Join Nii Wallace Bruce and Meesh Beer as they discuss an enthralling IndyCar race in Toronto, involving Pato O'Ward's victory (03:01), the challenges and evolution of the sport, and its comparison with Formula One and NASCAR (07:01). The episode also delves into the struggles and growth of IndyCar (17:07), highlighting the importance of driver accessibility and fan engagement.

Additionally, the conversation touches on the Toronto Blue Jays' performance and the impact of sports in elevating the city’s spirit (28:25). This engaging discussion offers insights into racing dynamics, the role of female drivers in IndyCar (23:32), and the passionate community of sports fans.

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Opening and closing music courtesy of Jeremiah Alves - "Evermore".

Welcome into an episode of PSPI am your host Knee Wallace Bruce, and I'm

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excited 'cause I saw cars flying down

Lake Shore West last weekend in Toronto.

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Yes.

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That is indeed a traffic joke

because if you look at the city of

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Toronto, traffic moves quite slowly.

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However, we had the IndyCar

series come to town.

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So to take us through that and more.

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It is me Bia from TRE side

online and Open Wheel World.

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She covered the race from practice

through qualifying as well

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as a big event on the Sunday.

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Meesh!:

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Hi.

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PSP: in.

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Meesh!:

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Excuse my voice.

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I have been at a racetrack basically since

Thursday afternoon, and it got the best of

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me, but woo, what a day, what a weekend.

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PSP: Yeah, and the weather

showed up for the most part.

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There was a little bit of rain

on the Saturday, but it was

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largely a beautiful event.

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Now, what were your

takeaways from the event?

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The race that was won by Patto Ward?

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Meesh!:

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I was so thrilled for Patto to get

the win on the streets of Toronto.

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It has been sort of a thorn in their side

over at Errol McLaren there in Shakar.

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And so this was their first

time, , getting the win here

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and, it was a good race.

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It was, it had its messy moments.

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But that is Toronto, that is

the, that is the street racing.

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That is Toronto.

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Great crowds, for both

Friday and the Sunday.

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The race day, free Fridays always.

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Good.

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It's a charity aspect to it, and

so that's nice and it's a great way

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for people who aren't familiar with

racing to come in and just sort of

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kick the tires, no pun intended.

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And then you know

Saturday was good as well.

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I, don't need need to omit Saturday,

there were practices and qualifying, but

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Sunday is race day and right from the.

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The time the gates opened, we had

a, we had a good crowd in there.

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. The thing about Toronto is a, it's a

legacy race and you'll notice in the

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crowds in, in the grandstands and just

walking through the paddock and such.

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Like the old, the vintage shirts,

you know, team shirts, teams that

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are no longer in the series racing,

but they are all kitted out.

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All us tenured fans, shall we say.

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Still hold on to the glory

days of the race and, you know.

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But still coming out and, and hoping

for continued success of this race

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and, and maybe continued growing of

the sport with the youth of today.

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PSP: Yes, you've raised some really

good points there because I grew up with

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IndyCar in Australia, and you may remember

there was a race on the Gold Coast.

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Meesh!:

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used to sit up in the middle

of the night watching it.

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PSP: Yes, the likes of Will Power,

who is still a part of the series.

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He used to go around on the Pacific

, but that race is unfortunately

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not a part of the current series,

however, Toronto lives on.

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So let's live in the moment.

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When you talk about the award

winning the race, has there been any

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talk of him going to Formula One?

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What are your thoughts on that?

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Meesh!:

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Not gonna happen.

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Not right now anyway.

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Is he capable of it?

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Probably.

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You know, he has the opportunity because

of the McLaren Association of course.

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And he, I think he has done a couple, he's

done some test driving, with him as well.

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So,, there's always, you know, we're

gonna lose them to F1, which is laughable

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because the drivers that actually do

want to graduate from IndyCar to F1, have

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a hell of a time even getting noticed

or getting their foot in the door.

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They F1 makes it very, very

hard to acquire the license.

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Needed for that.

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And I don't know if you'd followed

over the last year Andretti, Michael

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Andretti and Andretti Racing, wanting

to get into and start a team in F1.

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And it was just roadblock after roadblock

after roadblock and really insulting, in

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their defiance against them, considering

Michael's dad is Mario Andretti, you

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know, yeah, so I don't, I don't see

Pato going over there anytime soon.

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But the association with the F1 team,

in McLaren and at the F1 team having,

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the young eyes on them from their

driven to succeed, Netflix show.

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Has only helped.

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And it might have actually sort of

confused the fan bases a little bit.

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I know last year when I was standing

in line at the autograph session,

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there was a girl on her phone and

doing a little Instagram selfie video,

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and she said, hi, I'm coming to you

live from the F1 race in Toronto.

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And I was like, oh, no.

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Oh, no, honey.

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And then I, yeah, she stopped recording.

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I said, what driver are you here to see?

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Just 'cause I wanted to, you

know, get her out of line.

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And she was waiting to meet Lando.

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And she said, Patto.

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And I was like, okay.

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Well, so it's, you've conflated

the teams in the series, but you're

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watching, clearly, you're watching

at least one of them, if not both.

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So, it's, I think he could down

the line, but I think right now his

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focus, and that's what I love about

Patto, he is focused where his feet

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are and he's an amazing young man.

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I, I.

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I sort of followed him

around this weekend.

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Not in a creepy stalker way, but just I

was really observing him because I, I like

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what I see on TV and I like what I see

during the broadcast and the sound bites

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that I've seen from him over the years,

but to actually walk around and follow

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him on the weekend and see how amazing he

is outside of the car, how he interacts

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with the his fan base, he gets it.

