Ever wonder if the Clash at the Coliseum was a success? IndyCar certainly thinks so. The open-wheel series is running its own exhibition race in Southern California this weekend.
Like with the Clash, heat races will determine which members of the grid participate in the battle for one million dollars (kind of).
That’s about where the similarities end.
The Clash was in a major metropolitan area, designed to put NASCAR in front of an audience it normally wouldn’t reach. IndyCar is at The Thermal Club near Coachella, a housing development built around a race track in much the same way many country clubs are built around golf courses.
Although no points will be awarded, there’s still much to look out for in IndyCar’s first exhibition race since a 2008 event in Surfers Paradise.
Strategy?
IndyCar is a strategic battlefield — the decision between a two-stop race and a three-stop race is often a very difficult one to make. Today, teams won’t stop at all — the only tire changes they are permitted to make are to the tires they used in qualifying, and even then only due to damage.
Strategy will still be key, however.
Teams expect high tire degradation. With a guaranteed caution halfway through the main race, lap times may plummet in the second half if drivers opt to focus intently on preserving their tire life early.
A driver at the back of the field could run ten seconds per lap slower than the leader in the first half without being lapped at the midpoint. Their tires would be significantly fresher than any others in the field.
Will anyone take that route? Will everyone take that route? And if someone does, will they be able to go from last to first in those last ten laps?
Wind.
Wind?
Yes, wind.
On Saturday, gusts reached well over 20 mph, the same is projected for race time Sunday. Cars generate much of their downforce aerodynamically — through the movement of air around the car. Strong wind therefore changes how the air moves around the car. An inopportune gust can easily send a driver into a spin.
Normally, that’s the only major impact wind has — on the car itself. Thermal, however, is in a desert.
When the wind picks up, so does the sand, which will strip a track of the rubber laid down over the course of the weekend, robbing drivers of a substantial amount of grip.
With drivers set to refuel without changing tires for the first time in most of their careers, the wind will provide yet another challenge to anyone looking to maintain control of their racecar.
How much will drivers risk?
In every race since 2009, drivers have competed for points. This week, they compete only for cash.
The winner of the One Million Dollar Challenge will earn … half a million dollars — another $500,000 go to a member of The Thermal Club, a selection of whom were involved in a random draw to be represented in the race by a driver.
Although it’s not as much money as the name may imply, it’s still a significant boon — only one non-Indy 500 race in the sport’s history has had this large a pot.
Add that money to drivers’ hallmark competitiveness and the absence of anything to lose in the championship standings, some drivers have said they’re even more willing than usual to risk a front wing in the pursuit of first place.
Predictions:
Heat race 1: Scott McLaughlin (No. 3)
McLaughlin is always a threat to win.
The New Zealander who spent most of his career in Australian Supercars is the only driver in the first two rows of his heat to drive for one of the four biggest teams. His pace and Team Penske’s unending competence should put him in a great spot to take home the first heat.
Heat race 2: Alex Palou (No. 10)
This may be a boring pick, but what else can you say when the reigning series champion is one of the fastest drivers all weekend and then converts that speed into pole position? Palou is an outstanding driver with some of the best racecraft in the field. In an unusual weekend, he’s a very strong contender.
Main race: Callum Ilott (No. 6)
Ilott has been rapid all weekend, topping the time sheets in Saturday’s first test session, which began at 9 a.m.
Not only has he already shown strong pace in the morning, but Ilott has more to race for than most other drivers. The 25-year-old Brit is filling in for David Malukas after being dropped from Juncos Hollinger late last year. Without a full-time ride in IndyCar, half a million dollars and a win on his resume would be greatly beneficial to his efforts in finding a seat for next season.
He was unfortunate in qualifying, dropping down the order after a spin from Marcus Ericsson (No. 28) gave any others a chance to improve, but Ilott should have every ability to transfer to and win the main race.