I didn't question the reason for using last year's tires, I accepted (with a grain of salt) MC's "They were using year-old rubber because of coronavirus causing problems with making new tyres.", although I even have trouble with that. As in, why couldn't they? Did their equipment become ill?
If "it may be IndyCar taking absolutely zero chances with anything at the most demanding track they race at.", why not take the absolutely safest route and cancel the race? For sake of discussion assuming it's so, how did they come up with 35 laps being safe? Not 40? Not 25? What determines the safe #? How did they know for certain, that even just one might not fail after, let's say, 13 laps?
Not saying all this isn't true, I just take to heart the old saying "if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and talks like a duck......" Especially when racing has become the "good show".....errrr....I mean "good racing"
(via spec/kit cars and engines in IndyCar's case) instead of the display of the best there is to offer.
Any how, I thought it was far more entertaining than the usual draft fest that's usually de rigeur on big ovals; more of a driver's test.
As such, I vote for more traction goo on more circuits in the future.....(hmm, Indy on the front and back straights....????)
Those were the days my friends, we thought they'd never end.....
jimclark