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Some drivers don't get it.

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They don't get the interaction, the

need for it, how important it is.

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But Pata walks around with a, a

sharpie in his hand at all times,

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and I noticed that this weekend.

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So that at any moment if a kid comes

up to him or you know, an older fan or

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whatever, comes up to him and talks to

him and wants an autograph, he's ready.

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There's no, oh, I don't have

anything, or I don't have time.

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No.

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He had a conversation with every.

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Person that approached him this weekend,

and it was fascinating to watch.

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And then he had like an

amazing race on track as well.

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And again, he, he doesn't, he

doesn't mince words, you know, he'll

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tell you straight up if his car is

good, if his car is crap, if he, if

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feeling good, if he is feeling crap.

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And yeah, so I, I think

he's here for a while.

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His goal right now is to, you

know, win the championship here.

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For McLaren, so I don't think

he's, we're not, we're, we're

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not gonna lose him anytime soon.

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PSP: Fantastic.

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It's good for the sport

and it's good in general.

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Now.

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It is important to win the hearts and

the minds, and he's definitely doing the

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right thing there with that guest show.

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When, considering that Brad Pitt is

sitting in Formula One cars on the big

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screen, F1 now has races in North America,

in Miami, Mexico City, Texas, Las Vegas.

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How does IndyCar stay relevant?

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With the North American audience.

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Also concerning that NASCAR

has its own fan base,

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Meesh!:

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we're still here.

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There's room for all three.

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I, you know, it's like there's, there's

always been the competition back and

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forth, and the who's better, you know?

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There.

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There's no better or worse.

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I mean, there is better or

worse, but I won't go there.

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PSP: Mm.

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Meesh!:

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but there's, yes, exactly.

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I'm not gonna yuck somebody else's.

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Yum.

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But they're very different.

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The series are all very different.

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They have very.

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Different fan bases and they have, there

are, there is a little, probably a little

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minority that will dabble in all of them.

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I think there's, it's easier to dabble

back and forth between F1 and IndyCar

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as opposed to F1 IndyCar and nascar.

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NASCAR is its own little thing over there.

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But you know.

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We've survived.

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We've survived.

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We've, you know, we survived the

split in 96 and we, you know, and

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that was like within our, so it's

not about outside competition.

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As I like to say, the call is

coming from inside the house.

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We are, or we, I, we, I use we

collectively as the IndyCar.

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'cause that is, that's my love.

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That's where I.

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Live in my racing fandom and

we are our own worst enemy.

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I think we just have to concentrate

on being the best we we can be,

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being the best indie car we can be.

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And I, I think the biggest hurdle

is not that F1 comes over and you

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know, if anything we should be.

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What is it?

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Flattery is, or, or oh, no, thank you.

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I'm like,

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PSP: of

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Meesh!:

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no inspiration.

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Yeah.

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Uh, Is the sincerest form of flattery.

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And because we've always been the diverse

series diverse in, in as far as drivers,

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diverse, as far as tracks and and cars.

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And you know, like now F1 is coming over

to North America, like they already,

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they can do their thing in Europe.

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They are top of the heap over there.

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But they had to come over here

because, and they went, they

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started doing the more social media.

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They started to try to become more fan

friendly, which are not, it's like getting

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close to a driver in F1 and even a nascar.

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Most of the time's unheard of.

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You are not gonna get near them unless

you know somebody, you know, somebody, you

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know somebody or you have a lot of money.

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You know, and, but here, you know,

I don't know if you've got a chance

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to go down this weekend, but, or,

you know, you, you've probably been

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to previous races where you know

how accessible our drivers are.

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You know, it's you can

see them in the paddock.

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You can go in and, and check

out the haulers and the cars

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and get pretty close to them.

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And there's autograph sessions every

weekend and the drivers walk from

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the pits back to their paddock.

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You know, sometimes they're on a

scooter or whatever, but they're

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just out there with the people.

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And that I just from talking to

F1 fans and talking to NASCAR

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fans, 'cause at some point, ooh.

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Years ago, we actually did

double bills with the NASCAR

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truck series a couple of times.

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And it was really interesting

to talk to the NASCAR fans.

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I think they were like, I can't

believe how close we can get

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up to your drivers and you.

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And it was like, yeah,

it's kind of our thing.

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So, I'm not worried.

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I, I don't, I'm not worried about.

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The other series, I am more worried

about the direction from within

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the leadership of our series.

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The inconsistencies in our

messaging, in our programming.

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We can't, for the life of us, seem

to get a consistent TV partner,

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or a, you know, consistent.

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A series or race sponsorships, you'll

get one on board and they'll activate

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and you'll be like, yes, this is the one.

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And then they're gone.

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And it's like we kind of

reinvent the wheel every couple

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of years, which is is hard.

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This year we're on Fox, which.

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You know, we don't really have

a legit Canadian TV partner.

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I guess TSN has stepped in, but

they showed the Indy 500 and

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they showed this weekend's race.

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But it's been, you know, I've

been watching the races on

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Fox, which, no, not as fun.

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So yeah, it's.

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I, I'm not concerned

with outside competition.

225

I think, you know, and history has

proven that we are our own worst enemy.

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You know, the series itself split, in 1996

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you know, and then that was the struggle,

the internal struggle and the teams from

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this and the teams from that and coming

together, and then the fan base split.

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You know, a lot of the fans didn't

come back when the, when the series

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merged, and that was difficult.

