IndyCar Grapples with “Cheese Grater” Track at thermal Club Grand Prix
Table of Contents
- 1. IndyCar Grapples with “Cheese Grater” Track at thermal Club Grand Prix
- 2. Shwartzman’s Setback: Fire Disrupts Practice
- 3. Pressure Mounts: Key Drivers Seek Rebound
- 4. Looking Ahead
- 5. watch: IndyCar drivers navigate the Thermal Club
- 6. Given teh unique tire wear characteristics of the Thermal Club track, will teams adapt their tire strategies for future IndyCar races?
- 7. IndyCar “Cheese Grater” at thermal Club: An Interview with Strategist Evelyn Reed
- 8. Interview: Evelyn reed, Tire Strategy Consultant
Published: march 22, 2025
The NTT IndyCar Series faced a unique challenge as it arrived at The Thermal Club in Southern California on Friday, march 21st. While the luxurious setting and clear skies were a welcome change after the St. Petersburg opener, the track surface itself presented a formidable obstacle: extreme tire wear. Drivers and teams are calling The Thermal Club’s track the ‘Coachella Valley Cheese Grater,’ and it’s proving to be a major factor in the weekend’s strategy.
The abrasive nature of the 3.067-mile, 17-turn circuit is well-known, but the addition of the hybrid system to this year’s cars has exacerbated the problem. The extra weight, combined with the coarse asphalt and desert dust, is taking a heavy toll on the Firestone Firehawk tires. Adding another element to the challenge, IndyCar officials adjusted the tire allocation, giving teams six sets of the more durable primary tires and only four sets of the softer, faster alternate compound.
The situation dominated conversations throughout Friday’s practice session. veteran driver Graham Rahal’s sarcastic radio commentary after just one lap on the primary tires highlighted the severity of the issue. The visual evidence was clear as his No. 15 Mobil 1 Honda returned to the pit box with significant rubber loss. Josef Newgarden echoed these concerns, emphasizing the critical role tire management will play in Sunday’s 65-lap race (3 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).
The tire-wear issues will require teams to lean on engineer’s expertise in data analysis and simulation to maximize performance while minimizing tire degradation. This pushes the boundaries of real-time telemetry and pit-stop strategy, akin to what NASCAR teams face at abrasive tracks like Darlington Raceway, where tire management is paramount.
The altered tire allocation adds a layer of complexity. If, as some drivers suspect, the alternate compound proves to be the faster option, the limited supply will force teams to make tough choices about when to deploy them. this could lead to varied strategies, with some drivers opting for short bursts of speed on the alternates while others conserve their primaries for the long haul.
The decision to reduce the allotment of alternate tires underscores a strategic shift by IndyCar, prioritizing durability and tire management over outright speed. This adjustment is similar to strategies employed in other racing series, like Formula 1, where tire strategy can significantly impact race outcomes.
Shwartzman’s Setback: Fire Disrupts Practice
Compounding the challenges, rookie Robert Shwartzman experienced a major setback when his No. 83 PREMA Racing chevrolet caught fire exiting Turn 6. The incident brought out the AMR INDYCAR Safety Team and halted the session for over 15 minutes, depriving all drivers of valuable track time, especially crucial for rookies like Shwartzman.
the fire team acted swiftly, extracting the driver and then working to control the fire. The fire, however, caused too much damage, and the team decided to switch to a backup car for the remainder of the event.
The timing couldn’t have been worse for Shwartzman, who already faced a disadvantage due to radio transmission issues during practice in St. Petersburg. now, with minimal track time heading into qualifying, he faces a steep learning curve. This situation highlights the unforgiving nature of motorsports, where even minor setbacks can have significant consequences.
The incident serves as a reminder of the inherent risks involved in racing and the importance of safety protocols. The AMR INDYCAR Safety Team’s speedy response prevented a potentially more serious situation. The fire also emphasizes the need for continuous improvements in car design and safety technology to minimize the risk of mechanical failures.
Pressure Mounts: Key Drivers Seek Rebound
While the early stages of the season don’t typically define a championship run, several drivers with title aspirations recognize the importance of a strong performance this weekend. Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren,Colton herta of Andretti Global,and Will Power of Team Penske all finished outside the top 10 in St. Petersburg and find themselves facing an early points deficit.
The challenge is amplified by the strong start of their main rivals. Alex Palou and Scott Dixon of chip Ganassi Racing, with a combined nine series championships, currently hold the top two positions in the standings, followed by Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin and Newgarden. Overcoming such formidable competition requires consistent top finishes and strategic brilliance.
