Announced at IndyCar’s season finale, IndyCar told the media that they would be holding an all-star race, starting in 2024.
Alex Palou was crowned champion for the 2nd time in 3 years, but that was not the talking point in the race… And it was not the carnage that happened either. It was the all-star race that was announced prior to the race that had social media going.
In a made-for-tv event, there will be $1 million guaranteed to the winner. The event will be held at the Thermal Club in Southern California.
The $1 Million Challenge will be held on March 24 and air on NBC, with practice and qualifying the previous two days. IndyCar at the start of this year tested at The Thermal Club outside Palm Springs to gauge interest from membership in eventually hosting a race. Most of the competitors were pleased with the facility, a 490-acre development that includes four asphalt racetracks located behind an 18-foot sound wall in an unincorporated town in the Coachella Valley.
John Rogers, owner of The Thermal Club, said a February test paved the way for the $1 Million Challenge.
“The teams, drivers, and the entire paddock are true professionals, and we look forward to developing our relationship with them in the future. This marquee racing challenge in March promises to be special for everyone including spectators, Thermal members and race fans tuning in at home.”
There will be limited tickets available for non-Thermal members to access the event on the 17-turn, 3.067-mile layout. No points will be awarded and the event will have a format unlike anything else on the IndyCar schedule. There will be a draw party to begin the event that will embed members of The Thermal Club with a race team and driver.
There will be a qualifying session and two heat races in which the top six from each heat advance to the main event. The top five finishing teams will split their earnings with The Thermal Club members, including the $1 million prize awarded to the champion.
The event gives IndyCar a race during its traditionally long break between its season-opening race in St. Petersburg, Florida, in early March and the resumption of the series, typically a month later.
Penske Entertainment Corp. President & CEO Mark Miles told the media, “It’s going to be a made-for-TV event that I think should be very interesting and get people who normally wouldn’t be watching us to watch us race at a different place.”
The remainder of the 2024 schedule was also announced, which includes a returning race to the Milwaukee Mile. Also, Texas lost its race and its doubleheader with NASCAR for this change. Laguna Seca moves to June 23rd and Nashville moves to the season finale. Milwaukee will run as the penultimate race of the season on August 31st, and September 1st.
