What Does IndyCar Gain from The Thermal Club?

In a clip from The David Land Podcast we discuss the IndyCar preseason test at The Thermal Club in Palm Springs California and what exactly IndyCar is getting out of testing behind closed doors.

#ThermalClub #Indy500 #IndyCar

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[joelaster]

Indycar needs to think outside the box and this is a good example of that. This series needs more $$$. Thermal is a Good opportunity to get in front of a lot of big rollers. How many big rollers would show up at Phoenix and Homestead.

[paintedexpressionssogriffi]

Went to Sonoma for the open test in 2012 and it was awesome - hardly any people, met Will Power while he was walking around the track, and got super close to the cars on track!

[jaredturney]

Homestead is a great idea. 10 indycar drivers were at the Rolex 24 hrs it would have saved the teams a lot of money, which should be a focus point so teams don't leave the sport

[bidi]

Homestead works for indycar 2 courses at one location!!

[bartsullivan]

It does seem like a strange name for a Palm Springs racetrack but it does make sense that you would want a track in the offseason to race testing and prepare your cars in a warm weather state. As a fan I would probably much rather go down to Cali for the Long Beach Grand Prix or Laguna Seca later in the year. Went down to Leguna last year and had a blast. Being on the west coast I am a little biased and would like Indycar to return to Phoenix or another oval track out west. David is right though Homestead Miami would be the easy solution just miles from Daytona and St. Pete and it would prevent that month long gap in the schedule to have a race there before Texas and allow each team the time they need to prepare for the oval tracks.

[alexrebmann]

A new club track built south of Phoenix. I believe is called Attesa . That would be a great track for Indycars to do spring test because of the weather.

[arthurvillegas]

I'm from the area I wanted to go but, didn't I need to go to the doctor. Hopefully, I go next time, I want to go to a race it is farther I know. But, I'm fan of Indycar all my life. I have ideas for tracks to race at it will work.

[bearmarsh]

In Palm Springs Some people have a golf courses in backyard other people have a race course...The Thermal Club...It's a rich man playground.

[tuzonthume]

I believe the fans on the west coast would enjoy a short track oval race, test or both in the winter.

[kben]

You have to give credit to Indycar for trying something different… because the Sebring winter/spring testing was very repetitive & uninspiring.
I’d agree that a Homestead oval/road course test would be the perfect.

[jason]

imo: 
Preseason testing isn't meant to be for fans. Even as an F1 fan who always checks the F1 testing recaps, the teams and series do not need fans as part of testing.

[WinstonPinetorum]

I can’t see the full podcast on your YouTube channel David? I really want to watch it

[patrickracer]

Indycar going to Thermal makes sense from a business standpoint, as Thermal operates the same way as a private golf course, so that means teams and the series can rub elbows with rich people who are apart of corporations... But that's also the problem as the preseason test is behind closed doors, not to mention you're guaranteed to have members complain that they are unable to run their private cars... I also see the major benefit of any series doing a multiple day test, obviously IMSA has made the Roar Before the 24 into an event, NASCAR had made Preseason Thunder an event before they decided to eliminate basically all testing outside of the occasional Goodyear tire test, hell, people look forward to the preseason test that Formula One does in Bahrain before the first race of their season... But the major issue with running at Thermal is that it looks like you're aiming for the millionaire and the billionaire while ignoring the common man, which just seems like a major issue throughout the sports and live entertainment industries

[Sagewolve]

Would love your take on Richard Childers and Austin Dillon buying a PBR team…. Cause you know bull riding and racing

[MonacoMcLaren]

It definitely put more eyes on Indycar world wide because of the exclusivity.

[andrewsurowiec]

As a member of a team, the facility was great. But the track... yikes. The pitlane was worse. We were cramped in the pitlane. Boxes were 8ft shorter than a normal box

[ownsyou]

Makes sense to get the series away from Florida between the races at Daytona. I’m thinking it could kickstart west coast interest.

[niallfoody]

fair enough your just a man with a mike, also if they wanted to do a test in the middle of nowhere with a good climate Rockingham could be an good option.

[sams-pghj]

if it brings even one new major sponsor, more money, maybe even another team or team partner, then its all worth it to be at this exclusive spot. Spring training is whatever to me, closed to the public or open. I would have liked streaming, but that is also kind of whatever. To indycar's credit, they've done a bunch of social media videos already which is great. Schmooze the right people, get deals done, then its worth it for the series as long as this exclusivity and closed off nature pertains only to this event and the rest of the events stay good priced and the access remains the same

[cco]

Can you please put a direct link in a pinned comment or the description? I can't find it on any major podcast site yet.