F1: USGP race boss thinks IndyCar could be a support race

Could IndyCar be on the bill for a future US GP at COTA as a support race?

IndyCars are a bit slower than F2 cars, but not by much, so they would make for a good support series to F1.  While it’s too expensive to fly the F2 cars and personnel all the way to America, the IndyCar teams are based in the USA and could easily make the trip to Texas.

It’s a question that cropped up in a recent conversation between Circuit of the Americas chairman Bobby Epstein (shown above) and The Race’s Scott Mitchell-Malm.

Asked what the US GP needed to do to reach the next level, Epstein’s mind quickly turned to the support bill.

“Some of the support races for the fans, [we need to] make some of those of interest to the fans,” Epstein told The Race.

“Maybe an IndyCar support race? I’m just throwing it out there, I don’t know.

“But to make it a full racing weekend, unlike anyone’s ever done, for us might take us and differentiate us from maybe some of the other events.

“It’s a question of how big your paddock could be.

“But as far as the weekend fills out, I think that’s it. I want to still make it the best place for the racing fan to see the best racing and the best competition on the track that we possibly can.

“Because I feel like our staff does a great job of delivering the off-track experience and that’s all we control.”

“If we can have IndyCar or MotoGP, or even a stock car race, as part of the overall weekend, until you turn it into just the most incredible weekend for race fans, that would be interesting,” he mused.

“I don’t ever expect that to necessarily happen. But from a fan standpoint, that’s what I think the fans might enjoy.”

With over 400,000 fans attending the USGP weekend at COTA, the IndyCar teams and drivers would love the exposure because, except for the Indy 500, they never see crowds that large.

F2 drivers aspire to be F1 drivers.

IndyCar drivers aspire to be F1 drivers.

F1 is the pinnacle of motorsports, and nothing else even comes close.

Since F2 can’t make the trip across the ocean, IndyCar is the perfect fit to support F1 not only at COTA, but also at Miami, Las Vegas and Mexico City.