Chilton and O’Ward latest drivers who think IndyCar ovals too risky
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| Max Chilton |
There was Mike Conway who stopped racing on IndyCar ovals in front of empty grandstands – risk not worth the reward
Then there was Patricio O'Ward who decided to miss the remainder of the 2019 ovals races on the IndyCar schedule in front of empty grandstands – risk not worth the reward.
He was followed by Max Chilton who just announced he refuses to race on the remainder of the oval races on the IndyCar schedule in front of empty grandstands – risk not worth the reward.
Of course no F1 drivers wants to touch IndyCar because of the oval danger. It's one thing to take the risk for the Indy 500, where the reward is high, but the rest of the oval races on the IndyCar calendar carry too great a risk for near-zero reward.
Will the new Halo/Windscreen reduce the risk? Certainly.
But until that is implemented, if it is implemented (drivers may say the visibility is too poor) some drivers have decided they don't want to be the next Justin Wilson or Robert Wickens.
IndyCar is stuck between a rock and a hard place. It likes to tout itself on the diversity it takes to be an IndyCar champion, and doing well on ovals is certainly part of that equation.
But when the grandstands are largely empty at places like Texas, Iowa and Pocono, and the broadcasts are on NBCSN with few watching, one has to ask whether these races are worth the risk.
Conway, O'Ward and Chilton did, and they decided the risk was not worth the reward and walked away.
Bravo for them for having big enough Kahunas to make a stand.