The 2020 NTT IndyCar Series schedule has gone through quite a few makeovers since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and there are still some holes to fill now that both West Coast races have been cancelled and Mid-Ohio has been indefinitely postponed.
So how (and where) could IndyCar occupy its time in September and mid-October? Here are five tracks that very well could plug the gaps this fall—and that would also be pretty damn fun.
Watkins Glen International
It hasn’t been long since the last IndyCar race at Watkins Glen, but the track is great for IndyCar. It’s loaded with history and could certainly produce some excellent racing—especially without any lengthy practice sessions to get the newbies too familiar with things.
And as an added bonus, New York is one of the few states whose COVID-19 numbers are trending downward. WGI could be a great place to host a race, both with fans and without the fear that a local spike will shut it down at the last minute.
Virginia International Speedway
The return of Richmond Raceway was exciting for IndyCar, and its subsequent cancellation due to the pandemic was heartbreaking. While it would still be ideal to have a Richmond race, if that’s not happening, why not throw in VIR as a substitute?
VIR is currently closed to spectators, but the IMSA race on the August 21-23 weekend is still happening. VIR has retained its vintage feel in ways that other upgraded circuits haven’t, and it would be a nice little experiment to see the full IndyCar field barreling down Roller Coaster.
Lime Rock Park
The initial 2020 IndyCar calendar was seriously lacking in East Coast races, and it’s not too late to solve that problem. Lime Rock Park is a gorgeous little circuit in Connecticut that has never hosted an IndyCar race before, but what better time to change that than the weirdest season in history?
And listen—if you’re not convinced, just know that Paul Newman loved the track. You’re basically not allowed to not like it.
Daytona International Speedway Road Course
The DIS road course is a sight to behold if you’ve never been there before: from the main grandstand, you can see just about everything in a way that you can’t at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It’s one heck of a fun track, and it would be great to see the road course used more frequently.
That said, Florida probably isn’t the ideal place to host a race right now—but, hey, we can dream!
Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL
If IMSA gets to run its first races on the ROVAL this year, then why can’t IndyCar? The concept of a ROVAL isn’t new, but it’s still delightful to see cars traversing both banked corners and twisty infield turns.
It could also have a marketing advantage. 2020 was a great time to try out a NASCAR-IndyCar doubleheader; why not throw IMSA into the mix as well and have more cross-promotion? NASCAR’s race takes place on October 11, which is currently an off-weekend for IndyCar.
The 2020 IndyCar season continues Aug. 23 with the 104th Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race will air at 1:00 p.m. ET on NBC.