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But I think everybody's pretty much, I

mean, there's always gonna be the haters.

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There's always gonna be the

ones that I am, you know, on

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this side of the split forever.

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And, and that's fine.

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And, you know, when it comes down

to, for me, is I like racing.

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I wanna, I wanna watch racing.

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And because I was actually, reporting

on the series and traveling with the

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series at the time, I had no choice

but to merge with the, the six teams

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that came back to the merge series.

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And yeah, I mean, it's been an interesting

journey to watch, but we're still here.

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We're like the Phoenix that keeps rising.

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The same with the, the Toronto race.

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The Toronto race has gone away two

times and, hate to be the bearer of bad

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news, but it might go away next year.

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But it always comes back so.

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It, it's for fifa.

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It's part of the reason is

the fifa, thing happening.

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And then there's other, reasoning

behind the scenes as well.

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So it's either gonna be a, a date swap

with another race on the calendar or

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moving our race to a different date.

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Just separate from any of the other

races, having to make any adjustments.

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Or it just goes away for the year.

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Which I hope that's not the case 'cause

that just makes it exponentially harder to

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come back, especially in this day and age.

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And yeah, I mean, just with the

development going on in and around that

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area, that has been the threat for years.

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Losing the race from that area and

finding a new place to race in Toronto or.

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Outside of Toronto, so it

all remains to be seen.

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But, you know, the last word I got

is I watched the haulers pull out.

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That's my tradition every year is I

stay on site until the the team haulers

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pull out and head down the highway.

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And it was like, we

will see you next year.

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And I was like, great.

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That's all I need to.

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PSP: And you'll definitely see what

happens when the sport is absent.

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It has a profound effect.

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You only need to look at the Major League

baseball lockout in the nineties, the

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way it hurt the Blue Jays and Montreal.

269

We'll get to some stickball later on.

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But yeah, you gotta have that

consistency and visibility of an event.

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Now, when it comes to fifa.

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And nowadays they have

relaxed things a bit.

273

Back in the day, you used to have to

provide a month or two either side

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of the games where the stadium is

essentially under FIFA's control.

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They take over the whole

precinct surrounding it.

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But then I think about South Africa in

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in and around the men's World Cup.

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So.

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There are ways to work around

the FIFA World Cup nowadays.

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Meesh!:

281

some of the, the things going on that's

making it a little more difficult

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too, is the expansion of the stadium.

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So that would encroach on, it might

have to change the layout of the track,

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depending on how they do the renovations,

which are currently underway from what

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I could see down there this weekend.

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And we have already, we already had

to change the layout of the race

287

when they built the X Hotel so that,

you know, that completely changed.

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I guess the, 10 11 down

into one, area of the track.

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So, yeah, I mean, and you

change is, is inevitable.

290

You know, you just, you roll with it.

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And it's funny because while we, on

the IndyCar, getting back to the F1

292

versus NASCAR versus IndyCar thing.

293

We have basically always been what we are.

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We're a spec series.

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We're a driver, focused series.

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It's about the drivers driving the cars.

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Everybody has the same cars.

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The difference in the teams is money,

sponsorship, you know resources.

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But on any given weekend, anybody can win

that race, whereas an F1, it's technology.

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You know, it's, it's all tech and

manufacturers and they sort of, you

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know, they're on the side of the, of the

history and it's F1 and it's very you

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know, very, we are F1 and, and everybody

else doesn't exist there shouldn't.

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And IndyCar is like, you know, spec

safety, driver talent, diversity.

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Again, like I say, diversity of

tracks and drivers, which are now

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getting more diversity in the other

series both of tracks and drivers.

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Hmm.

307

Funny that, yeah.

308

And then, you know, it was like,

'cause I wrote a few notes that

309

down here it was like F1 shorter

races, less fan accessible.

310

And then they, they copied IndyCar.

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They started to copy IndyCar

to become more fan friendly.

312

And it was the same way with nascar.

313

NASCAR was mainly dirt races, ovals.

314

And then, you know, they started

adding road courses and then more

315

recently street courses, which is

only sort of dividing their fan base.

316

So they're in, in their

zeal to try to one up us.

317

They're kind of hurting themselves.

318

So again, in each series the call

is coming from inside the house.

319

It's so, it's so funny to sort of.

320

Follow it and watch it happen.

321

And instead of taking us as the

example of what not to do, they're

322

doing it, you know, and NASCAR started

gamifying their races and everything

323

became very confused and contrived

and really alienated their fan base.

324

So it's, yeah.

325

And it kind of goes back

and forth, you know.

326

Depending on the year, depending

on where you are in the year and

327

in the season, any one of us can be

on top, have the most eyes on us at

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any given time, and then it flips,

and then it switches, then it flips.

329

So I, I think it keeps us all on our toes.

330

I think competition is a good thing.

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Gosh, look at, look at our,

you know, outside of sports, we

332

have like one airline basically

in Canada, no competition.

333

So.

334

Who, who gets hurt there, we do because

there's, you know, everything's just

335

expensive 'cause we have no choice.

336

The same with the telecoms.

337

You know, like it's all those things

where you go, if there was more

338

competition, we, you know, those of us

that I guess the fans of, even though

339

you don't, you're not a fan of an

airline or a telethon, reap the benefit.

340

So it's the same in in sports.

341

PSP: Yeah, no doubt.

342

Competition breeds innovation, and

innovation typically leads to growth.

343

Growth was a term that you used

at the start of the interview.

344

So Mitch, how does IndyCar

grow in the next few years?

345

Meesh!:

346

Well, I think the realization

that, the fan base is aging out.

