IndyCar Faces Indy 500 Questions as Long Beach Weekend Arrives

IndyCar, IMSA, and NASCAR all headline a packed motorsports weekend as Speed Chronicles breaks down what to watch at Long Beach, Kansas, and beyond. Todd previews key storylines including IndyCar’s updated qualifying format, the growing Indy 500 car count concern, Robert Wickens’ return to IMSA, and NASCAR’s ongoing attendance debate. This week’s Speed Chronicles previews one of the busiest race weekends of the season, with major action across IndyCar, IMSA, and NASCAR. Todd opens with a look at the Long Beach Grand Prix, where IndyCar continues its new single-lap Fast Six qualifying format for street circuits. He explains why the format has potential, what still needs refinement, and why it should eventually expand to road courses. The discussion then shifts to a growing issue surrounding the Indianapolis 500. Todd revisits concerns about IndyCar potentially struggling to field more than 33 cars for future Indy 500s, especially with a new chassis on the horizon and rising team costs. He argues the series should address the issue proactively rather than waiting for it to become a bigger storyline. On the IMSA side, Todd previews the Long Beach sports car race, including Robert Wickens’ highly anticipated return in the DXDT Racing Corvette. He also highlights a new documentary debuting this weekend that follows Wickens’ remarkable recovery and return to racing. In NASCAR, Todd reflects on Bristol, Ty Gibbs’ first Cup Series win, and the continued conversation around Bristol attendance. He breaks down why attendance optics can be misleading and explains the broader economic reasons fans may be choosing to stay home. The episode wraps with NASCAR Canada updates and optimism for the upcoming season. Subscribe to Speed Chronicles for weekly motorsports analysis covering Formula 1, IndyCar, NASCAR, IMSA, and more. New episodes drop every Wednesday.