that. This was not a family-friendly event, which is why I probably saw very few kids at this race. How can an average family afford to go? If it's a choice between COTA and TMS, they have to choose TMS because it's most cost-effective and fan friendly.

That being said, COTA did try to make the race into an event. In addition to having constant on-track activity with Indy Lights, Stadium Super Trucks and Mazda CX-5 Cup, they had a zip line, a go-kart track, and the Muse concert on Saturday night (good show, by the way). I'm not sure if they do this for other racing series, but they also let fans "invade" the track after the checkered flag fell, to watch the podium celebration. And wow, did they shower us with a massive amount of confetti. All of those aspects were truly impressive. So I guess you could say I got my money's worth. I'm just not sure I can afford to go to this race every year, especially when there are other tracks I'd like to visit.

I also saw A LOT of F1 fan attire throughout the weekend, particularly on Saturday. This was not unexpected, and I'm glad I didn't hear a lot of negativity or comparisons of F1 to IndyCar. I'd be curious to know their thoughts on the race though.

All in all, it was an enjoyable race but not the best I've ever seen in person or on TV. There wasn't much of a challenge for the lead, though there may have been if Rossi and Power stayed at the front. There were some great battles in the middle of the pack, and I had a great vantage point of those from my seats in Turn 16. Will I be back? Probably. It's within driving distance for me so I feel like I should. Better start saving up now I suppose!

And We're Back!

The title of this entry is intentional--it reflects IndyCar's long-awaited return from a long offseason, and it also reflects my return to this blog. It is difficult to keep up with this site, given the many responsibilities of my "day job," and the fact that I'm returning to school now, but I hope to maintain it during this season. So let's begin, shall we?


I was fortunate to attend the St. Petersburg race a few years ago, and as I watched the race on TV yesterday I longed to go back. Perhaps next year! I remember when I checked into my hotel, the front desk clerk asked me if I was there for the "grand prix." When I confirmed that I was, he nodded and said, "Gets bigger and bigger every year." As an IndyCar fan, I loved hearing this. St. Pete is a fabulous venue to kick off the season, and they were excellent hosts. The weather is usually beautiful, and the track has a breathtakingly scenic view. Couple that with a busy weekend that is rarely devoid of racing action, and St. Pete is a must-see for IndyCar fans. This year's race wasn't the most scintillating but certainly gave us some good stars and stories to track this season.

Three Stars of the Race

#1 Star: Felix Rosenqvist
The talented Swede showed why Chip Ganassi was so excited to sign him, and why the IndyCar community has been buzzing about him for awhile. Reminiscent of last year's rookie of the year Robert Wickens, Rosenqvist advanced to the Firestone Fast Six and led 31 laps in his first IndyCar race. He nearly stood on the podium, but for some great strategy by Team Penske, and finished fourth. While there are some notable rookies in the field this year, I think it will be tough for anyone to truly challenge Rosenqvist for rookie of the year. He will be fun to watch this season.

#2 Star: Josef Newgarden and Tim Cindric

It shouldn't be a surprise that Team Penske won at St. Pete, as they have crossed the finish line first eight times in the race's 16-year history. But they weren't remarkable in practice, and have had some issues the past few years. This year, smart strategy by Cindric and smart driving by Newgarden brought home the win. While most other drivers opted for black tires, Newgarden and Cindric chose used reds for a stint after Josef had taken the lead. With a clear track in front of him and some outstanding in-laps and out-laps, Newgarden was able to gap the field. He was briefly held up by Marco Andretti at the end of the race, but ultimately he prevailed, beating Scott Dixon by nearly three seconds. The three drivers on the podium--Newgarden, Dixon, and polesitter Will Power--figure to be top contenders for the championship this year, and they got off to a great start with these strong results.

#3 Star: Robert Wickens
How can you not marvel at this young man? Chronicling his recovery from the spinal cord injury he suffered at last year's Pocono race has, I'm sure, been difficult. For us, though, following his progress has truly been an inspiration. Wickens returned to St. Pete, the track where he shined as a rookie polesitter last year, with a smile on his face. He signed autographs, visited with fans and fellow drivers, and cheered on his fellow Arrow Schmidt Peterson teammates. He is determined to return to a race car, and while it might not be an IndyCar, I have no doubt that he will achieve this goal. It was a joy to see him at the track again.


I want to give an honorable mention to DragonSpeed's Ben Hanley. This team provided a great story for the weekend, though it went largely overlooked. As the team noted on social media, they were late to the IndyCar party and managed to cobble together a capable racecar in just a few weeks. Hanley was the beneficiary of two red flags in qualifying, but he did not cause any problems and finished the race--running--just two laps down in 18th place. An encouraging start for a fledging team, and I'm eager to follow their progress.

 Three Stories of the Race

#1 Story: Honda's Issues
First, Sebastien Bourdais' rear caught fire. Then, Ryan Hunter-Reay, who seems to have angered the IndyCar gods or something, blew an engine, in a cloud of smoke that was eerily similar to the Honda issues of a few years ago. Seriously, can this guy catch a break? He looked so good in practice, and qualified fifth, but a good race result was not to be. Takuma Sato and rookie Marcus Ericsson were also forced to retire from the race with mechanical problems. Evidently not all Hondas had problems, as seven finished in the top ten. But given Honda's history with engine gremlins, this may be cause for concern and definitely something to monitor as the season continues.


#2 Story: A Tale of Two Halves
The first half of the race was highly entertaining, with some exciting passes for the lead and wheel-to-wheel action. But once Newgarden took the lead, he checked out and the race essentially became a parade. They can't all be winners, and admittedly, St. Pete is usually not the most dramatic race of the season. Hopefully it was enough to keep some new eyeballs on the screen, though...


#3 Story: The Debut of NBC
I think all IndyCar fans are thrilled to have NBC as the full-time TV partner this year and for years to come. But encountering some technical difficulties in your first race leaves a bit of a black eye on the network. We missed some key action, and were briefly treated to Leigh Diffey, Townsend Bell, and Paul Tracy describing a race with no video, with audio that sounded like it was 1945. Fortunately these difficulties did not last for the remainder of the race, and the app still provided in-car cameras. I was pleased to finally have a pre-race and post-race for the season opener, so for the most part they can be forgiven. And three cheers for NTT, who seem to be a highly supportive and visible partner for IndyCar.


Up Next: IndyCar's debut at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX. I am approaching this race with cautious optimism, and an open mind. I just hope all the F1 and IndyCar fans can enjoy the race without getting into belittling comparisons between series. See you in two weeks, IndyCar!