Today’s question: It’s Rivalry Week in American college football. What rivalry would you like to see blossom in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2024?

Curt Cavin: As it stands, there are more rivalries we’d like to see than those we actually have. Pato O’Ward could fit in both categories, and I think he has the perfect blend of talent, success, aggression and quotability to be a fixture in any such discussion. As an example, I think we all enjoyed watching the sparks that came from last year’s Long Beach race, when O’Ward didn’t back down following contact with Scott Dixon and the not-so-subtle jab the six-time series champion took at the rising star. (For the record, I don’t think we’ve heard the last of that.) I’ve long been waiting for O’Ward and Alexander Rossi to tangle on the track as their personalities are ripe for tension, although now that seems less likely as Arrow McLaren teammates. O’Ward and Colton Herta have been linked in the early part of their careers, and it would be natural for them to go head-to-head in the future and they’re both spirited enough to spice things up. Bottom line: I’m all for more of O’Ward in any type of rivalry discussion because he brings it!

Eric Smith: Give me Alex Palou vs. Josef Newgarden. While it’s hard to compare eras, stats say that this new age rivalry could be similar to that of A.J. Foyt vs. Mario Andretti. Between 1960 and 1969, Foyt and Andretti combined to win eight titles in a 10-season span. Their overall stats speak for themselves. Over the last seven years though, Newgarden and Palou have won four Astor Challenge Cups between them. In fact, in two of his first three years at Team Penske, Newgarden won a title. He finished fifth between crowns. In two of his first three years at Chip Ganassi Racing, Palou has won the championship. He was fifth in points last year. Also, since 2021, Newgarden has 11 wins, 17 podiums, 24 top-five finishes and 36 top 10s in 49 starts. Palou has amassed nine wins, 23 podiums, 28 top fives and 41 top 10s in the same span. That’s a 40.8% win rate (20-for-49) between these two over the last three seasons. Newgarden is an oval king with four wins in five races on circle tracks in 2023. Palou is a natural road course guru (nine wins since 2020; next best is three). Newgarden has finished either first or second in points in five of the last seven years. Palou has finished that way in two of the last three. While this isn’t necessarily fireworks between the two, the on-track stats prove this to be a nice potential rivalry for the next decade to come.

Paul Kelly: Scott Dixon vs. Pato O’Ward. As Curt mentioned, we already saw sparks between these star drivers after their collision at Long Beach. Their “discussion” about the incident easily was the most compelling part of the entire “100 Days to Indy” docuseries last spring, as that too-brief scene contained all the elements of why this would be a compelling rivalry. You have the old guard in Dixon, a six-time champion who doesn’t speak out often but commands attention every time he does. You have the new breed in O’Ward, a potential champion-in-waiting who is willing to offer his opinion on almost all topics. Dixon’s preferred verbal weapon appears – at least from the post-Long Beach “chat” – to be a passive-aggressive approach, which dovetails nicely with his “Iceman” nickname. But the Kiwi makes his points, so that ice could be dry ice, which can burn. Meanwhile, O’Ward doesn’t back down and doesn’t seem to be the type to apologize or try to find compromise in any debate in which he thinks he’s right. You also have the intriguing subplot of the principals of their respective teams, Chip Ganassi and Zak Brown, who clearly don’t like each other and might enjoy the aggro between their two franchise drivers if it didn’t detract from their on-track performance. That’s great drama and even better TV. Gimme more, please!