Tag: NTT Indycar Series

The Weekend the Tree Fell in the Forest

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Photo: The start of the 2019 GMR Grand Prix

Suppose history was made and no one was there to  see it? The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has an historic weekend planned, but fans will not be there to see it. I think this hurts more than the Indianapolis 500 not taking place this past May 24. Then, you knew there weren’t any cars running. This weekend, cars are running, but you can only watch them on television.

The time for an Indycar/NASCAR doubleheader is long overdue. I assume that officials of the two series and IMS thought that a limited amount of  fans would be allowed to attend races on the July 4 weekend when the deal was signed. But when a virus controls things, there are no guarantees. Fans are not allowed to witness what should be a significant event in American racing history on Independence Day weekend.

I have seen many firsts at the Speedway (NOT the first 500, thanks for asking)- the first 150 mile an hour lap, the first 200 mile an hour lap, the first Formula 1 race, the first Brickyard 400- and as much as I understand what’s going on, it’s frustrating not to be there this coming weekend. I stopped going to the NASCAR race after 2007. I thought the first few were good, but when the cars changed the racing changed. I  lost interest in it.

I was interested to see the Xfinity Series on the road course. That might be the way to go for the Cup cars in the future. I enjoyed the USAC stock cars when they raced on the road course at Indianapolis Raceway Park (remember the Yankee 300?).  This combined event may not be repeated. When things get back to normal, the GMR Grand Prix will move back to the second weekend in May. I hope the two series, and maybe IMSA as well, can find a mutual weekend that works for all series to run together.

We need to treat this IMS race meet like the  first moon landing. It is too far and too risky to be there in person, so we must be content to watch it on television.

Better times are ahead. Wash your hands and mask up. We will get there sooner.

 

The 50% Solution

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Hints and rumors came to a head today as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced the 104th running of the Indianapolis 500 will take place August 23 with a reduced crowd of 50% of the track’s capacity. My understanding is that the 50% includes infield and camping space.

Many ticket holders (not me) received a letter today with instructions for re -ticketing. If someone does not wish to go, a credit will be issued which can be applied to next year’s race, among other options. This leaves many fans in a difficult situation. I have from several who will not attend because they feel it isn’t safe. I can’t fault anyone’s decision. It’s a personal choice.

I do believe the Speedway and Penske Entertainment Group are rushing things. They have about two more weeks to make this decision. Indian enters its final re-opening stage a week from tomorrow, and Indianapolis, I assume, will start the final stage on July 11. At this point, why not wait to see if the October date might be a better choice? I submitted a request for a ticket, but I’m not sure if I will use it.

I know this has to be a difficult decision for Doug Boles and Roger Penske. I would be more comfortable with even  fewer fans.

The Risks

I spoke with a friend of mine who is involved in the medical community in Indiana. My friend says that Indiana is prepared and is ahead of other states in keeping the spread down. The doubling rate in the entire  state is 100 days; in Marion County it is 300 days. States that have spiked in cases after re-opening were already seeing increases prior to ending their shutdowns.

So, according to my friend, as long as the numbers in the state stay steady, and people tend to their  personal hygiene- washing hands, wearing masks, distancing- August should be fine. September/October is the beginning of the flu season, which could complicate the Coronavirus.

Lifting the Blackout?

A statement from Mark Miles today said the local television blackout will not be lifted for the race. Why not. They are asking people to stay home then telling them they can’t watch the race until evening? This is a very bad PR move. If the blackout was lifted in 2016 because the track couldn’t sell any more tickets, how is this situation different? The tickets are capped, and although some fans aren’t coming there may be others who want to. I hope the Speedway and Indycar reconsider this decision. If the blackout is lifted it may figure in my decision as to whether or not I watch the race in person.

Road America Official Announcement on Fan Attendance

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From Indycar:

If you are planning to attend Road America, there is some important information in this announcement.

INDYCAR to Welcome Fans
for July 9-12 Race Weekend at Road America
INDIANAPOLIS (June 25, 2020) – The NTT INDYCAR SERIES will welcome fans back to the track for the first time in 2020 on July 9-12 at Road America for the REV Group Grand Prix presented by American Medical Response doubleheader race weekend.

Under the guidance of public health officials, medical experts and local, state and federal authorities, INDYCAR and Road America will observe safe social distancing practices and provide enhanced hygiene and safety precautions for all fans attending the event.

All guests will be screened in their vehicles with contactless temperature checks before entering the parking areas, and only essential racing personnel will have access to the INDYCAR paddock. A PPE kit that includes a face mask as well as hand sanitizer will be provided to each guest upon arrival to the track.

Fans are encouraged to practice safe social distancing and wear a cloth face-covering where social distancing is difficult to maintain. Enhanced cleaning and sanitizing procedures will also be implemented throughout the facility during the weekend. Guests are encouraged to print their tickets at home to have a contactless experience at the gates and easier entry. Additional protocols and guidelines for spectators can be found at www.roadamerica.com/safety.