347

We're gonna, we're gonna hang in there.

348

And there's still, you know, there's

still the recognizable team owners, the

349

Penskes, the, the fos, the Andretti.

350

So you know, the old timers and the

tenured of us that have been around for

351

a while, you know, we still have that to

hold onto the heyday and, and whatnot.

352

And so it's, as long as that's

still recognizable, so you

353

have to kind of keep the.

354

Originals, the OG fan base, happy while

appealing to the new generation of fandom.

355

And I, I experienced that this weekend

myself on the media side of things,

356

because there, you know, the OG media

is going the way of the dodo bird,

357

in, in the, in the media center.

358

Print media is all but.

359

Extinct.

360

And a good portion, I would say probably

at least half of the folks in the media

361

center were new media influencers, like

a very different t and like there's some,

362

there are the, you know, the, the print

media that travels with the series from.

363

Indianapolis.

364

So there is still that there, but

I don't think there was anybody

365

there this weekend from the Toronto

Star, the Toronto Sun, globe mail.

366

Like I didn't even look today to

see if anybody had had written

367

anything about the race, where it

used to be front page of everything.

368

So it's, they are appealing to the digital

generation, the AI generation, the.

369

I need my news and my pictures instantly

generation as opposed to the, ah, I'll

370

be happy to wait until tomorrow morning

and go and get the newspaper and, you

371

know, open it up to the sports section.

372

So yeah, so I think, I think all of the

series are starting to rethink that.

373

And it was really interesting to be in

there and be part of it and go, wow.

374

Wow.

375

I, I'm the old dog in

the, in the dog park now.

376

This is interesting.

377

Yeah, it, you know, but

I still did, did my part.

378

And but again, you know, like I was taking

my pictures but then, and, and I instantly

379

was like sending, sending them like from

my phone, you know, doing like quick

380

little videos and pictures and sending

'em from my phone to to the Netherlands.

381

As opposed to sitting down and quietly and

writing a story and editing the photos.

382

And I was like, no, no.

383

Here, just take it.

384

Take it.

385

You know?

386

Yeah.

387

So I guess that's how

you, you grow the series.

388

But also I, I hope that as they grow into

a, like a more modern, youthful, appealing

389

sport, they respect the history of it.

390

And that the new fans respect the,

that this is not a video game.

391

These drivers aren't

characters in a TV show.

392

These are young men and in some

cases women who struck into a

393

race car every weekend and risk

their lives for our entertainment.

394

And the consequences are very, very real.

395

I lost.

396

Two friends over the years become close

with pretty much all of the drivers,

397

in which you do when you do this.

398

And it was, it's hard to

separate yourself from that.

399

And I sort of had some of the

old dogs ahead of me who were my

400

mentors, say, don't get too attached

because, you know, unlike other

401

sports people die in our sports.

402

And you go, Ugh.

403

Yep.

404

Okay.

405

And, and so I don't think,

I don't think that like.

406

Fan base, the youth now

coming into it get that.

407

So I, I think it's important to,

without being modeling about it, to also

408

respect that part of the sport as well.

409

I'm on my soapbox today.

410

Look at me.

411

PSP: No, no, no.

412

Stay on that soapbox.

413

You are listening to myself, Neil

Spruce and our guest me Beer from

414

Trackside Online and Open Wheels.

415

Make sure you check out her work.

416

She's on Instagram at

M-E-E-S-H-B double ER.

417

Now, you talked about diversity.

418

I have to ask, how big was the impact

of Danica Patrick on IndyCar as a sport?

419

Um.

420

Meesh!:

421

Oof.

422

I am probably the wrong person to talk to.

423

Who about that?

424

Which is ironic.

425

I know.

426

Being a woman.

427

It was, it was a door opener and

a hindrance at the same time.

428

I mean, kudos to her.

429

She got in, she drove the car, she.

430

Did well at times.

431

But it was, it was a little bit of

tokenism and I think some of the way

432

that she was marketed and the way the

series used her and the sponsors used

433

her and, and marketed her, actually did

a disservice to all of the other girls

434

and women coming up through the sport.

435

It is improving a bit now.

436

But it is a struggle.

437

It is an absolute struggle.

438

And I've had, I've, I have a couple of

friends, who are drivers I've seen it

439

while I was there at the track with them,

and I've seen the struggles that they

440

go through and they have to work eight

times harder than most of the male drivers

441

just to get notice, just to get in the

door, just to be treated like a driver.

442

Catherine Legg is an example right now.

443

She was with us.

444

She came over, she kind of got her

her start in, in the IndyCar side of

445

things, which is champ car at the time.

446

And she has driven everything,

everything on wheels.

447

I, I think the only, you know,

top level car that she hasn't

448

driven is, is an F1 car.

449

She has one races, she

has, she has trophies.

450

She, you know, she is a

fantastic driver, a very diverse.

451

Driver and she is dipping

her toe in NASCAR this year.

452

And the vitriol online, just based on the

fact that she is a girl, is insane to me.

453

And it is like, well, where is that

vitriol for the guy that's toiling around

454

in the back row that's there, you know,

just because Daddy has money or whatever,

455

you know like she's still finishing.

456

The cars, or she's getting taken

out intentionally by, by other

457

drivers, which will happen in nascar.

458

But yeah, I mean, Danica Danica did Danica

things and, and yes, it was, it was good

459

to have a, a female in the spotlight.

460

But it never, it never did what

I think it could have done.

461

I think it was it was

a wasted opportunity.

462

In my opinion.

