IndyCar Schedule: How Can We Improve It?

I am a road course fan. I make no bones about it. I'd rather see a hard-earned overtake than see cars going sailing past with almost no effort. But I much prefer the IndyCars to Formula One, because I do like it when there are more CHANCES for those hard-fought overtakes.

Despite that, however, I do see how ovals can be interesting. I wouldn't like NASCAR at all if I didn't, nor would I like the IndyCars.

But being a road course fan, I was obviously a bit saddened to see the 2009 IRL schedule being a majority of ovals. I'm of the opinion it should be an even split. I can still hope for that in 2010, since existing IRL contracts dictated a lot about the '09 season's schedule.

The problem is, what WOULD the ideal 2010 schedule be? Everybody has their own opinions, but for the sake of thought and(hopefully peaceful) discussion, I figure I'll present mine. 18 races.

This does not take into account the problems that can come up in trying to make something work. This is just what I'd like to see in a perfect world. So lets get to it.

Road/street courses. The great thing about road and street courses is they're all completely unique. This is why they can be so easily entertaining to their fans - a road course NEVER looks like the exact same race you watched last week. But even then, some road courses have problems.

Toronto and Mid-Ohiomust go. I apologize to all the Canadian fans, but Toronto just has not drawn good enough crowds to make it worth running any further. Additionally, the current layout is too narrow in too many places to maximize the racing excitement. Mid-Ohio is a great circuit for sports cars, but its horrible for open-wheels. I know this from personal experience in vintage formula racing - Mid-Ohio is just a poor place to run.

Toronto should be replaced with a good Canadian venue, and I vote for Mont-Tremblant. The track put on an excellent show for Champ Car in 2007, and I'm sure the IndyCars could manage a good show, as well. Mid-Ohio should be replaced with Cleveland. Cleveland is quite simply the perfect road course layout - all the challenges of a road course with all the benefits of an oval. Additionally, Cleveland LOVES its sports, and when you come into Cleveland for such an event its a wonderfully friendly atmosphere. Its great for fans, its great for drivers.

I would also consider replacing Detroit with Road America. Road America needs to come back, simple as that, and Detroit is somewhat iffy in my book.

My ideal road course list: Cleveland, Road America, Infineon, Watkins Glen, St Petersburg, Long Beach, Surfer's Paradise, Edmonton, Mont-Tremblant.

Ovals. These are the challenging thing to work out. They have an inherent flaw: They're all extremely similar. You have to make sure every oval you have is unique to ensure they're interesting.

Kentucky and Kansas should join Nashville in the trash bin. Homestead and Chicagoland can stay, as they each have something that makes them unique amongst cookie-cutters - Homestead has its progressive banking, Chicagoland has its curved backstretch. Already, this has made the remaining 8 ovals all unique. So now we need to add one. There are plenty of options out there. Pocono, California, Michigan? How about Bristol, Tennessee? That'd certainly be interesting.

No. I say now that Pikes Peak is udner new ownership, the IRL looks into a return to that racetrack. Either that, or return to Michigan.

Ideal oval list: Indy, Pikes Peak(or Michigan), Homestead, Chicagoland, Iowa, Richmond, Milwaukee, Motegi, and Texas.

Just makes sure to keep the speeds limited to the current levels at Texas. I'll be one of the first to say the IRL cars need more power on road courses, but I think they've got it right for the ovals. The LONGER ovals, at least.

And there we go. A nicely balanced schedule in which every track is unique, and it has a reach which stretches throughout the country. I don't think its terribly unrealistic, but it still just may be a wet dream. But regardless, lets hope that the 2010 IndyCar schedule looks SOMETHING like this.