149 - International Stardom - The People’s Podium Reconvenes for a IndyCar Season Recap

Speed Street

Conor Daly’s 2024 racing season has officially come to a close as he was once again in NASCAR Truck competition at Homestead Miami Speedway this past weekend. He joins co-host Chase Holden to discuss why he struggled behind the wheel with limited practice and how difficult the Truck is to adapt to in comparison to its NASCAR Xfinity counterparts. They also chat about Pato O’Ward’s massive, warm welcoming at the Formula One Mexico Grand Prix and how the huge showing at his personal appearance is a great thing for the future of IndyCar. Also, they ponder if this huge display of support for the IndyCar superstar will expedite the process of getting the series back to Mexico for a championship points race.

The return of the People’s Podium segment welcomes past guest Kevin Beck to the table to give his thoughts on the 2024 IndyCar season. Kevin makes the point that IndyCar had a great window of opportunity to find new viewership during the Formula One summer break this year, as the series put on some compelling races after the Indianapolis 500. The guys also discuss Pato O’Ward’s fan support from Mexico and how it can help elevate a sport similarily to Ayrton Senna in Formula One during the mid to late 1980s and Caitlyn Clark currently in the WNBA. Kevin argues that IndyCar needs to study what the WNBA is doing to market Clark’s popularity and how the series is capitalizing on the player’s stardom to help elevate its overall presence. Finally, the guys discuss what an IndyCar in Mexico could mean for the series and how it will be viewed on an international scale.