Will Indianapolis 500 Result In Excitement Or Terror?

The Verizon IndyCar Series Super Bowl, the 99^th running of the Indianapolis 500, is sure to have fans holding their collective breath this Sunday wondering if this event will result in excitement or terror.  As preparations began for one of the most well known races in the world, both competitors and fans were left in total dismay as crash after crash continued to occur in many of the practice sessions last week and this week.

Thought to have been caused by IndyCar’s latest and greatest Aerokit, which was designed to allow fans to tell the cars apart, has thought to have resulted in not only four serious crashes, but three of which left cars airborne and slamming hard onto the asphalt at the Brickyard.

One such crash not only ruined a well known driver’s chances at winning this year’s Indianapolis 500 trophy, but down for the count for what is sure to be most if not the rest of the 2015 race season.  James Hinchcliffe experienced what could have been a deadly ride during his practice run on Monday.

Although Hinchcliffe’s Schmidt Peterson ride didn’t go airborne, he took a hard shot into the outside wall, which resulted in a suspension wishbone cutting through the driver’s right leg and into his left leg and ultimately pinning Hinchcliffe inside the mangled wreck until safety crews arrived.

Injuries sustained by the Canadian driver left him in need of major surgery to his pelvic area and upper left thigh as well as a stay in the Intensive Care Unit at IU Health Methodist Hospital until yesterday.  While Hinchcliffe is now expected to make a full recovery with both his team and his team owner hopeful that he will make a return this season, crashes of this nature has to leave many of us speculating why IndyCar would even consider this new design in the first place?

Fortunately, this concern has resonated with both race officials and IndyCar manufacturers who have all agreed to lower the engines horsepower, change the aerodynamics and slow the cars down to assure driver safety.

There is just one snag with this plan that still leaves this writer puzzled?  While we fans are, of course, concerned that our favorite drivers stay safe during each race…what about the excitement?  No, not constant crashing of cars into the wall, but fast side by side racing that leaves us on the edge of our seats.

So what can be done to keep fans tuning into to what some may consider the most prestigious race of the year, why also assuring driver safety?  We at RacingJunk.com want to hear from you. What would you do if you had to make the ultimate decision?

Feature photo by Jimmy Dawson for the Indy Star