I don’t know if this is exactly a race preview. After all, the misnamed Million Dollar Challenge is 90% a test session with some racing added at the end. The weekend includes nine hours of testing and three hours of a condensed race weekend.

I have a lot of mixed feelings about this competition. there are many pros and cons to staging a program like this.

Pros-

More Indycar exposure on NBC,

An early season weekend filled with more than just testing, filling a hole left by Texas dropping off the schedule. There is still a 28 day gap to Long Beach.

The smaller teams will get a chance to sort some things out.

Cons-

How hard will teams actually race? With 16 races remaining on the schedule, how much risk to equipment is a team willing to tolerate?

This track appears to be one where passing is difficult.

Ticket prices are exclusionary. Even though the price has dropped from $2,000 to $500, the lower price would barely get a fan into an F1 race. Southern California is not the most economical place to visit, either.

Still, I am intrigued by the concept. Some of the ideas might be tried out in qualifying somewhere. I like the push to pass in qualifying idea. Perhaps the series might try to make P2P available for the final five minutes of the first three rounds of qualifying ay a regular race somewhere.

I remember the heat races that were tried at Iowa a few years ago were not that popular with fans or drivers. They were pretty much follow the leader affairs.

I do like the no fuel saving aspect, and that tires cannot be changed during the race.

Let’s see how it works out. At least Indycar is doing something different.

Notes

“100 Days to Indy,” season 1 will begin streaming on Netflix April 4, It is currently streaming globally on the CW streaming app and Paramount +.

Season 2 premieres April 26 on the CW at 9 pm Eastern and Pacific.