We are gathered here today to mourn the sudden and unexpected loss of the Auto Club Speedway from the IndyCar schedule. Those that new IndyCar at Fontana would say it left the family of IndyCar fans, teams, and drivers too soon. However, its life with the series was not without it’s controversies and struggles.
The California speedway formerly hosted the IndyCar Series finale for a few years, providing a more star-studded and exciting oval finish to the series that once solely ran on ovals. While some drivers are choosing not to be here to today to remember a great track for open wheel racing, one can understand his frustration with the crashes at the most inopportune of times there. It will get better Will Power, we promise.
As we alluded to, this track’s existence on the schedule has not been without controversy or struggle. Considering that the track has had four different weekends in as many years, it comes to no surprise to some that their final selection was no weekend in 2016. Furthermore, the lackluster showing of the southern California racing fans may have left the writing on the wall.
However, it is difficult to have to say goodbye to a track after such close, and sometimes scary, racing a few weeks ago. While many drivers and some fans railed against the racing style, the close pack-like racing made for great television and great edge-of-your-seat excitement for all.
Now we arrive at the point in the eulogy where we acknowledge whom the deceased has left behind. And the only party worth this honor is the race fans who will left without a big oval outside Texas to see IndyCar race on. It’s a full reverse from a mere ten years ago, when the series ran consistently on medium to large ovals like Chicago, Michigan, and Kansas, and it’s a sorry state for a series the fans wanted to see back there.
A mere few days ago, it appeared Auto Club Speedway would survive to see the 2016 IndyCar Series season. Now, we lay Fontana’s open wheel days to rest. May it rest in peace, until the racing gods shine on it once more.
