While Alex Palou brought home the grand prize of $500,000 at this past weekend’s Indycar exhibition race at the Thermal Club, he was probably the only one to leave California with a smile on his face.
The self-proclaimed “Million Dollar Challenge,” taking place at the Thermal Club in California, an exclusive venue for multi-millionaires, hosted the second event of the Indycar season and the first non-points race for the series since 2008.
Overall, the race received mixed reviews from fans and industry people alike. Some credited Indycar for trying something different, while others credited the event as not fitting for Indycar and seemingly out of place.
The format consisted of a few days of open track testing, followed by two sets of qualifying to determine the two heat race lineups Saturday evening, followed by the two heat races Sunday morning, with the top 6 in each 10-lap heat moving on to the 20-lap feature to follow.
The 20-lap feature had a halfway break, during which the teams could add fuel and make adjustments, but most importantly, they could not change tires.
This led to some drivers, such as Colton Herta and Augustín Canapino, running at a snail’s pace for the first 10 laps to have the better tire for the last 10 laps and make a last-ditch attempt at getting towards the front.
The strategy did not ultimately work out for the two drivers, as Herta finished fourth and Canapino finished 10th.
While the strategy was a somewhat interesting storyline to follow, the race for the lead was non-existent, as there were no passes for the lead through any of the heat races or main event, and Alex Palou cruised to an easy victory and an extra $500,000, adding to his multi-million dollar contract, he already has.
Overall, Indycar should be commended for trying something different and filling the long gap between St. Petersburg and Long Beach. Still, the event was not as successful as Indycar may have wanted it to be.
Some fans and other people in the Industry have made some suggestions to help make this event better, consisting of changing the track, making a more exciting format, and upping the prize money.
If done correctly, this event could be an excellent event for the series, but in its current state, it may be best to leave it off the calendar come next season.
Image By: James Black
