Modest Proposals for IndyCar in New England
I swear these are all reasonable, mostly, kind of...
IndyCar is starting back up for 2024, and for the 4th year in a row the closest the series will come to the northeast United States is Mid-Ohio, domestically, at least. This is getting pretty frustrating for a native New Englander like myself, and is becoming doubly so now that Mark Miles has indicated that the series is looking more at “urban and metro” events that inevitably will mean Watkins Glen and Pocono are gone for good. So, for my own sanity, it’s time to get creative.
Here, then, are some pitches for IndyCar races in my home region of New England, loosely grouped by how much sense they make and the likelihood they would actually happen. I’ve restricted myself to New England only because, well, Jonathan Richman is right (da didi dum di dum di dum dum-a-dum day) and I think there’s a far bigger base of race fans up here than most would give credit for. So, without further ado:
The Obvious Choice
New Hampshire Motor Speedway - Loudon, NH
Ok, so this is kind of cheating, but it’s a flat oval designed for IndyCar and, really, the series should be running there and should have been running there if the rain hadn’t cursed the 2011 race. It’s only fifteen minutes outside of Concord, which is not a big city but a city regardless, so it would check that box. The NHMS of 2024 is very different from the NHMS of 2011, if they’re going to keep trying to resurrect the corpse of the Milwaukee Mile every 10 years then Loudon deserves a shot as well.
The Obvious Choice If It Wouldn’t Ruin the Track
Lime Rock Park - Salisbury, CT
IndyCar at New England’s other major racing circuit would be a party and a half. Lime Rock has a solid base of loyal attendees for comparatively minor tours, and I could only imagine how slammed the place would be for the big cars blistering around it. If only it wouldn’t take a major overhaul to do it! They could probably place k-rail and tires at the exit of Big Bend to keep cars out of the trees, but the Lefthander would need a gravel trap, you’d need catchfencing in various places that would ruin good views, and I don’t know how you improve runoff at the Downhill. But if they could do it, you’d be looking at a crown jewel of a race with a massive crowd.
The Sensible Temporary Circuits
Pratt and Whitney/Rentschler Field - Hartford, CT
Really, Hartford is the sweet spot for an IndyCar race. Right in the middle of modified-mad Connecticut, right between New York City and Boston, and a city that is always looking for an identity since the Whalers left. Hartford-Brainard Airport is an option for a Cleveland-lite runway race, but the abandoned runways and parking lots surrounding Pratt and Whitney and Rentschler Field in East Hartford are the perfect locations for a temporary circuit. I’ve drawn something above which, with some additional paving, would work out well, but there’s a million different reasonable layouts you could make in this space. No construction complaints, few noise complaints, a great location for drawing fans, all it would need is a promoter.
Eastern States Exposition - Springfield, MA
About a half an hour north up I-91 is New England’s only real urban fairgrounds. The Eastern States Exposition has plenty of wide asphalt stretches to create some killer layouts. Setting up a temporary circuit wouldn’t be disruptive to anyone outside the gates, and it already has nearly all the amenities it would need to support the crowds. Even an indoor paddock space is available. Springfield isn’t the greatest area, but like Long Beach in the seventies, the race could be used as a springboard to revitalize the city.
Cleveland Rocks! The Airport Circuits
Quonset State Airport - North Kingstown, RI
About 20 minutes outside of Providence lies this vast expanse of asphalt. Maybe a bit remote from the city, but the layouts you could run here! I’ve been here for an airshow, so I know they could make the logistics work. It’s on the water, too, for the full Cleveland vibes. Get Amica to sponsor it.
Cape Cod Gateway Airport - Hyannis, MA
So here me out on this one. Cape Cod is far too busy in the summertime to make this place work. But offseason? Say, the weekend after Labor Day? Why wouldn’t the locals want to extend the season one more week and get some extra tourist dollars? There’d be a few more logistical challenges here but a “Grand Prix of Cape Cod” would be just so damn cool.
The Outlier Permanent Track
Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park - Thompson, CT
So everyone knows the half-mile oval, but Thompson sees much more action on its club circuit road course nowadays. It’s a bit of a stretch, but it wouldn’t take that much work to turn the track into something IndyCar could use, at least far less work than other local club circuits would require. Plus, it already has some grandstands and amenities since it still regularly hosts spectator events. I don’t think their management would have the appetite for it, but if Lime Rock wouldn’t work, might be worth a look.
The Downtowns That Might Just Go For It
Streets of Worcester, MA
I don’t know how strictly sensible this is, but if “desperation of a municipality” is a key component in getting street races on the schedule, Worcester would fit the bill perfectly. Paddock in the DCU Center, front stretch on Major Taylor Blvd., then there’s a few routes the course could take that would largely avoid residential buildings. Again, if you’re looking to revitalize a city, which Worcester could really use, then there are worse ideas.
Streets of Providence, RI
This should have happened instead of the aborted Boston race! There’s plenty of space currently in downtown Providence to make a race work. Instead of trying to get it up around Brown University and the State House, focus it around Exchange Street and the Convention Center. Use the tunnel under the parking garages, and you’d have an instantly iconic street circuit. Providence doesn’t need quite the kickstart that Worcester does, but it’s a fantastic little city and a race there would be a blast.
The Pipe Dreams
Hanscom Field - Concord, MA
Hanscom serves as Boston’s executive airport, and it’s held airshows before, so you’d think it would be an okay spot for a race, but the setup would be prohibitively disruptive, and I’m not sure how warm to the idea the neighbors in well-to-do Concord and Bedford would be. Regardless, it would be about the only reasonable way to get a race in metro Boston short of running it in the Quincy shipyard. Unless…
Streets of Boston, MA, around Fenway
Because John Henry has money and could pay off every politician and special interest group in Boston to make it work.
Now, am I under any delusions that any of these will happen? Obviously not! IndyCar has shown tremendous contempt for our area since the Boston Grand Prix failed. But in these dark times hope is all I have, and I shall continue to bang the drum for a return to New England for my favorite racing series.
Or, Pocono. Just give us Pocono, damnit!