IRR renews its call for more rich, riveting oval track sweetness, as road races truly are the skim milk of IndyCar.

Why must the home of the world’s most famous sip of milk be in a distinct minority of race tracks? Considering two thirds of IndyCar’s races now take place on road courses – several of which are utterly unwatchable, like Mid-Ohio – the old Ovaltine ads suddenly leapt to mind, inspiring our call for ‘More oval tracks, please!’

Longtime readers are no doubt accustomed to our overt oval track preferences. It’s significant to note however that recent seasons more than bear this out. Take last year, for example. Indy, Pocono, Texas and even East St. Louis (of all places) were easily the most entertaining races of the season.

By contrast, St. Pete, Toronto and Watkins Glen were terrible. Happily the latter’s no longer with us – one down, two to go. It’s really no surprise as high speed, circuitous venues routinely outshine their plodding, winding yet more numerous counterparts. That is unless your idea of compelling competition is Sonoma last September – talk about sour!

Image of A Christmas Story from the web

As poltroonish politicians are always saying, ‘Think of the children!’ An entire generation of young race fans now exists to whom exquisite oval races are all but alien. Two hundred mile per hour plus thrills have become waaaay too few and far between, even if you get NBC Sports. Thank you, Mark Miles. Indy cars with their incredible power and agility are woefully wasted at sub-interstate speeds on pot holed streets and chicaned parking lots. Such so called tracks should be left to the likes of F1. Or better yet, to milk trucks.

If NA$CAR/ISC controlled ovals like Fontana, Chicago and Michigan won’t play ball – it’s a Googlesque monopoly that should be investigated and dismantled – then double up on current ones like Pocono and Texas. The ol’ Texas two step, so to speak, used to be commonplace in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This year again we get a double dose of the streets of Detroit?! Not exactly the cream of the crop.

Photo from indycar.com

Multiple visits to the very best tracks should return to the schedule, thereby improving the seriously out of whack road course to oval track ratio. It’s a tried and true tradition in open wheel racing, even if the brass at 16th and Georgetown have forgotten this fact. Think of it – three or four oval twin events would be as sweet as adding a shot of chocolate (or bourbon) to your glass in the morning.

Also, brand new ovals should be built expressly for IndyCar, like that little gem of a track outside Des Moines, Iowa. We hear all this talk of infrastructure, yet sadly there’s been nothing from the series on this front – at all. Then again, what do you expect from milquetoast Miles?

Photo from wcnc.com

Holding more oval races adds excitement, value and yes, even some danger to an otherwise lethargic lineup. New IndyCar tracks should be built, multiple visits to ovals made and classic former venues reincorporated into the mix. After all, oval tracks are an important part of a balanced breakfast, er – schedule.