Consider, such as, that Alex Palou’s dominant 2023 season was characterized by remarkable consistency, with no finish lower than eighth. Herta,O’Ward,and Power cannot afford a string of subpar results if they intend to challenge for the championship.
with the limited practice time on Friday, the speed chart may not be fully indicative of the true competitive order. However,Palou’s P1 position suggests he remains a force to be reckoned with. The remaining drivers mentioned finished as follows: Herta fourth, O’Ward sixth, McLaughlin seventh, Power 10th, Dixon 12th and Newgarden 18th. Qualifying will provide a clearer picture of their relative pace, but ultimately, the race will come down to who can best manage the demanding conditions and extract the most from their tires.
the pressure on these drivers is similar to what top contenders face in other high-stakes sports. Like a star quarterback needing to bounce back after a tough loss or a golfer needing a strong showing to stay in contention, O’Ward, Herta, and Power must deliver this weekend to maintain their championship hopes.
Looking Ahead
IndyCar teams will continue to dissect data and refine their strategies ahead of Saturday’s second practice (1 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX Sports App, INDYCAR Radio Network) and NTT P1 Award qualifying (5 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX Sports App, INDYCAR Radio Network). The key will be balancing speed and tire conservation on the abrasive Thermal Club circuit. The race on Sunday promises to be a strategic battle, where pit-stop execution and real-time adjustments will be critical. For viewers at home, the race offers a compelling narrative: can the early-season leaders maintain their advantage, or will the struggling contenders find a way to turn the tide?
See the challenges drivers are facing at the Thermal Club in Southern California.
Given teh unique tire wear characteristics of the Thermal Club track, will teams adapt their tire strategies for future IndyCar races?
IndyCar “Cheese Grater” at thermal Club: An Interview with Strategist Evelyn Reed
Interview: Evelyn reed, Tire Strategy Consultant
Archyde: Evelyn, thanks for joining us. The Thermal Club Grand Prix is shaping up to be a real challenge. What’s your initial assessment of the tire situation?
Evelyn Reed: Thanks for having me. It’s certainly going to be a strategic race. The abrasive track surface, which everyone’s calling the “coachella Valley Cheese Grater,” is causing significant tire wear. Combine that with the added weight of the hybrid system and the limited alternate tire allocation, and you have the recipe for a real tactical battle.
Archyde: The tire allocation is different from St.Petersburg. How does this affect the teams’ approach?
Evelyn Reed: Absolutely. Giving teams six sets of primaries and only four sets of alternates forces tough choices. If the alternates prove faster, teams will need to decide when to use them. Do you go for a rapid burst early? or save them for a late-race push? It opens the door to several different strategies.
Archyde: What impact will the fire that disrupted Robert Shwartzman’s practice sessions have on the overall strategy?
Evelyn Reed: Shwartzman’s setback is unfortunate. Losing track time,especially for a rookie,is detrimental.Prema Racing will need to work hard analysing any data they gathered before the incident and preparing him for qualifying with limited data. It also highlights the inherent risks of racing and the importance of safety protocols,which will be playing on everyone’s minds.
Archyde: We see drivers like O’Ward, Herta, and Power needing a strong performance. Can you elaborate?
Evelyn Reed: They didn’t have the best results in St.Petersburg,so yes,the pressure is on. They can’t afford to fall further behind Palou and Dixon,who are off to a strong start. Consistent top finishes and shrewd tire management are their keys to success this weekend.
Archyde: Looking ahead to Sunday’s race, what do you see as the key deciding factors?
Evelyn Reed: Tire management will be absolutely critical. Pit-stop strategy, real-time adjustments based on tire degradation, and track conditions will be vital, especially with the limited alternate tire supply. And of course, a little bit of luck always helps! But this race is a true strategist’s playground.
Archyde: Evelyn, with all these added complexities, do you think this could redefine how teams approach tire strategy in IndyCar going forward?
Evelyn reed: That’s a great question and one that teams will be pondering for weeks. The impact of the “Coachella Valley Cheese grater” track and the hybrid system, alongside the resulting tire degradation, will force teams to innovate and potentially adopt strategies we haven’t seen before. It’s definately creating new considerations. It’ll be interesting to see if these lessons learned at the Thermal Club influence future decisions about tire allocations and compound choices at other circuits. what do you think? Will this race be a turning point for tire strategy in IndyCar?
