I'm stoked for this race! I think the idea is cool, and I hope it works out! I heard on (I think it was) Denny's podcast that some extremely high percentage of ticket sales for this Chicago race are for first timers. That's good! New exposure is a good thing.
I'm mildly bummed at the drivers reactions to it thus far. When they've been asked, no one has seemed excited. Infact, most have said they've not done (at least prior to this week) any Sim time getting used to the layout. Maybe that's common? I don't know... But I would have thought for sure that a teams and drivers would want to be the first to win it...or...potentially...the only ones to ever win a street course.
Regardless. I'm hoping for a good show, and I hope drivers find they like it.