For COTA, IndyCar Classic a chance to build legacy

There’s no doubt that Circuit of the Americas was made for Formula One.

The first purpose-built racetrack in North America for the world’s premier open-wheel race cars was meant to provide a home for the sport in the United States. Since opening in 2012, its presence has placed Austin in the lexicon alongside places like Silverstone (England), Monza (Italy) and Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates).

International crowds descend on Central Texas twice a year for F1 and MotoGP. But there’s never been a reason for gear heads who grew up with domestic racing series to make COTA a yearly destination. That could be changing.

IndyCar is making its debut at the venue this weekend with the inaugural IndyCar Classic. Might it be a first step toward Austin slipping off the tongue with the likes of Indianapolis, Daytona and Laguna Seca?

“It’s a premier racetrack in this country,” said Graham Rahal, an IndyCar driver and the son of American racing legend Bobby Rahal. “You can list the amount of premier racetracks in this country on one hand. I love the classics; there’s no doubt they are still my favorites. But you go out (to COTA), and it deserves to be ranked up there with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That’s going to take time to build that heritage and legacy, but there’s no reason this venue can’t.”

So far, there are two kings of COTA, and they both hail from Europe. Englishman Lewis Hamilton won five straight U.S. Grand Prix races from 2013 to 2017, and Spaniard Marc Marquez is 6-for-6 in MotoGP races held in Austin.

Qualifying rounds will be held Saturday; Sunday's race, which will be 60 laps, is scheduled to begin at 12:40 p.m.

If there’s one American driver whose name is synonymous with the track, he’s here this week. Alexander Rossi remains the only American to compete in F1 at COTA, finishing 12th in the rain-soaked 2015 USGP. Rossi joined IndyCar in 2016 and won the Indianapolis 500 that spring.

The 27-year-old Californian said he is excited for the chance to put his stamp on the venue.

“When I’ve come here in the past, I came into the weekend fully knowing there was no chance to ever really do anything from a results perspective,” Rossi said. “To be able to come here this weekend to a track that I’ve spent a lot of time at, to be able to come into it competing on a level where we have as good a shot as any to win the race, is pretty cool. For sure there’s almost an ‘unfinished business’ box that you’d like to check.”

The cars aren’t as fast as F1’s, but IndyCar prides itself on parity. That’s one thing the other marquee events at COTA lack, exemplified by Hamilton’s and Marquez’s dominance. The thrilling 2018 USGP, won by Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari, was more of an exception than the rule.

“The races here haven’t always been barnburners,” said James Hinchcliffe, a Canadian who drives for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports.

The Austin events have become known for their pageantry and the international star power provided by Hamilton, Marquez and their cohorts. This week, the vibe is sure to be a little bit different. And like any race weekend, much of how the first IndyCar Classic is perceived will come down to what happens Sunday.

Will COTA take a step toward iconic status this weekend?

“So long as it’s a good race,” said Leigh Diffey, NBC’s lead IndyCar announcer, who called the first five F1 races at COTA. “If it’s a snoozer of a race, that’s not going to get the people excited. If they put on a heck of a show, that’s really going to stick in people’s memory.”