A “$1 Million Challenge” at 500 dollars… why?

This weekend, theIndyCar organizes its first non-championship round since 2008, at the Thermal Club, in California. A special event, called the “$1 Million Challenge”, but which will ultimately only bring $500 to its winner on Sunday evening. Plans to reach this million, shared between the winning pilot and a member of the Thermal Club, recently fell through.

The Thermal Club, located south of the Thermal demographic area, is a highly exclusive location, featuring a car track, villas with garages, restaurants and leisure venues. An entrance fee, including ownership of one of the villas on the site, is necessary in order to benefit from the Club's infrastructure. In 2023, IndyCar organized two days of winter testing there, and the championship will repeat the operation this season, with an additional non-championship round, which will be the first race organized at the Thermal Club.

If the format of the “$1 Million Challenge” initially promised this sum of one million to the winner, the final prize was reduced by half. It was Don Cusick, club member and owner of Cusick Motorsports, a team that participated in the Indy 500, who explained why the million dollar challenge could not be done in the form initially desired.

“Originally, the plan was for members to take part in their own race, driving BMW M2s. The members would therefore have done their own race, and would have been associated with IndyCar drivers after a draw. Depending on their rankings [in the members-only race and in the IndyCar event, editor's note], they would have accumulated points and the members would have shared the prize with the IndyCar driver. »

A lack of available hardware and drivers at fault

The members' race will therefore ultimately not take place, and half of the original prize money will therefore be distributed to the IndyCar drivers and teams. The fault is a lack of available cars, and a concern about the level of committed members:

“I think part of the problem was whether there were enough M2s and experienced pilots in those M2s to make this happen”, Cusick continued. “I think we just didn't have enough time to prepare the cars or the people to have 27 cars and 27 drivers. This is what causes some problems. »

Problems which, however, do not dampen the enthusiasm of IndyCar decision-makers, who are betting heavily on this Challenge. However, there is no question of decreeing on Sunday evening whether the initiative was a success or not. Mark Miles, president of Penske Entertainment, IndyCar's parent company, said he will consult with track owners, teams, drivers and fans before deciding whether to try it again in 2025. .

“We will listen to all stakeholders. First of all, I think the Rogers must like this. It has to be a good experience for them as owners of the club. I'm sure the attitude of the club members will be reflected in that of Tim Rogers. So this is an important and fundamental first thing. We will see the reaction of the fans, social media will give us a good idea of ​​their reaction to the race. Some of our sponsors will be there, the teams, obviously, the team owners will be there. »

“We'll take everyone's temperature afterwards. We know enthusiasm is quite high after last year's testing. People really enjoyed being there. They may have raised some questions about the race itself, I hope we've answered them, and we hope to have a really good weekend that people enjoy. »