Brian Barnhart and Terry Angstadt gave their "state of the series" address today, and here's what's coming.
Car changes
*-Paddle shifters for 2008
*-"New steering technology" (read: power steering) for 2008.
*-New sidepods for the cars, as well as underwing changes with sound-muffling material.
*-New tubs with 21" cockpits for 2009 (the current ones are 19"), with them incorporated into new chassis for 2011.
TV changes
*-All races in HDTV for 2008 and beyond.
Schedule changes
*-16 races on the same weekends as last year (basically, the same schedule minus Michigan).
*-A 17th race for 2008 in a "big" new market. The teams have been told to prepare for 17 races next season.
*-Up to 20 events in the "near future." Looking at events in Canada & Mexico (unfortunately, that likely means more roadies ... we saw in a story the other day that Michigan could be a possibility in the expanded schedule).
*-Exploring the possibility of a postseason international barnstorming tour.
The full story: IndyCar.com
Now, for my opinion
The car changes are coming ... IndyCar racing has always been about innovation, and the fact is, IndyCars lack some of the technology that is on cars used in some minor-league series, and even in the 1960s technological marvels used in NASCAR. If road racing is going to be part of the series, power steering *must* be part of the cars. The paddle-shifters are just moving with the times. Wider cockpits = safety. Safety = good.
TV ... just in time for me to get an HD set :). Being in SD tells the world you're "bush league" right now. HD is a big deal.
Schedule ... the SillySeason is where I tend to pay the most attention anyway, so this is what I gravitated toward. Twenty races is a start ... I'd like to see an eventual run to 25. My best guess is, the international races would not count in the "20" if they happen. To me, every race run should count in the standings, but you want the championship chase to not be decided overseas -- a mistake made by Champ Car over the last several years.
The series needs to expand, but not to more road courses. While a handful of road courses are a nice diversion, the IndyCar Series has always been an oval-based series, and needs to remain as such to sustain interest. Oval races draw better attendance, show better on TV and provide a better product.
If the series is going to expand to 20 races, start with Phoenix, Michigan & either California or Pocono (especially if Pocono loses one of its NASCAR dates). *Then* look at adding either Montreal or Mexico.
My fantasy world has a 25-race schedule, three 500-milers, and the season finale a 500-miler at TMS. But 20 races would be a good start.
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