463

Yeah.

464

I have one, I'm editing so many thoughts

and things to say, but yeah, it, yeah,

465

it was really a missed opportunity.

466

It could have been so much

more and so much better.

467

And I think, you know, if you were to

ask her, she would probably say the same.

468

If she really, you know.

469

Got honest about, about everything

and, and she would realize that, you

470

know, maybe posing in a bikini on

the hood of a car wasn't, wasn't the

471

way to go about starting her career.

472

Or, you know, getting the attention, like

just let the driving tell the story and

473

she wasn't afforded that opportunity to

just let her driving , tell the story.

474

Which is unfortunate.

475

PSP: I hear that now, would things

have been different if she had been

476

racing in 2025 as opposed to back then?

477

Meesh!:

478

Yeah, I think so.

479

I think if we could get, and we've

got some girls coming up through the

480

ranks now in all the different series.

481

Except over in Europe.

482

I don't think there's anybody

coming up the pipeline, over there.

483

But yeah.

484

I, I think, I think if a girl can, can

consistently get the sponsors, it's

485

just, it's, it costs money to do this.

486

It's not for lack of talent.

487

You know, it's, you could put a, a any

of my friends who are drivers into those

488

seats and they would get the results.

489

It's just that they are not

afforded the opportunity.

490

Getting sponsorship is just a slog and,

i, but I think it might be easier if

491

it, I'm hoping I'm fingers crossed for

the girls coming up through the ranks,

492

that, that they can get the sponsorship,

that they can get the opportunities.

493

PSP: We will watch this space.

494

when I look at the field of drivers

at Toronto's indie car race, there was

495

a very international flavor we had.

496

we had Patto Ward, will

Powell, the Australian.

497

You know, I always like

to see him go around.

498

We also had from New Zealand, Scott Dixon.

499

I see NASCAR's coffee.

500

The idea of poaching Kiwis, by the

way, as they went out and got Shane

501

Van Burg and over to their series.

502

Anyway, jokes aside, there's

an international flavor

503

with drivers in IndyCar.

504

Do you think that can translate

to races going International, once

505

again, outside of North America,

506

Meesh!:

507

oh, yes, yes.

508

It's so funny because the

fan base we used to go.

509

You know, Australia, Mexico Japan,

and you know, like we had quite an

510

international schedule and for, you know,

reasons of, you know, just the serious

511

bleeding and getting back together.

512

And then, you know, just life

happens, the world happens.

513

The races drop off the schedule and

but I know there's a big groundswell,

514

especially now with Patto Awards.

515

They're like, let's get

the race back to Mexico.

516

And you know, and, and then by the same

token, NASCAR either went or is going to

517

Mexico and, and the fan base was losing

their mind with negativity over it.

518

It was like, ah, you know, I think, yeah.

519

Oh yeah.

520

And we also raced in the Netherlands.,

521

We had a couple of death drivers.

522

We had swartzman and

and dorm boats as well.

523

And going back to, oh, everybody would

love to go back to Australia as far as

524

the drivers and teams, and especially the

crew members and, and, support staff that

525

were around in the, in those heydays,

would be thrilled to go back to Australia.

526

And I think, yeah, I, one would

hope that it would open more doors

527

to go international, because there

is a huge international following.

528

The problem is, is it's hard to, again,

back to the TV partners they make

529

it so hard to be a fan to follow it.

530

And, and as someone who had to cover

it remotely, it, it's just been a

531

thorn in my side for years on the

accessibility outside of the, of the

532

us to watch the practices and the

qualifying and, you know, like, yes,

533

you can find the races somewhere.

534

But all the other stuff, all the

support sessions leading up to the race,

535

it's the best kept secret sometimes.

536

But the fan base is there.

537

I met so many international fans in

Toronto this week, who had flown over

538

for the race, and it used to be, of

course, much bigger in the the Molson.

539

Indie days when it was, you know,

basically a, a year long beer

540

commercial leading up to the

race and, and the race weekend.

541

The race week actually was just amazing.

542

But again, that's huge.

543

That's big sponsorship and I think

the, the hurdle there is now,

544

there's just so much, there's so

many eyes, there's so much out

545

there, there's so much competition.

546

Like we thought it would all go away.

547

We lost a lot of sponsorship with

tobacco sponsorship being removed

548

and you know, you look at all of

the activities outside of racing too

549

that that affected, the fireworks.

550

International fireworks

shows that was de Moer gone.

551

The struggle to get sponsorship for

the international tennis, competitions.

552

So we survived, we survived that.

553

A lot of the teams had to struggle,

but, you know, found other sponsorship.

554

But again, right now there's so much,

there are so many sports, there are so

555

many racing series, there are so many

other forms of entertainment vying

556

for the same pool of people that it's

yeah, it's, it's, it's hard to say.

557

It's, it is really hard to say.

558

How they improve upon

it and how it survives.

559

PSP: No doubt.

560

And in the city of Toronto, Indy car

was competing with another sport.

561

You may have heard of it.

562

Baseball, further down

Lake Shore Boulevard West.

563

I say that tongue in cheek because on

the Friday, you hustled across town

564

from the race at exhibition to two.

565

This skydome to see the Blue

Jays, not against the Giants.

566

There was synergy there 'cause.

567

The IndyCar race does take part on

the old exhibition stadium grounds.

568

Why don't you tell our audience

how you've managed to get

569

from one event to the other?

570

Meesh!:

571

I walked, I walked 'cause the

traffic was just a nightmare.