The race weekend will feature two full points races for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES on back-to-back days – July 11 and 12 – as part of the REV Group Grand Prix presented by AMR. The weekend schedule will also be bolstered by two junior development series of the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires, the Indy Pro 2000, and USF2000, of which many drivers of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES are graduates.

Fans have three quick, convenient methods to buy tickets:

Online: Visit www.roadamerica.com Tickets are available 24 hours a day, seven days per week. Print your tickets to save time and enjoy a contactless experience at the gates.

Phone: Call 800-365-RACE or 920-892-4576 between 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. (CT) Monday through Friday.

In-Person: Visit the Road America Ticket Office at the Road America Administration Building off of State Highway 67 (Gate 6) between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (CT) Monday through Friday.

Gates open at 7 a.m. and races run rain or shine. For more information, call 800-365-RACE (7223) or visit www.roadamerica.com

Anyone 16 years old and under is always FREE with a paying adult at the gate.

All active-duty first responders will receive FREE entry to the REV Group Grand Prix presented by American Medical Response weekend. First responders, including law enforcement, fire, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians, will be admitted free of charge by showing valid identification indicating active service in the form of a department-issued ID, badge, copies of certifications or an active roster copy from their department on department letterhead. FREE admission must be redeemed at the gate and is only valid during the event weekend.

About INDYCAR:
INDYCAR is the Indianapolis-based governing body for North America’s premier open-wheel auto racing series known as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The series features an international field of the world’s most versatile drivers – including five-time series champion Scott Dixon, reigning series champion Josef Newgarden and defending Indianapolis 500 winner Simon Pagenaud – who compete on superspeedways, short ovals, street circuits and permanent road courses. The season, which runs from June to October, currently consists of 14 races in the United States and is highlighted by the historic Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, which is annually run in May, but rescheduled for August at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IMS Productions are owned by Penske Corporation, a global transportation, automotive and motorsports leader. For more information on INDYCAR and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, please visit www.indycar.com.

Schedule Set for GMR Grand Prix

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The on track schedule is now in place for the NTT Indycar Series second race of the season. The GMR Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will run July 4 as part of the first NASCAR/Indycar doubleheader. Advertising is now calling it a triple header because of the Xfinity race on July 4 as well. If Indy Lights were also part of the program would they bill it as a quadruple header? I don’t think so. From my perspective, it’s still a doubleheader.

The Indycar on track schedule:

Friday, July 3

11:30 am- Practice

4:30 pm- Qualifying   NBC

July 4

9 am- Warm up

Noon- Race  NBC

Green flag around 12:15

I assume the practice and warmup will be available on NBC Gold.

I’ll be back later today with  comments on some Indycar news of this week.

Karam to Enter GMR Grand Prix

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Per Dreyer and Reinhold this morning, Sage Karam will drive the Wix Filters car in the GMR Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 4

The team had announced a four race program for 2020. Their plans, like those of almost every one else, have been altered by the Coronavirus..

The announcement from their Twitty account:

BREAKING: We are pleased to announce that @SageKaram will be driving the GMR Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the black and yellow WIX Filters car. We are estatic to make our first road course start since 2013.
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#WIXFilters #WIXIndy #DrivenByDRR
–
@wixfilters @mecum https://t.co/7sbGym0Qun

Television Times and Channels for July NTT Indycar Series Races

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As the Indycar series ramps up for its first set of races- Five races in 15 days, NBC Sports now has set coverage times and channels. There will be no fans at the GMR Grand Prix. Road America and Iowa will have fans in attendance.

Iowa will put 6,00 tickets on sale this coming Friday at 10 am ET. I kindly request that you wait until I have purchased mine before you get online. Thanks in advance.

The schedule:

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INDYCAR To Welcome Fans for July 17-18 Iowa Speedway Race Weekend

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From Indycar:
Event To Follow State Guidelines for INDYCAR Doubleheader/ARCA Race Weekend;
Limited Remaining Tickets To Go on Sale June 26INDIANAPOLIS (June 18, 2020) – INDYCAR will welcome fans to Iowa Speedway for the upcoming July 17-18 race weekend featuring the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Iowa 250 races and the ARCA Menards Series race.

Under the guidance of public health officials, medical experts and local, state and federal authorities, INDYCAR and Iowa Speedway will observe safe social distancing and provide enhanced hygiene and safety precautions for all fans in attendance at the event. Only a limited number of tickets will be available for the upcoming race weekend with each group of fans in attendance separated by at least 6 feet of distancing at Iowa Speedway, in order to align with Iowa state COVID-19 guidelines.
All previously purchased tickets for the July 17 and 18 race weekend will be honored by Iowa Speedway, including season tickets. Seating will be reassigned for all existing ticketholders in order to follow safe social distancing guidelines. Ticketholders will be notified about their specific seat locations in the coming days, and tickets will either be emailed or printed and distributed beginning July 1. A limited number of remaining tickets for the race weekend will then go on sale Friday, June 26, and fans will be able to secure their seats online through www.iowaspeedway.com  or by phone at 866-787-8946.

