IndyCar - Overhead at Laguna Seca

Those hills could be full on Sunday

Three years ago, Laguna Seca was going out of business, but it appears IndyCar is about to make Laguna Seca a success again – in a big way. After a 15-year hiatus, the open-wheel racing series returns this week for the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey. More on attendance numbers in a minute.

“There were a certain amount of requirements to bring the track up to current safety standards from when the last time IndyCar was here," said Timothy McGrane, the facility’s CEO. “When IndyCar came out in the fall, there were a number of areas they required us to install safety fencing. That was by far the biggest part of the upgrade project."

McGrane also detailed additional safety barriers were installed, notably on the famed turn 8 “corkscrew" as well as a relocated broadcast compound, technical upgrades and cosmetic changes for the live television broadcast.

Laguna Seca held IndyCar races from 1983-2004 as part of the CART/Champ Car World Series, before Sonoma began hosting the IndyCar series the following year. The Champ Car series merged with IndyCar in 2008.

Rahal tries the Corkscrew backwards

Under the terms of the contract, the county would pay an annual sanctioning fee to IndyCar for three years: $1.2 million in 2019 and $1.5 million the next two years.

“This is a big deal," Monterey County Supervisor Jane Parker said. “But I also want to make sure if Sears Point couldn’t make it work with a lower sanctioning fee… how we think we are going to make it work and not put county taxpayers at risk."

Dewayne Woods, the assistant county administrative officer who is in charge of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, responded to Parker confidently. He said the goal would be to at least break even and perhaps turn a profit for the county.

But the sales of tickets, merchandise and private event space have been strong, he added: “We are having a hard time finding any more things to sell."

Word in Laguna Seca is that all 330 camping sites are sold out for this weekend and more grandstand seats are up for this race. While Laguna Seca does not have a lot of seating, it appears to be double now and the track is hopeful of a big turnout on Sunday, perhaps a sellout like the heydays of CART before Tony George destroyed the sport.

Crowds up in 2019

NBC's Jon Miller and Mark Miles

In the State of the Union press conference, IndyCar Chairman Mark Miles stated: “We've seen, I think, continued progress in the recent additions at Gateway [reintroduced in 2017] and Portland [2018], and we're really pleased about that.

“And attendance – while we don't have auditable numbers from all of our promoters, I think it's fair to say that it's meaningfully up. We believe at about eight of our races there has been increased attendance from year over year at their tracks.

“We think four of our races set weekend records for their events, and we think it's fair to say that more than 1.5 million people in total attended our races this year before this weekend."

Miles added: “Ninety-seven percent of our sponsorships are in place through 2020 [Thanks to the Trump economy], so we're now really focused on selling for 2021, and I believe we have the kind of story to tell and the momentum which will help us continue to grow."

Driver Market for 2020

Marcus Erisson

A lot of talk here this weekend on who will drive where in 2020.

Starting with Arrow McLaren SP – we hear that although F1 driver Nico Hulkenberg initially said no to IndyCar, if the rumored Alfa Romeo F1 deal does not get done, he may have no options in F1 and he may then consider Zak Brown's offer to join IndyCar. Hulkenberg is not keen on IndyCars dangerous ovals. It's possible Hulkenberg could do just the road and street circuits with Conor Daly doing the ovals. If not Hulkenberg then Daly could land a fulltime ride with the team, but he is rumored back with Andretti Autosport for the Indy 500 again. While James Hinchcliffe is already signed for next year in the other seat, there is still talk he will leave for a Honda team in 2020 given his Honda ties.

AJ Foyt Racing is committed to two cars despite the loss of ABC Supply as a fulltime sponsor, and while Matteus Leist is possibly eyeing sportscars next year, there is a good chance he will be back alongside fellow Brazilian Tony Kanaan. Unless another sponsor is found, the team pay be looking for another driver with a large check.

Andretti Autosport is expected to soon announce Colton Herta as their 5th fulltime driver for 2020 and while we assume he will come along with George Steinbrenner IV, Steinbrenner told our Lucille Dust that they are trying to keep the Harding Steinbrenner team going, perhaps to run Andretti Autosport's Oliver Askew who is on the verge of winning the IndyLights title and the $1 million that comes with that title to run the Indy 500 and two other races. Other possibilities for that team include Ed Jones who's family has money and said they want to find a better team for Ed next year. And of course Marcus Ericsson brings some money and he is looking to stay with the series next year so he could be a possibility for a Harding Steinbrenner seat.

Meyer Shank Racing is very very close to announcing Jack Harvey full-time for next year with an eye to a 2nd car in 2021. Word is that the team will soon sign a deal with Andretti Autosport Technology for technical assistance. If the Harding Steinbrenner team stays together, Andretti Autosport Technology will likely work with them too, meaning Michael Andretti will have his fingers in up to 8 cars on the grid in 2020.

Rinus Veekay

Carlin Racing is said to be talking to Max Chilton, Charlie Kimball, Conor Daly and RC Enerson for next year, but nothing is decided. While Chilton does not want to do ovals, we hear next year he will do one for sure – the Indy 500.

Ed Carpenter Racing/Scuderia Corsa Racing is expected to lose Ed Jones next year but word is that Indy Lights Dutch driver Rinus Veekay will take his seat for 2020. BTW, the Hoofddorp, Netherlands resident Veekay does Thai boxing and CrossFit to stay in shape.

At Dale Coyne Racing, and Dale Coyne with Vasser Sullivan – Coyne said he is really close to locking up Ferrucci again so their drivers for 2020 will remain the same – Bourdais and Ferrucci and the engineering team will remain – Mike Cannon for Ferrucci and Craig Hampton for Bourdais

Our 2020 IndyCar Silly Season page has been updated based on what we heard today at Laguna Seca

Mark C. Reporting for AutoRacing1.com