A friend texted me Sunday. Wouldn’t a race today be cool?

I wasn’t sure how to answer. What are you talking about? There are two races today.

No, I mean INDYCAR. I wish he had an Indy car race to watch.

Can’t really argue with that. It would have been a nice fit with the drama of the Logano/Truex NASCAR fender-bender at Martinsville and the Verstappen/Hamilton F1 story lines from Mexico City.

The text exchange led to an actual conversation about the IndyCar Series offseason that seems so long at times. It’s difficult to explain, I told my friend, but I understand the logic behind it. Establish your calendar, keep it consistent and tight, then expand it once things are expandable. And, judging from the progress being made, expansion probably isn’t far away.

In other words, it’s getting better. Stay tuned.

My friend grumbled. Patience isn’t always his strong suit.

I reminded him that Alexander Rossi and Tony Kanaan were testing Monday at Circuit of the Americas, hoping it would lighten his mood. It didn’t really help at the time. Watching NASCAR and Formula One throw down significant, newsworthy races on the same day while INDYCAR is dark bothered him.

“It’s like getting your heart set on eating at a familiar restaurant only to show up and discover your favorite dish isn’t on the menu anymore,” he said.

I get it. An offseason that goes on for nearly six months is difficult to accept, especially when your competition continues to race and make news. Even worse when you realize you’re only six weeks into that six-month stretch.

On Monday, I sent him links to video of Rossi and Kanaan testing at COTA, along with stories, quotes and still photos, hoping it would help. Rossi, who finished 12th at the F1 U.S. Grand Prix at COTA in 2015, was thrilled to be back.

“It always blows me away how cool this racetrack is to drive,” Rossi said. “The facility is always awe-inspiring every time we come here. It’s very exciting to know that we’ll get back here next year for real with a full field.”

I figured the enthusiasm of racers about a new venue would shake my friend from his malaise. Sure, it was only a tire test, but both cars looked and sounded fantastic, and two drivers were fired up to be there.

“I’ve always watched races here,” Kanaan said. “I came here for the first Formula One race. I’m extremely excited that we’re coming here. It’s very challenging. It’s very long (with) fast corners, slow corners, mid- to high-speed corners. It’s hard to set up a car the way you really want it. There are a lot of first-gear corners, which is an opportunity to pass. It’s a big responsibility for Alex and I to do a tire test here and find the right tire for when we come back.”

I reminded my friend about his previous visits to COTA. He’s been there more than once since it opened in 2012. He loves the facility, the high-speed/low-speed demands of the layout and the 250-foot observation tower. He loves Austin, Texas, appreciates the music scene, and can’t wait to get back there in March, when the IndyCar Series makes its first race visit to the 20-turn, 3.427-mile circuit.

Still, he wouldn’t budge from his misery. I tried everything. I felt like Bluto Blutarsky from “Animal House” with pencils in my nose, but he wouldn’t smile.

“Lighten up, dude,” I said. “In March, you’ll be there, losing your mind like you always do at racetracks.”

“It’s not until Marrrrrch,” he whined.

I don’t deal well with whining.

“Just check out the video from the test,” I said, hoping it would buy some temporary silence.

It worked. Didn’t hear a thing for two blissful hours. Then the phone pinged.

“Found a better hotel for the (COTA) weekend,” he texted. “Right off Sixth Street. Can’t wait.”

Sometimes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. And the hotel room better.