A perfect balance of entertainment and skill!
Roughly a decade after the top level of American open wheel racing was reunited, all the signs are looking great for a sport with hard racing, packed grids, and a true star line up! Considering that we are still in the pandemic, this may not even be the peak of the series that we see!
Back in the 1980’s and 90’s, the series was in a very similar position, with so much interest around the world, star names coming to the series, and plenty of manufacturers. However, the owners of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway wanted to take the series in a direction that the teams were not happy to partake in, and they ended up splitting, and formed two rival series. Both of the championships did come together for the Indy 500, but there was so much politics and arguing involved it would warrant a separate article.
The split caused huge damage to the sport, and the series nearly fell off the map completely. Luckily, logic prevailed, and the series was brought back together again, and has been on a clear trajectory to the top. It has been able to boost the popularity of the series, by keeping the balance right between entertainment, technology, and true racing.
The first, and most important pillar of this success is the car itself, which is mostly a spec car, in terms of the chassis and aerodynamics. This avoids large grid spread between teams, and means they can create a vehicle which can follow other cars very well, which is crucial. They did dabble with manufacturer aerokits, which I thought worked well, as it gave more differences between cars, and so more chances to overtake. It was scrapped though, due to Chevrolet beginning to dominate the series. The other positive of the spec cars is the consistent image, which helps to grow the sport, as it makes the cars more recognizable if they are all the same. The big bonus for the teams is the reduced R&D costs of spec parts, which should allow more teams to enter the sport, despite the cost of parts, because you are guaranteed to have the same equipment as others.
One thing that isn’t spec on the cars is the engine, which for the past few years has been split by Honda and Chevrolet. By keeping the power outputs for the two close together, it also promotes great racing. These two giants will also pump money into the sport, and IndyCar has been trying to keep them interested in staying, which the new hybrids might do. Having two big name companies supporting the series, has started to create a rivalry akin to Ford vs Holden in V8 Supercars. There isn’t any bad blood here at all, but that battle can only do good things.
I mentioned about team interest due to the spec cars, but the whole model of the series is one that allows teams to join more easily. It isn’t like F1 where to join the sport you have to race all the tracks, so we often see teams try out a race or two to begin with, and gradually build from there. Teams can also make alliances with fellow competitors, to help them along if they wish. Plus, being allowed to vary the car liveries over the season, means different sponsors can come onboard for different races, which could earn the teams more money.
The drivers are also having a blast with IndyCar as it is, they get to drive really powerful cars, and can grab them by the scruff of the neck. There are many different disciplines of track for them to enjoy, the whole environment is a more relaxed one for them too, compared to other series. Another thing is that there is less dependency of being in the right car to do well, given the strength and depth of the championship.
The new TV deals, to be exclusively with NBC has been a win for the sport too, as NBC has pushed their product much more than ABC did. Yes, we are seeing certain parts being put behind a paywall, which is never ideal, and NBCSN disappearing is a blow, however, having most of the season on network TV is massive for the sport. The commentators are knowledgeable and work well together, which always aids the enjoyment of the racing.
Following on from the TV deal, is the fans, who get as much action as you could want from any series, with a vast amount of access too. It is much easier to walk up and talk to drivers, and feel more involved in the sport, it is also simpler in terms of rules, on the most part, for new fans to understand. Having a strong support schedule, means that fans at the track can get their money’s worth. Most of the other perks for the fans I have talked about already, but one thing I like, is the balance between the predictability of the powerhouse teams like Penske winning a lot, but also with the chance for small teams like Dale Coyne to go out and almost win too.
It isn’t perfect though, and probably never will be, as you can never have the smooth without the rough. More variation in terms of chassis and engine suppliers, would be the cherry on top of this whole cake, yet that could cause instability in other strong parts of the series. It is unlikely that Dallara will be challenged anytime soon on the chassis front, however, speculation is rife about a third engine manufacturer. Toyota seem to be the front runner, and whilst it could be great for the series, there is a higher chance of one engine being much better than the others.
To end this happy article, I would be remised to not mention the biggest event in the IndyCar series, the Indy 500. Which is a huge part of why the series is doing so well, as the mainstream focus that the race gets is second to none. In all honesty, it seems that each is paying the other back, as a stable series in the early 2010’s, allowed the Indy 500 to boom around 2016 or so, helped by the 100th running, and the massive appeal of that race now, is bringing teams, drivers and fans to look at the series as a whole today. This is the golden age of IndyCar, and I urge everyone to pay attention and enjoy it.
-M
Meaning of Motorsport 