IndyCar's virtual return to Michigan International Speedway mimicked the U.S. 500 at the start, when the current open-wheel racing stars mismanaged the green flag and triggered a spectacular crash.
The accident in the opening seconds of the Chevrolet 275 iRacing event gave Saturday's latest event a throwback feel. When CART fractured and IndyCar was born, the CART teams boycotted the Indianapolis 500 and instead raced at Michigan. The alternative 1996 race opened with a huge wreck that only punctuated the absurdity of the split in American open-wheel racing.
So when multiple cars crashed before even reaching the virtual start/finish line, IndyCar was briefly scrambling for the reset button.