Why This Year's Indy 500 Matters the Most.
Eyes from all over the world are set for the greatest spectacle in racing as the category expands its horizons. This year's race features the most international grid in a long time; twelve drivers from around the globe, plus your local talents.
More than just a race
The race always takes place during Memorial Weekend, which is an incredibly special date in the American calendar. Memorial Day serves as a time to honor the lives of the brave men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.
Memorial Day always falls on a Monday, however, the Memorial Weekend serves as a preamble of such a solemn date. People from around the country travel to their hometowns or to visit their family to honor their heroes.
Motorsports have always been part of American history ever since the first Ford Model-T came to the market. It has its roots during the Prohibition Era in the 1920s. People modified their cars to outrun policemen chasing them.
People used to race each other to keep their skills sharp, and to have a bit of fun along the way. Naturally, the sport evolved into something more serious, with rules and regulations. The result of this was NASCAR, which started in 1948, and consequently, IndyCar.
Cars and country have been an intricate part of American history, so evidently, celebrating the greatest spectacle in racing during Memorial Weekend is the best way to display utmost patriotism.
If you are watching from the outside, or are from another country, you feel the amount of respect and solemnity that the Indianapolis 500 has, not only in motorsport, but in American history altogether.
The eyes of the world are upon IndyCar
To give you an idea, in 2021, the Indianapolis 500 had nine international drivers, 2022 had eleven, and this year's race will feature twelve drivers from around the globe. It is incredibly impressive how much IndyCar has grown over the years, not only in safety improvements and technology, but as a global brand.
Certainly, having drivers like Romain Grosjean, Marcus Ericsson, and many other ex-Formula 1 drivers to the category has helped the IndyCar brand gain global recognition. It is no coincidence that in recent years, every Indy 500 winner has been a non-American driver. Takuma Sato, Simon Pagenaud, Will Power, Helio Castroneves, and Marcus Ericsson to name a few.
It is no coincidence that a few of these drivers also raced in Formula 1 before proving their worth on IndyCar. You can really see the sheer amount of talent these drivers have. IndyCar makes it special because the playing field is more level than in F1. That is one of the things that IndyCar will always to better than Formula 1.
There was a rumor that Liberty Media wanted to buy IndyCar, however, they turned out to be just rumors, or a misinterpretation of what Peter Windsor said on his YouTube channel. Speculation apart, I think that IndyCar's evolution will carry them to a more global scenario.
They could return to having races outside of the United States and Canada. The next logical step can be Mexico, at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Europe seems a bit far-fetched now, but they have raced on British soil before, not to mention Japan in Asia.
It can attract similar names like McLaren to join
McLaren has dedicated a considerable number of resources to IndyCar since 2017. Prior to that, they won three Indianapolis 500s in 1972, 1974 and 1976. McLaren has quite a history with the Indianapolis 500.
Nowadays they run a fully funded team, Arrow McLaren, and their drivers are potential Formula 1 talent. Pato O'Ward, Alexander Rossi, and Felix Rosenqvist are all incredibly talented drivers who have all won races in IndyCar. Rossi was the last American driver to win the Indianapolis 500, in 2016.
Other big international names might get a serious interest in IndyCar. Why not have staple names like Audi, Porsche, Ferrari, Red Bull, or Mercedes join the category in the future? Red Bull for instance, will be powered by Ford motors in 2026. Ford can join as an engine supplier for IndyCar in the future, opening the possibility of a brand like Red Bull joining the ranks.
These big names are always looking for talent, and IndyCar is a great open-wheel category. The Indianapolis 500 is one of the toughest races in motorsport; naturally, anyone who has a great race will be on the list of candidates for brands like the ones mentioned above.
The stage is set, Colton Herta is the favorite to win the race, but it's going to be a long one. Anything can happen, and you must tune in on Sunday, May 28th to be part of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
