Oval Finale for IndyCar Could Be Great, or Disastrous

There are some aspects to this decision that could be good for the series or end up turning out poorly if stars don’t align by season’s end.

First, the fans can appreciate the fact their voice was heard. There is a consistent call from some of the fandom that the series must have more ovals. Why? The racing is generally closer and more thrilling than other events on road and street courses. IndyCar action on a banked oval is breathtaking; the machines are fast, nimble and the pilots are brave in their moves. It’s racing entertainment at its best. Meanwhile, road courses lend themselves more to strategy and single-file racing.

However, this event only works if people show up. That has been the demise of every previous oval race IndyCar has run and subsequently abandoned. Somewhere in the internet universe, those who cry out for more ovals should take the effort to go to the races when they are on the calendar. As the season finale, if the Nashville Superspeedway is marginally filled, which at a max seating capacity of approximately 38,000 would be disappointing, then the event will lack the juice to compete with a party in downtown Nashville.

How the promoter handles this shift will be critical to its success, but the series seems to have the guy in Borchetta, who was part of the organization group for the Nashville street race. His recent step up to a leadership role seems to be a major factor in assessing the Tennessee Titans stadium construction and synchronization with local officials on…