Single-day tickets start as low as $15 for Friday, July 17 and $20 for Saturday, July 18, while all two-day ticket packages include a 10% discount. Tickets to the Iowa Speedway luxury hospitality suites will also be available for purchase, along with weekend camping and parking options. Safe social distancing protocols will also be in place for suite ticketholders and for all of the camping options at Iowa Speedway.

The July race weekend will feature two full points races for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES on back-to-back nights – the Iowa INDYCAR 250s. Friday, July 17 will include the high-powered NTT INDYCAR SERIES cars competing in the first of two 250-mile races under the lights at Iowa Speedway. On Saturday, July 18, ticketholders will enjoy the ARCA Menards Series Shore Lunch 150 in the afternoon, followed by the second Iowa INDYCAR 250 race that evening.

As part of the enhanced health and safety measures for the event weekend, all guests will be screened in their vehicles with contactless temperature checks before entering the parking areas and only essential racing personnel will have access to the infield. Hand sanitizer and face coverings will be distributed to each guest when they enter the track, and enhanced cleaning and sanitizing procedures will be implemented throughout the facility over the course of the weekend.

Additional protocols and guidelines for guests planning to attend can be found at www.iowaspeedway.com, along with pricing and seating options. A limited number of available tickets will be placed on sale beginning at 9 a.m. CT Friday, June 26 through the website or by calling 866-787-8946.

About INDYCAR:
INDYCAR is the Indianapolis-based governing body for North America’s premier open-wheel auto racing series known as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The series features an international field of the world’s most versatile drivers – including five-time series champion Scott Dixon, reigning series champion Josef Newgarden and defending Indianapolis 500 winner Simon Pagenaud – who compete on superspeedways, short ovals, street circuits and permanent road courses. The season, which runs from June to October, currently consists of 14 races in the United States and is highlighted by the historic Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, which is annually run in May, but rescheduled for August at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IMS Productions are owned by Penske Corporation, a global transportation, automotive and motorsports leader. For more information on INDYCAR and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, please visit www.indycar.com.

Road America Welcomes Fans; Urges Precautions

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Road America is set to be the first NTT Indycar Series race of the season to welcome fans. The track held their June Sprints last weekend and used it as a trial run for the Indycar race. I just purchased my ticket last night. Fans are cautioned on the website:

WARNING – ENTER VENUE AT YOUR OWN RISK. FACILITY ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL SAFETY:

FOLLOW ALL CDC RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES.

PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING. PLEASE MAINTAIN SIX-FEET FROM ONE ANOTHER AT ALL TIMES.

AVOID TOUCHING YOUR EYES, NOSE AND MOUTH.

WEAR A CLOTH FACE COVERING OVER YOUR NOSE AND MOUTH (where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain).

UTILIZE HAND WASHING AND SANITIZING STATIONS REGULARLY.

WE ASK THAT YOU DO NOT ENTER IF YOU FEEL ILL, HAVE A FEVER OR COUGH, OR ARE SHORT OF BREATH.

WE ASK THAT YOU DO NOT ENTER IF YOU HAVE BEEN IN CLOSE PHYSICAL CONTACT WITHIN THE LAST 14 DAYS WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH COVID-19.

IF YOU HAVE A MEDICAL HISTORY THAT PLACES YOU IN A HIGH-RISK CATEGORY FOR COVID-19, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO NOT ENTER.

Even with these precautions in place, Road America cannot eliminate all risk associated with COVID-19. By choosing to make use of this facility, guests are assuming the risk that they may contract COVID-19 at the facility despite Road America’s best efforts to provide a clean and safe environment. By entering the facility, you are acknowledging that you are releasing the owner and all sanctioning/participating parties of liability.

I hope everyone complies and stays safe. Success at Road America may determine how many more races fans will be allowed to,watch in person the rest of the year.

More information on the track’s plans can be found in Marshall Pruett’s article in Racer magazine from yesterday. the link:

June Sprints success key to IndyCar fan welcome at Road America

From the piece, it sounds as if no decision has yet been made about whether the paddock will open to fans. I really don’t think it should be. Minimum contact contact needs to be the first rule of the weekend. If you’re upset about not having paddock access, remember you still get to see two races at Road America on the same weekend. I would trade paddock access for another race at any track.

Iowa Status

Per Robin Miller from his “Mailbag” this morning, an announcement concerning the double header at Iowa will be coming Friday.