By Susan Phillips
For the second weekend in a row, there will be no IndyCar race this weekend. For those of us that live in households where the weekend schedule is based on the IndyCar schedule, that can bring some welcomed relief. To some, it may mean a trip to the beach. For others, it’s a chance to relax and catch a movie or some other activity away from the house and the television. That’s the way it has been in my household in past years–but not this summer.
The other day, I was perusing through Robin Miller’s Mailbag on Racer.com and came across what I considered to be a very astute observation. It was only one short sentence that sounded so simple, but it spoke volumes about some of the unrealistic expectations that some of today’s fans have when watching a race.
Before you read this, please understand that I really know nothing about the topic I am about to discuss. I am probably about as qualified to write about brain surgery or splitting the atom as I am to discuss team associations and satellite operations. So if I make you shake your head in disgust as you read this…you’ve been warned.
After nine years, Mazda is closing its door on the Mazda Road to Indy program (MRTI). There is no way to sugarcoat this. It’s a major blow to the ladder system of the Verizon IndyCar Series and it could have a major impact on IndyCar for years to come.
Today is August 1, which is the unofficial start to the Verizon IndyCar silly season. I’ve never really known where the term silly season came from. The NFL calls a similar time period Free Agency. They are both the same thing; when an athlete’s contract with an employer is up and they are free to shop their services around to a competitor.
For a race that has a reputation as being somewhat of a parade, yesterday’s Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio was anything but processional. While the new unified aero kit may still need tweaking at some of the ovals on the Verizon IndyCar Series schedule; the series should be given high marks for how much better the car races on road and street courses. The race at Toronto two weeks ago was probably the best I’ve seen there, and I can now say the same for yesterday’s race at Mid-Ohio.
The Verizon IndyCar Series makes its annual visit to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course this weekend for the Honda Indy 200. This is one of those tracks that I really want to go to one of these days, but so far I’ve never been. Such will be the case this weekend as I’ll be watching from the confines of my den.
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