The NTT IndyCar Series embarked on an ambitious journey when talks started with the Thermal Club – a private country club in California with a permanent road course on its 300-plus acre campus – to put its cars on the track. In 2023, IndyCar hosted its preseason test sessions at the Thermal Club, and set the stage for what’s to come this weekend.
IndyCar is hosting an all-star race.
Dubbed, ‘The Thermal Club $1 Million Challenge,’ IndyCar will bring 27 cars to qualify for 12 spots in the finale race of the weekend on Sunday. It’s the first non-points exhibition race for IndyCar since 2008, and boasts the largest non-Indy 500 field in over two decades.
The event is called, ‘one of the most unique race weekends in the history of the NTT IndyCar Series,’ by its press release and is said to be a ‘Made for TV event,’ as well.
“This will be an incredible new event for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President & CEO Mark Miles said in the release. “The unique format and record-setting purse will bring extra energy and drama to a competition set against a scenic and compelling backdrop. We can’t wait for viewers across the country to tune in on NBC and look forward to an amazing weekendwith Tim Rogers and his team at The Thermal Club.”
For those calling for the series to do more in marketing than just maintain the top tier on-track product synonymous with IndyCar, this should be a big deal.
And it can be, it’s just up against the odds.
On-track action for the event includes a pair of test sessions on Friday and Saturday, qualifying on Saturday night and the race Sunday morning at 12:30 p.m. ET.
The start of the race is scheduled for 15 minutes prior to the first NCAA Tournament game scheduled Sunday for 12:45 p.m. ET. That’s along with the preliminary action taking place while sports fans are racing to talk to their friends about their brackets.
When ratings conversations pop up seemingly every other week, it’s less than ideal that a ‘made for TV’ event goes up against one of the most watched events of any calendar year.
It puts a ceiling on the possible momentum or success the race can generate – and it’s a concept that has come together extremely well. I’m notoriously not focused on car counts at races, but that 27 number stands out as much as the million.
This has all the makings of being a slam dunk event, but if its solely judged by its ratings, how much worth is there in it?
But hey, that’s what having two TV’s is for. And if the product is up to the IndyCar standard, then those watching shouldn’t be disappointed (Sunday, 12:30 p.m. NBC).
Entry List
Team Penske
2 | Josef Newgarden
3 | Scott McLaughlin
12 | Will Power
Chip Ganassi Racing
4 | Kyffin Simpson
8 | Linus Lundqvist
9 | Scott Dixon
10 | Alex Palou
11 | Marcus Armstrong
Andretti Global
26 | Colton Herta
27 | Kyle Kirkwood
28 | Marcus Ericsson
Arrow McLaren
5 | Patricio O’Ward
6 | Callum Illott
7 | Alexander Rossi
AJ Foyt Enterprises
14 | Santino Ferrucci
41 | Sting Ray Robb
Rahal Letterman Lanigan
15 | Graham Rahal
30 | Pietro Fittipaldi
45 | Christian Lundgaard
Dale Coyne Racing
18 | Nolan Siegel
51 | Colin Braun
Ed Carpenter Racing
20 | Christian Rasmussen
21 | Rinus VeeKay
Meyer Shank Racing
60 | Felix Rosenqvist
66 | Tom Blomqvist
Juncos Hollinger Racing
77 | Romain Grosjean
78 | Agustin Canapino
