Today’s question: What is the most exciting race of the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season that you’re looking forward to watching again in the offseason?
Curt Cavin: As most of you know, I’m a big fan of oval races, but this year I’m going to enjoy the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach street race with a big bowl of popcorn. Felix Rosenqvist won the pole and was one of the six race leaders. Three of those drivers led at least 15 laps, and the late-race drama had Scott Dixon trying to make another masterful bid for a win with a fuel cell that was quickly drying up. Meanwhile, Josef Newgarden was charging to the front with other fast cars in tow. I won’t offer the pseudo spoiler, but it wasn’t Newgarden that proved to be Dixon’s final threat. Hey, just know this: It’s dramatic any time there’s contact in the hairpin, and this one was of the highest variety.
Eric Smith: I’d watch the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline that raced Aug. 17 at World Wide Technology Raceway. That was a 260-lap barnburner filled with action from green flag to checkered. The 676 on-track passes in the 260-lap race were the most since the NTT INDYCAR SERIES returned to World Wide Technology Raceway in 2017. Among those passes, 254 were for position, with 115 in the top 10 and 44 in the top five. The 21 lead changes were also the most in 16 races on the 1.25-mile track. The race featured hot tempers, intense drama and an exhilarating finish.
Paul Kelly: The second race of the doubleheader at Milwaukee Mile. Pato O’Ward’s victory in the first race of the weekend was compelling during the INDYCAR SERIES’ return to the 1-mile oval at Milwaukee, but the Sunday race took the excitement to a higher level. No spoilers, but Race 2 featured a popular winner after a side-by-side late duel for the lead with a fellow star from another NTT INDYCAR SERIES power team. The race also featured a series track record 13 lead changes and also a major twist in the tail in the series championship race, and another series star was eliminated from this event in a pileup at the green flag on Lap 1. Oh, there also were a season-high 763 on-track passes – the most on record in an INDYCAR SERIES race at the Milwaukee Mile – and 56 passes in the top five, another track record. Yeah, I’ll rewatch Race 2 last season from Milwaukee any time.