6 Reasons Why You Should Start Watching IndyCar

1. They don't just turn left

One of the great things about the IndyCar calendar is that there is a real mix of track types. Not a fan of ovals? Well, watch the street and road course races, then. Variety spices up the racing and makes the championship more exciting, with different cars and drivers excelling at different types of circuit.

2. Five-for-five

Five rounds have already been and gone, and five different winners have been crowned. While Team Penske appears to be the strongest team, it hasn’t had things all its own way, enabling others to snatch victories and triumph. Can it be six-for-six? We’ll have to wait and see at this weekend’s Indy 500.

This year’s IndyCar pack features a mix of experienced drivers, rookies and young racers looking to make an impression early in their careers. It’s great to see such a wide variety of talent through most of the field and it has certainly produced exciting racing so far.

3. Young and old

This year’s IndyCar pack is made up of a mix of experienced drivers, rookies and young racers looking to make an impression early in their careers. It is great to see such a wide variety of talent through most of the field and it certainly produces dramatic racing.

The big topic ahead of this year’s IndyCar season was the new aero kits, with engine manufacturers Honda and Chevrolet developing different versions; this means that the cars are not identical for the first time in quite a few years. Several areas are open for development and teams can use different kits on different cars.

Admittedly, not every IndyCar race has been a thriller so far, but we’ve seen some fantastic racing. A particular highlight was the Grand Prix of Alabama, which took place at the Barber Motorsports Park, with close, wheel-to-wheel battles and plenty of overtakes. Hopefully that’ll continue throughout the season.

6. The Indy 500

IndyCar’s main event is the Indianapolis 500, which takes place this weekend. Practice sessions have already taken place, as the series takes over the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the month of May.

The major talking point so far has been the number of big crashes, with Canadian driver James Hinchcliffe requiring surgery after this horrific crash following suspension failure. Rule changes have been implemented that make cars run race-level aero packages to reduce speed and increase downforce - Hinchcliffe had just clocked a lap at over 220mph when the accident occured. Yeah, these race cars are fast.