Question: NTT INDYCAR SERIES teams will compete this weekend in the Java House Grand Prix of Monterey (Sunday, 3 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). What is the best part of attending an event at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca?
Curt Cavin: I like everything that’s unique about Northern California, beginning with the gorgeous scenery, the ocean in the distance and the contrast of colors that evolve through the day. The mornings are fresh, cloaked in a crispness that requires a light pullover that’s unnecessary by mid-afternoon. Slowly, the marine layer burns off and invites sunshine, and that’s about the time the cars hit the track with eye-catching elevation. I enjoy grabbing coffee, a light breakfast and watching Laguna Seca start a new day.
Eric Smith: I find the (relatively) new racing surface fascinating. The old Laguna Seca racing surface was notoriously abrasive — a cheese grater of a track that produced thrilling races as drivers tiptoed around the 2.238-mile road course. Pushing too hard meant rapid tire wear, as if Firestone Racing Tires were being scraped across an actual grater. The track rewarded those who could find the delicate balance between speed, car control and tire preservation. That dynamic changed when the track was resurfaced ahead of the 2023 race weekend, fundamentally altering how drivers approached the circuit over the past two seasons. Now, entering the third year on this surface, the asphalt has begun to wear in. This evolving grip level could lead to a driving experience that feels like a hybrid of the old, punishing Laguna Seca and the smoother, faster version seen in recent years.
Arni Sribhen: Who doesn’t love Laguna Seca? I know if you’ve played any version of Gran Turismo since GT2, you’ve raced at Laguna Seca and it’s just as spectacular in real life. Of course, selfishly, driving a golf cart lap around the track and diving down the Corkscrew through Rainey Corner might be my favorite memory of the place. But if you’re going to Monterey, don’t sleep on Revival Ice Cream. The line is always long, but the unique flavors and handcrafted quality make this a can’t miss stop for me. Try the Bee’s Knees Ice Cream.
Paul Kelly: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is legendary for its elevation change and iconic corners — The Corkscrew, Rainey, the Andretti Hairpin and more. But my favorite part of this fantastic race weekend takes place away from the track. Carmel-by-the-Sea is one of the cutest, most picturesque towns through which you can take a leisurely stroll anywhere, and I have enjoyed decompressing away from the track on race weekends by walking its quaint streets and downtown district, which includes great restaurants and bars and some funky, unique shops. Just be sure not to wander too far off the beaten path at night, as there are no streetlights in Carmel-by-the-Sea — at least not the last time I was there — due to concerns about light pollution. I nearly tripped and fell on my face about four times the last time I walked there after a gorgeous Pacific sunset!