572

So I I just, you know, threw my gear

on my back and just hoofed it from

573

exhibition stadium over to like from the

Princess Gates over to, Rogers Center,

574

I should say, I should say the proper,

not the Dome Rogers Center for the game.

575

And it's just happily did.

576

So it's, I was.

577

If there was a, you know, a way

that you could exceed happiness

578

this weekend, I did that.

579

And what what was funny is there were so

many crew members and media and just fans,

580

friends that had flown in for the race

that were also at the game that night.

581

And a couple of the dr the drivers

the prema drivers were at the game

582

and they got shown on the big screen.

583

Usually when the the race is in town, they

take one of the drivers to throw a pitch.

584

But this time they did the the primer

drivers just came and got to sit and

585

watch and they have a little YouTube video

where, you know, sort of took, takes you

586

through like their experience at the game.

587

And they, what did they call it?

588

American Cricket, which was cute.

589

Callum, I left,

590

PSP: Cricket.

591

Meesh!:

592

it American Cricket.

593

And then they, you know, they disappeared

from their seats for a few minutes and

594

then they came back and they were all

kitted out with a, a city connect jersey.

595

And, yeah.

596

And you know, the most important thing

on their minds that night, they wanted

597

a hotdog before they left the stadium.

598

So I think it's I think it was a

lovely crossover and I think, you

599

know, they're not mutually exclusive.

600

And I did, you brought up the you

know, exhibition stadium, which is

601

funny because at one point on race

day I was, you know, hoofing it down

602

thunder alley to get into turn three.

603

And in the middle of this, like.

604

Parking area, parking lot and

they had all the concessions set

605

up and it was like original third

base, the exhibition stadium.

606

I'm like, ah, cool.

607

Quickly took a shot of my foot

standing on third base and then

608

ran off to turn three to shoot.

609

So yeah, it's, it was fun.

610

It was a great, it was a great

weekend and, and it just proves that

611

like two sporting events can exist

simultaneously on the same weekend.

612

But a lot of happy people walking

around with everything from racing

613

jerseys to baseball jerseys.

614

Yeah.

615

PSP: Yeah, the baseball jerseys are

out and about in the city of Toronto.

616

It helps when the team is now 55

wins into the season, and they're

617

sitting 16 games above 500 leading

the division and all before them.

618

Meesh!:

619

make room on the bandwagon

because I'm ride or die.

620

I, I'm the one that's been sitting in

those seats since March and you know,

621

those sad nights where it's like, oh,

you just watch the wind fade away, but

622

always there, I, you know, I'm there

for the good times and the bad times.

623

That's, that's sports.

624

PSP: Yes, and I see MLB Network

or SportsNet in the background

625

with highlights, so you definitely

walk to talk their niche.

626

I will say that this season, the turning

point for me was against the Braves in

627

Toronto where the Blue Jays were losing.

628

They were on a bit of a streak.

629

And then Dalton Vara makes this

wild web gem of a catch where his

630

back is turned in center field.

631

And since then, it's just been onwards

and upwards for this baseball club.

632

Meesh!:

633

stadium itself is electric.

634

I, and I, I feel like I'm humble bragging.

635

It's gonna sound really gross,

but the week, July 1st week.

636

The week that we swept those two series

at home before we went on the road.

637

And again, I say we, it's just

a weird habit I have of mine

638

when I, I'm all in, I'm all in.

639

When I'm wearing that jersey,

I'm representing the team.

640

You know, it's a, and, but

I was there for all seven.

641

And by game three of the New York series.

642

, I had such an adrenaline

headache at the end of the game.

643

I was like, they're gonna have

to sedate me come October.

644

Like it's insane the energy in that,

in that building and I was so happy

645

for my friends that don't get to.

646

You know, sit in a stadium like I do.

647

All my friends from out of town

came to the game that night.

648

We were all sitting in different places in

the stadium, but again, electric energy.

649

And I just, I love it when I can

show off, my beautiful stadium and my

650

beautiful city and my amazing team to my

friends and, and they have a good time.

651

And especially when the

boys win, it's just yeah.

652

And the city itself.

653

It just, everybody is kidded out

in Blue Jay's gear, which I love.

654

I love it.

655

Gives me lots of people

to talk to on my mute.

656

PSP: Dome Sweet Dome.

657

It's essentially how we met that's outside

of Gate 14 near the Sports Net Grill.

658

It was a beautiful thing.

659

It's a great thing when the team is

doing well and as well as they've

660

been doing throughout the season.

661

It really elevates the city and

we need that in city of Toronto.

662

Hopefully they can keep that up.

663

Meesh!:

664

It's just nice to have some like a

nice happy distraction, you know,

665

and, and that energy, that hope,

gosh, it's palpable, you know?

666

But then there's also the like,

you know, the fear, like, what

667

if this all goes away again?

668

Like, what if they, and I was so glad.

669

It's gonna sound weird.

670

I was so glad they lost

before the all-star break.

671

Like, yes, get it outta

the way it's gonna happen.

672

So I'd rather them lose and then go

on the break, you know, like lose

673

the winning streak, blah, blah, blah.

674

Done.

675

It's done now.

676

Then take that like win, win, win, win,

win, break, and now the pressure on them

677

to come back that first game and continue.

678

I was like, no, they got the

monkey off their back, now

679

they're rested, rejuvenated.

680

Next part of the season is, is happening.

681

And look at them.

682

Win, win, win.

683

So,

684

PSP: all they do is win

685

Meesh!:

686

Yeah, exactly.

687

Yeah.

688

Well, yeah, exactly.

689

And then you know, now it's woo.

