For all the disscusion about how low the car count might be Saturday, let's not lose sight of the big picture. It's going to be a freaking gorgeous day, and we're going to get to see a field of 20 some odd classic openwheel cars roaring down that big wide front straightaway to take the green at 1:00.

So what if the car counts are down from what they were 15 or 20 years ago? That just means that, with no last chance race, (a) everyone who shows up will get to start, and (b) there will be plenty of time between the end of time trials and the start of the feature to catch a lumberjack show, or see the milk cow, or see whatever farm animals are still in the barn on Saturday, etc. Will the racing on the mile be even half as good as what fans will be able to see the night before at Jacksonville or Macon? No, probably not. But we have all year to see slide jobs and "slip and slide, dip and dive" on the bullrings. Even if it's kind of a huggy-pole deal Saturday, it doesn't matter, 'cause the Springfield Mile is just a different deal.

Is the format itself conducive to good racing? I'd have to say "no," but again, we can--and do--debate the merits of various race formats and procedures all year long. Why not just enjoy the simplicity of two laps of qualifying, followed by the 100 miler?

In short, why can't we all just stop pissing and moaning about what the car count will or won't be, and just enjoy an awesome piece of Americana on what's shaping up to be a picture perfect afternoon in mid-Illinois?