The IndyCar 2024 schedule features several key changes including removing Texas, a Nashville finale, and the return of the Milwaukee Mile.
One of the major talking points of the IndyCar 2024 schedule is the loss of Texas Motor Speedway. The recipe for a good outing at the popular super speedway is something that IndyCar had been trying to perfect for a while. Last year’s thrilling race hinted that IndyCar finally got the recipe right. However, the series won’t get to try again as a date conflict prevented the 1.5-mile track from returning to the calendar. Texas had previously been on the IndyCar calendar since 1997.
The Famous Milwaukee Mile Returns
The 1.015-mile oval hasn’t been on the IndyCar calendar since 2015 when Sebastian Bourdais took victory. It is scheduled for a doubleheader during Labor Day Weekend as the season’s penultimate round.
Two-time series champion Will Power recently did a test at Milwaukee with Linus Lundqvist. In an interview with Racer, the Australian voiced his excitement.
“It’s a really cool oval because it’s low banking, which is good for our cars — really good for racing. So excited to be coming back. We get to do a doubleheader and I think it’ll be a good race — always good racing around this place.”
IndyCar returns to the Thermal Club.
This exhibition event in March will be called the $1 Million Challenge and will essentially be a prize money challenge for the teams.
The weekend will go as follows. Per IndyCar, the weekend will have a qualifying session followed by two heat races. After that, the top six drivers from those heat races will advance to the All-Star showcase.
It will conclude with the overall winner getting $1 million. The rest of the prize money is divided between the top 5 finishing teams and the Thermal Club members.
Season Finale: Nashville and Laguna Seca Swap
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca has been replaced by the streets of Nashville for the season closer. Not only that but the Nashville circuit will have a brand-new 2.17-mile layout that includes the city’s famous Broadway street. The previous layout provided its fair share of chaos, surprises, and nail-biting finishes. Nevertheless, IndyCar determined that a change was in order.
Having Nashville as the season finale is a bold choice for IndyCar. If this new layout delivers as much chaos as the old one, we could be in for a chaotic and thrilling season closer. This is especially true if the championship comes down to the final round.
The 2024 NTT @INDYCAR SERIES schedule includes a return to the Milwaukee Mile!
Full schedule below.👇 pic.twitter.com/SZX9yy2r2J
— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) September 25, 2023
IndyCar 2024 Calendar: Our Thoughts
While losing the only other super speedway besides Indianapolis is disappointing, having Milwaukee back is great.
As for the overall schedule, it is basically the same as last year. The season opener will be St. Pete which treated us to an action-packed race earlier this year.
Other iconic races like Long Beach, Indianapolis, Road America, Toronto, Iowa, and Laguna Seca are still on the schedule. In addition to those races, Worldwide Technology Raceway, Detroit, Barber, and Mid-Ohio are here to stay as well.