690

This series is gonna be,

well, it'll be spicy.

691

If the last, the last series was any

any indication with New York, this

692

one will be, it'll be interesting.

693

A lot of New Yorkers traveled

up for that last series.

694

Now could have been a bit of an anomaly

because of course it's, you know.

695

A long weekend.

696

So a lot of them traveled for vacation,

but it would be interesting to see how

697

many New Yorkers traveled up for, for

this one, sort of the, the revenge tour.

698

I guess it'll be interesting.

699

It will be interesting to see what happens

when the Blue Jays are on the road.

700

I'm sure when the Blue Jays travel

to places like Detroit and Baltimore,

701

there'll be added eyes on the situation.

702

The Tigers are a potential a LCS showdown.

703

It is on the road where, where we're

really gonna learn a lot about this team.

704

This is a team that is essentially

playing with a pro forma lineup

705

when it's missing the likes of

Dalton Vaio and Anthony Santander.

706

And it is a shorthanded bullpen, but

they still manage to win the game.

707

So they've won and they find

a way to come back in matches.

708

So it seems that the ceiling is a lot

higher than the way things are right now.

709

. Meesh!:

710

When you think about it, it's like we're,

we're playing our B squad right now.

711

You know, just, it blows my mind like

when we're back at full strength, when we

712

got VARs show back out there, when we got

Andres Jimenez out there like healed again

713

when we got all our bullpen boys back.

714

Although I think, I think we're, we're

down Jimmy now for the rest of the season.

715

PSP: Hmm.

716

Meesh!:

717

We still have the trade

deadline coming up.

718

And you know what?

719

I'm kind of excited.

720

I'm kind of excited.

721

I think, I think this is the year

that you know, they, they go all in.

722

Like, this is a, yeah,

we're buying, we're buying.

723

Obviously they're, we're buyers,

not sellers at the deadline.

724

But I, I think it's a, you know, I

would like to think that Ed Rogers

725

just gives them a blank check

and says, let's make this happen.

726

We haven't been this close and the

potential like this isn't, if it was our

727

a squad and we're doing well, yeah, he's

still gonna be a little more cautious.

728

But this is, this is magic.

729

This is magic.

730

I feel magical.

731

It's very Pollyanna to say that,

but it feels magical right now.

732

And I think, you know, an

arm, just get us an arm.

733

Buy us an arm.

734

The fact that Scherzer

battled his way back.

735

It was amazing, and I

think we spoke about this.

736

I had the opportunity to actually

talk to him, which is like,

737

that was a total unicorn moment.

738

Yeah, it's, this is the year we're hanging

a banner, at least one banner that's,

739

I'm putting that out there right now.

740

We're hanging at least one banner from

that beautifully renovated stadium.

741

PSP: Hang a banner in the

dome, but I put my foot down.

742

No more wild card banners.

743

We don't wanna see any more of these

participation Wild card banners.

744

This is the Toronto Blue Jays,

so all the Hall of Fame Banners

745

World, the two World Series.

746

Obviously they're there, but I don't

wanna see any more Wild Cup banners.

747

, Meesh!:

748

I will.

749

Yes.

750

Well, that's why I said at least

one banner, you know, that kind

751

of like, because that's kind of

the default banner, but like.

752

Yeah.

753

Yes.

754

The wild card to me is a given, but

if we can avoid it, oh, hell yeah.

755

Let's just, let's just put the big banner

up there and then make room for the next

756

I'll put it this way, you won't

get another season where the

757

Yankees are struggling with

pitching arms and overall defense.

758

A season where the Red Sox have

had so much infighting that it's

759

impacted the on field product.

760

A season where the rays

have been a nomadic team.

761

They'll be the rigs, but they probably

won't have a home next season,

762

maybe the season after as well.

763

And then the o's.

764

You wanna have another season

where the O'S have a front

765

office that's been so gunshot.

766

They should be willing to be

767

So it's now or never,

768

. Meesh!:

769

This is the opportunity.

770

Opportunities presenting itself.

771

Take it, grab it, shake it, take it.

772

Yeah,

773

PSP: Grab it like pole position me

Really, enjoyed your time this afternoon.

774

Meesh!:

775

I feel like I was all over the place.

776

PSP: No, no, no.

777

We guided you through.

778

We got you to the checkered flag.

779

We can find you on Twitter.

780

Meesh!:

781

I'm at, what I'm thinking on.

782

Yeah, that's my sports Twitter.

783

I have two Twitters.

784

I have sort of like the at niche beer,

which is kind of my general Twitter,

785

which is, there's probably dust you

know, bats flying around on that one.

786

'cause I, I mainly stick to.

787

At what I'm thinking is my sports Twitter,

I have two, I've, I separated them out

788

because my non-sporting people were like,

oh my God, you only talk about sports.

789

And so now they just don't

get to talk to me at all.

790

And actually some of them have

come on board and actually

791

followed me on my sports Twitter.

792

'cause they're, they miss me

793

will be justing some follow ups

from the weekend and you know,

794

just an outlet for me to to talk

about my baseball experiences.

795

I, I, I, I think I told you about it, but

I'll just sort of let the audience in.

796

I went through a big metal medical

scare last year and, so I'm just

797

sort of getting my, my bearings

and my footing underneath me.

798

And it was, it was spoiler alert,

it was a brain tumor that will

799

all be in the story that I write.

800

I am writing a book writing the

story of how baseball saved my life.

801

So keep that in your back pocket.

802

But yeah, so now that the brain

tumor is gone, I am in remission.

803

Yay.

