Wait ... what?

Or in other words: That looked suspiciously like actual racing.

To be specific, actual racing in actual stock cars on (actually) the big track at Indianapolis, where so many actual races have gone to die across the last 30 years.

Well. Not yesterday, bud.

Yesterday, in the Xfinity series Pennzoil 250, it got down to not just a two-way duel, but a three-way duel. Cole Custer, Aric Almirola and Riley Herbst all led -- and that was just in the last three laps. Eventually Herbst took the checkers, but not before he punted leader Almirola aside coming off turn four on the last lap, got about half sideways himself, and then beat an onrushing Custer to the yard of brick by 0.67 seconds.

Some finish. Some race. Something, maybe, to look forward to today when the 31st Brickyard 400 comes to the green about mid-afternoon.

Those of us who've been around awhile still fear it could turn into another Parade Float 400. But what happened Saturday does give one pause. It rivaled the last couple finishes in the Indianapolis 500, both of which were won by Josef Newgarden with a pass on the last lap. And it was a stark contrast to what IndyCar gave us last weekend at Iowa, which really turn into a pair of Parade Float 250s when Firestone screwed up the tire compound and IndyCar continued not to get a handle on the new hybrid component.

NASCAR suddenly looks very good by comparison. And if it can duplicate Saturday's show today in what was once one of the crown jewels of its season, IndyCar's going to suffer by comparison that much more.

Me?

I'm easy. All I want to see is some bangin'-nonexistent-door-handles at Indy for once. 

Not too much to ask, right?