Breaking News: the Champcarification of Indycar Continues! Twin Ring Motegi Race Moved to Road Course.

The Indycar race at Twin Ring Motegi is back on.  However due to damage to the oval it will be run on the Motorcycle race course.  Because that’s just what Indycar needs, more motorcycle road courses.  With 10 road/street courses (no good road courses, though) and 7 oval, this is starting to look a lot like Champcar.  While I understand there’s a sentiment that we need to “show support” for Japan, I don’t see how an Indycar race is going to have much of an impact there.  F1, MotoGP, FIFA Soccer, yes, I see how those would have an impact.  But Indycar… no, it doesn’t.  All it does is give us another “race” on a motorcycle road course.

Speaking of MotoGP, they’re race is scheduled for October 2nd.  But… they still are considering pulling out due to safety concerns.  The riders have been especially vocal that they are concerned about radiation levels around Motegi.  Let’s do a little math.  October 2nd is after September 17th.  September 17th is when the Indycar race is scheduled.  If there’s concerns over safety in October, surely, a race in September is a bad idea!

I don’t see how an Indycar race there shows “support” for Japan.  First off outside of the 500, an Indycar race doesn’t have a huge economic impact on the places it goes to.  It’s not like F1 or FIFA who have massive fanbases in Japan.  I don’t see how this is going to make anyone’s life better or anything. Whether they run an Indycar race or not is going to do nothing to show people that Japan is back to normal, because unfortunetly, Indycar doesn’t get much worldwide press, or even American press.

How will Motegi race?  On the plus side it’s a little longer than the typical Indycar road/street course.  On the minus, it’s another Motorcycle road course.  Would it kill Indycar to run a real road course?  So think Infineon, Barber, or Mid Ohio.  It will be processional.  The only hope is that double file restarts cause enough wrecks that a few of the underdogs can run up front.  Just like Barber, very little passing except on starts and restarts, along with drivers who stay out too long on the soft tires.  Add in the fact that the race is held around 2AM, and you end up with a cure for insomnia.

Thing's you won't see at Motegi... oval or road course.

Any alternative would have been better.  A second race at Texas, Fontana, Chicagoland, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, anything.  If there is an NFL lockout, that is potentially an opportunity for Indycar that should not be wasted by running a race at 2AM.  A race at Texas is usually a good race and Eddie Gossange seemed interested in hosting a second race there. A win-win for everyone!

This may clinch the championship for Will Power.  10 road and street courses Vs. 7 ovals?  It will take a massive, Indy 500 style meltdown from Penske for Power to not be the champion.

Having 10 road and street courses puts Indycar uncomfortably close to being Champcar, especially when you add in the team owners and drivers trying to run the series.  7 ovals and 10 road and street courses should only be for one season.  But the 2012 rumors have multiple street courses being added, no good road courses, and only a few ovals (Phoenix and Chicagoland).  Randy Bernard has said he’d keep an 50-50 balance, and I like/trust him a lot.  The fact is he’s failing, miserably, to keep said balance.  I almost see something like the scene from 300 where the Spartan kicks the Persian into a well.  Except this time, it’s a guy in an orange and black fire-suit kicking Bernard and George into a well and yelling “THIS IS CHAMPCAR!!!”  If Indycar has to become a road racing series, at least copy the ALMS calendar and go to some good circuits.

 Replace the word Sparta with Champcar.  

I’m all for helping Japan.  The With You Japan program, along side some of the other earthquake relief programs are great.  That is how to show support for Japan.   All running a race at 2AM does is hurt Indycar.  Having only 7 ovals in the 17 race season… that looks like Champcar.  Last time I checked… that died twice.  I’m all for having a 50-50 split in Indycar.  But give us some good road courses and don’t take away our ovals!  Some have said a race, even on the road course, is better than no race. All I have to say is if a race is run at 2AM and nobody watches it, did it really happen???