804

My brain.

805

Is firing again, and all the

things that stopped giving me

806

joy or giving me joy again, like

baseball and racing and writing.

807

So yeah, so I've started to to dust off

the keyboard and I'm like, yeah, I'm

808

excited to, to put my thoughts down again.

809

So I will be dusting that off.

810

So if you, if you're following me on what

I'm thinking at, what I'm thinking on, on.

811

TWI X or whatever the

hell it's called now.

812

Then yeah, I will be linking to to the,

those stories there and yeah, hopefully

813

just chatting with awesome folks like

yourself throughout the year as well, that

814

that I randomly walk up to and say, you

look like somebody I should be talking to.

815

Yes.

816

PSP: Yeah.

817

So I like to think that

I have that, that those

818

Meesh!:

819

Yeah.

820

PSP: It is been a fantastic

chat and it's been a pleasure

821

to have connected with you.

822

We'll definitely have your blog in our

show notes, so definitely check that out.

823

I think you've already given us a bold

prediction, but do you wanna give us

824

another one, or you wanna stick with

the one you've already delivered to us?

825

Meesh!:

826

The whole production for

the rest of the year.

827

Ah well bold projection

for the rest of the year.

828

We're gonna see the emergence

again of post all star He's

829

relaxed, he's having fun.

830

He's locked in.

831

I mean, he's, he's locked in

figuratively and literally.

832

And he's from what other

players have talked about.

833

And again, I've had the just rarefied air

privilege of speaking to a few players.

834

There's a big difference in

the, not the dugout, not the

835

bullpen, the clubhouse this year.

836

And he has stepped up as a

leader and I love that for him

837

and I love that for everybody.

838

And so yeah, so I think the emergence

of, of Vladdy the face of the franchise,

839

but also the leader of the team.

840

Love it.

841

George is gonna continue to be, George

Barger is gonna continue to just Flo us.

842

I'm so happy I.

843

Popped in his bandwagon

right from the get go.

844

Okay.

845

Bold prediction.

846

Oh, gonna piss some people off.

847

Enjoy, enjoy bull while you got 'em.

848

Enjoy.

849

PSP: Yes, 141 hits as of July

20th, projected to hit 200 hits.

850

Yes, I know where you are going with

that, but it doesn't seem like a

851

contract offer sheet is on the table,

and with the second or third most hits

852

in baseball, it seems inevitable that

he gets for agency and tests the market.

853

Meesh!:

854

Yeah, the the, the phantom injuries

that happened before the Allstar

855

break, I was like, oh, interesting.

856

He's making himself very

unappealing for the trade deadline.

857

Okay, I get it.

858

I get it.

859

I'd probably do the same thing.

860

Oh my back, oh, my leg.

861

But he's still not the bow.

862

He's still not the bow

that everybody talks to.

863

He's not September.

864

Now, if September shows up, then maybe,

maybe that inspires the head office to

865

sweeten the pot, but bow did not come this

far and battle back to not test the water.

866

He's not the one that's been saying

for years and years and years.

867

I wanna be a blue jay for life.

868

Now, he came out with the very lovely

PR wrapped statement last year that

869

he wants to play with Vladi and win

an A a a A World Series with Vladi.

870

So again, this is the year.

871

If he's still on the team post

deadline, then this is the year you

872

put all your eggs in that basket

and get them that, that series.

873

But yeah.

874

I, I think for the Bo fans

enjoy him, like, enjoy him.

875

I'm enjoying him.

876

When, when Bo's on, I enjoy him.

877

When he is not on, I don't enjoy him.

878

But I think he's, he, I think his dad is

not gonna allow him to take anything less

879

than his dad and he think he's worth,

and I don't think that Jays are gonna

880

offer that, if that makes any sense.

881

I think they know his worth, but

I don't think they're going to.

882

Offer that unless something

very drastic happens.

883

I think it's a kind of a wait and see.

884

I, I think it's gonna be a wait and see.

885

It really depends on how

this, how the season unfolds.

886

But I think his dad probably has a bunch

of interviews already lined up for him.

887

At the off season.

888

So yeah, I mean, and all the best to him.

889

I like everybody else.

890

We'll welcome him back and stand and cheer

for him if he plays on another team like

891

we do with all of our boys, you know,

they leave, they go to another team and

892

we welcome them back with open arms.

893

That's what I love about our

fandom and being, you know,

894

and our team, and our city.

895

'cause we just that we're that.

896

That group of fans and it pisses

all the other fan bases off.

897

But it does impress some of them.

898

It actually impressed the four,

men from New York that I met during

899

the last series, after the game.

900

We were kind of, we, we were

kind of chirping back and forth

901

during the game, having fun.

902

And then after the game

I said, sorry, not sorry.

903

And they all laughed.

904

And, and the one guy

said, no, you know what?

905

Honestly, we've had the best time.

906

We like your team is fire.

907

They're scary.

908

We love it.

909

Your fan base is amazing and

the way you support your team

910

and the venue is amazing.

911

We've loved being here and love the city.

912

And I was like, what?

913

Are you sure you're from New

York and they're coming back?

914

I, I expect to see them because I think

they're gonna be in the same section.

915

So I expect to see them tonight

or Wednesday when I'm back.

916

Which would be really funny

'cause they just had a great time.

917

So, yeah.

918

Yeah, that's again, woo off.

919

I go on a tangent.

920

It was because I wasn't able

to talk baseball all weekend.

921

PSP: That does it for today's episode.

922

I've been your host, me, Wallace Bruce,

and this has been another episode of PSP.