DIXON WINS IT AT THE START
It was the year when everything had to be kept in perspective, because during a pandemic nothing is as important as protecting lives. But livelihoods also need protecting, and in order to allow the IndyCar Series’ teams to survive by fulfilling their agreements with sponsors, the show had to go on.
Easier said than done, even for a man with the foresight of Roger Penske, who officially took charge of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar in early January. Ever-changing restrictions in various states in response to the coronavirus played havoc with the series schedule, and so as well as the investment already made to upgrade facilities at the Speedway, suddenly Penske Entertainment Corp had to help subsidise events that were allowed only a limited number of spectators and vendors, or none at all.
As for activities at the track, all involved knew that the series as a whole had to do the right thing. Sure, there remain deluded folk in denial of COVID-19’s contagiousness, but there would be no foolhardiness on The Captain’s watch, and so for paddock personnel, IndyCar imposed strict protocols that followed CDC guidelines.
Some hurdles were impossible to overcome, however, and it would take too long to fully recount the depressing chronology of event postponements and cancellations after the series’ lastminute withdrawal from the season-opener at St Petersburg
