No big deal. Right now.
That’s the initial reaction from many after the charter system announcement released by INDYCAR on Monday morning (Sept. 23).
Breathe in, and out, because the short-term outlook is alright. But if you want to be perplexed or concerned about the future, go right ahead, that might be warranted.
First, the facts. The series will start with 25 chartered teams in 2025, which will guarantee those entries eligibility for the $1 million Leaders Circle program pays out to the top 22 in points each year, as well as guaranteed starting spots at every race except the Indianapolis 500. Teams may only have three charters per operation but can field additional cars if they wish. A 27-car field cap will be in place everywhere but Indianapolis.
That’s the basics of it. Should fans care about that? Probably not.
There were 27 cars at all but two races this year, the Indy 500 and Portland. The owners are in no different situation than they were to start the recently completed season. Except now they possess an agreed-upon right to receive a cut of the Leaders Circle payout if they finish in the top 22 and, in theory, sell that to an interested buyer.
It took the series months to legislate and draft a system that was basically in place already, with the one caveat being that teams possessed nothing of value to sell if they got out of the sport. The one sensitive topic that was proposed – guaranteed spots in the Indy 500 – was quickly set aside but not forgotten, I’m sure, after public outrage at the idea teams would receive automatic admittance into the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Again, it took months for this to be worked out.
What a waste of time.
Why? Let’s examine a couple of things here, and please send me smoke signals if I’m off base, because I’m not a multi-million dollar businessman.
Heading into 2024, if IndyCar teams finished in the top 22 in points, with only three of Chip Ganassi Racing’s five cars eligible, then $1 million was earned. Each entry was already safe in every race outside of Indianapolis. Even in the case of Portland when Rahal Letterman…
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