getting back to 'low car count' ........ rite now topeka is short 2 FC's and brainerd short 1 TF and 2 FC's.......seattle had a bye.
so far indy is healthy with 5 extra TF's and 1 extra FC.
if indy paid huge to be a NQ, then i would get why racers would show up there; yet i don't think that's the case, and many small teams still opt to tow to indy
for the race's prestige, and the track's middle of country location. i don't think it's for the money.
IMO it's a shame 1st round loser money is not enough to attract teams to tow a few extra miles, and then be guaranteed a chance to race on sunday.
i think most folks would agree they'd rather see 24 events with full fields, than races on a national network with bye runs.