By ZECH YODER
2024 INDYCAR schedule released
The NTT INDYCAR Series released its 2024 season schedule on Tuesday.
Although largely unchanged, many were disappointed with the loss of a race at Texas Motor Speedway, which has been on the INDYCAR schedule since 1997.
The loss of Texas Motor Speedway is a blow to oval enthusiasts as it was one of only two “fast ovals” left on the INDYCAR calendar and the only 1.5-mile trioval on the schedule. Once dominated by fast ovals, INDYCAR shifted its attention to short tracks and road/street courses.
As one who enjoys the high-speed drama of large ovals, I am disappointed by the absence of Texas from the 2024 season. Large ovals make for some of the best racing in the INDYCAR season. The last two races at Texas have been spectacular with late passes for the lead and multiple groove racing.
For 2024, the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway remains the last fast oval on the schedule.
Although not entirely clear, the loss of Texas Motor Speedway may be tied to the NASCAR schedule. From 2004 to 2022, Texas Motor Speedway hosted two NASCAR events, one in the spring and one as a playoff race in the fall. Due to declining attendance and a mediocre racing product, the spring race at Texas was cut from the NASCAR calendar in 2023. Further, the poor racing product in recent years have led many to believe that Texas may also lose its September playoff race. It now appears that NASCAR will host a spring race at Texas Motor Speedway, which may have interfered with the INDYCAR weekend and caused INDYCAR to drop Texas from its schedule for 2024.
Whatever the reason, I really hope INDYCAR fits at least one 1.5-mile speedway into its schedule for 2025.
New to the INDYCAR schedule for 2024 is The Thermal Club $1 Million Challenge, an exhibition race at the ultra-exclusive luxury resort and motorsports park in Thermal, Calif. After conducting an in-season test at The Thermal Club in April of 2023, it comes as no shock that INDYCAR would return, this time for a high-stakes, made-for-TV exhibition.
Finally, in place of Texas and the summer road race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is a return to the Milwaukee Mile Speedway in back-to-back races on Aug. 31 and Sep. 1, 2024. The Milwaukee Mile is a one-mile, low-banked oval, somewhat similar to World Wide Technology Raceway. INDYCAR last raced on the Milwaukee Mile in 2015 when the race was won by Sebastien Bourdais and the now defunct KV Racing Technology team. For many, a return to the Milwaukee Mile is a major victory and series owner, Roger Penske, expressed his commitment to the success of the historic racetrack.
Aside from the redesign and new date of the Nashville Street Race, the 2024 schedule remains largely the same.
Zech Yoder is a local resident, an attorney at Adler Attorneys in Noblesville, and a lifelong race fan.