2022 IndyCar Race #9 Honda Indy 200 At Mid-Ohio

When I had finished laying out my 2022 schedule, I wondered about the three consecutive weekends I would spend at the Mid-Ohio Sportscar Course. I pondered the monotony, the repeated landscape, and the long drive from home.

One of the challenges of photographing motorsports is having the same subject each week. From a sponsor's viewpoint, it makes sense for companies to make their products recognizable. Repetition of logos and names builds familiarity for all brands and products.

Every long-time NASCAR fan remembers the #3 Goodwrench car when the name Dale Earnhardt is mentioned. When I started working in motorsports, Jimmie Johnson would forever become equated with Lowe's and the number 48. Just like when I picture Kyle Busch, in my mind, he is holding packs of M&M's standing next to his #18 racecar. I even use these relationships to remember things like combinations or addresses. For example, if a lock combination is 11-88-23, then I only have to remember Denny-Jr-Bubba (Denny Hamlin, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Bubba Wallace) and don't have to worry about the numbers. Repetitive experiences create relationships in our minds.

Pato O'Ward - Arrow McLaren SP - Mid-Ohio - IndyCar - 2022
Colton Herta - Andretti Autosport w/ Curb-Agajanian - Mid-Ohio - IndyCar - 2022

Advertisers know that if I admire Scott Dixon and think he is a great race car driver, I subconsciously begin to feel the same thoughts about the brand he represents, PNC Bank. Just as I'm pretty sure if Will Power needed a new cell phone, he would be shopping at a Verizon store. At least, I'm sure that's what Verizon wants me to think.

Will Power - Team Penske - Mid-Ohio - IndyCar - 2022
Scott Dixon - Chip Ganassi Racing - Mid-Ohio - IndyCar - 2022
Scott McLaughlin - Team Penske - Mid-Ohio - IndyCar - 2022

I don't mind if Petronas, FedEx, NTT, Menards, Target, or anyone else is funding motorsports. They want people to buy their products, and the more effective their advertising is, the more money people spend. If that's what promotes motorsports, then great. The more people talk about the Monster Energy motorcycle, the Red Bull car, or the Bass Pro Shops #19, the better it is for each brand and motorsports.

My brother-in-law won't go to Home Depot because he's a Jimmie Johnson fan. His brand loyalty comes from honoring the company that his favorite driver had all over his car. The funny thing is that the reverse is far less comparable. I have rarely heard a fan swear off a product because they hated the driver of that car. It's improbable that even the much-maligned Kyle Busch would deter a fan away from M&M's.

People like familiarity. It's a comfort in an ever-changing world. It's buying the same Brawny paper towels or stopping at the same Sunoco gas station. We know what to expect. We know old John will be behind the counter waiting for us after grabbing our morning coffee. That was made in the same Bunn pot with the same Peet's coffee beans for years. The cups are always in the same place, as are the lids, the stirrers, and the cream. Reliability and predictability bring order to our lives.

How much is all of this brand loyalty and familiarity worth? That's a problem I'm sure a lot of research has gone towards solving. Is an ad on TV during the Super Bowl worth the expense? $6.5 million is a lot of money for 30 seconds, yet I don't remember any gaps in the television coverage. That large amount of money could buy a spot on the rear fender for a whole racing season. How fast do you think Dorito's made back the money they invested in their commercial?

Pato O'Ward - Arrow McLaren SP - Mid-Ohio - IndyCar - 2022

One nice thing about how expensive it is to sponsor a car for an entire season is that not many companies decide to do it. Different sponsors bring different colors, designs, and art. So it was a real treat for me to see other liveries this weekend. Romain Grosjean driving the Forever Lawn #28 at Mid-Ohio was great. What a welcome change from the yellow and red DHL paint that has lingered for many seasons. The black and the green captured my heart at every turn, and I found myself lingering for another pass of the car before changing locations. During the weekend, Marcus Erickson piloted the Honda Ridgeline #8 car with a rich, multi-faceted green complexion that amplified its curves and arches

It's also wonderful when a brand realizes there is room for new expression and design, like the red fading to black on Will Power's Verizon car. It is a welcome change from the tired old muted silver of years past and a beautiful update to the hum drum black with red accents of last year.

Scott McLaughlin - Team Penske - Mid-Ohio - IndyCar - 2022

I've said how racecars can be beautiful with their curves and aerodynamics, spoilers, and shiny paint, but let me augment that by reminding you how amazing your girlfriend looks in her sexy new red dress with the black stiletto heels. She isn't a different person or unrecognizable, but eye-catching, beautiful, and memorable. I hope more sponsors begin to take advantage of this not-so-subtle surprise factor to shine over their competitors while their advertising waits for action.

Formula 4 at Mid-Ohio

I can't say enough about the Mid-Ohio SportsCar Course and how well the F4 Americas cars perform there. It's great sharing the stage with the popularity of the NASCAR scene because they draw a big crowd, which is a real treat for not only the drivers and the spectators but also, my photos! It's nice to see race cars against green countryside backdrops or pushed up into the blue of the sky, but getting the colors of the crowd is something special.

The weekend was dominated by Joshua Car from the Crosslink/Kiwi Motorsport team but some shining stars appeared on the podium introducing some new blood into the points race. Kiko Porto returned to the top step after the first race and his teammate Guilherme Peixoto of DEForce Racing claimed two third-place finishes and grabbed a nice fat check for securing the Cameron Das Fast Qualifier Award. Another driver hungry for some time on the podium was Nicky Hays of DC Autosport with Cape Motorsports. His "have no fear" racing style sent shutters through the crowd as his out-breaking techniques raised the hairs on every viewer's neck. Christian Brooks also returned to the podium for the third race. After a difficult start to the weekend, the Jay Howard Driver Development driver managed to get the car sorted out and landed on the podium of the final race.

A great weekend surrounded by close racing, big crowds, and competitive friendship. It's what every series should hope to attain.

All of these (and many more) photos from the weekend are available at the F4 Mid-Ohio Photo gallery

Xfinity series takes over Mid-Ohio

I think the Xfinity racers love road courses almost as much as I do, especially Mid-Ohio. The 2.25-mile course is full of elevation changes for great photo opportunities and there are plenty of long straights for drafting and overtaking to keep things exciting. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a pass on an oval track but there's just something special about watching a technical maneuver being executed at high speeds during a knockdown drag-out fight for the lead through the twists and turns of an exciting country road course. In all honesty, wouldn't you rather take an exhilarating ride through the countryside than on a highway? Experiencing the feelings of the suspension compression at every turn, acceleration through the apex, speeding off to the next playful twist along the road to a far off destination is exhilarating and fulfilling.
Congratulations to Austin Cindric and Team Penske on their second win in the series, and coming directly after the first one this is a great accomplishment. I'm looking for him to be in a great position to win the championship. Enjoy some of my favorite pictures from the event.

All the photos are ©Gavin Baker / NKP