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Potential Of 20 Car Field For The Long Beach Grand Prix Of 2008
Potential Of 20 Car Field For The Long Beach Grand Prix Of 2008
In an era where transitioning from a two sanctioning body open-wheel series to one supreme governing and sanctioning body to stage open-wheel automobile racing, information is very hard to come by.
The websites of both governing bodies are not mentioning information about the race through the streets in Long Beach and it is tough to understand why.
As for the ChampCar World Series website, it is a little hard to see why they would apply anymore resources than they have to. They are the series that is being merged into the Indianapolis Racing League. The CCWS is no longer and has applied for bankruptcy protection as the doors swing shut so why maintain the website.
The Indianapolis Racing League has other issues. For their part, they are choosing to behave as if the race in Long Beach even exists as far as their website, indycar.com, is concerned. Not one mention in their articles, their schedule, their advertising (if any, as of the posting of this article), even though they are going to award full and sanctioned points to count toward the 2008 Series Championship.
Some of the reasons for this range from a conflict between Honda who supplies the engines for the IRL cars and the master sponsor of the Long Beach race, Toyota, to legal articles mentioned in the bankruptcy papers filed on behalf of the CCWS that limit the IRL to even show their face - WHO KNOWS ... but the fans in Los Angeles suffer without a care from the sanctioning body.
To add further insult to this purposeful tactic, the first information about a driver line up for the race has to come from a posting at a British Formula One Fansite!
Edited and excerpted - Originally Posted by krp205 – IndyCar Nation, Talkback (indycar.com messageboard)
autosport.com has just announced a 20 car field for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Justin Wilson (#9 Finisher – St. Pete) and Graham Rahal (Winner of Round #2 – Saint Petersburg) at Newman/Hass. (2)
Jimmy Vasser will join Oriol Servia (#7 Finisher – St. Pete) and Will Power (#8 Finisher – St. Pete) at KV. (5)
Bruno Junqueira (T-Driver) and Mario Moraes (T-Driver) at Dale Coyne. (7)
Nelson Phillippe and Roberto Moreno joining EJ Viso (#4 Finisher - St. Pete) at HVM Minardi. (10)
Franck Perera (T-Driver) and Enriques Bernoldi (T-Driver) at Conquest (12)
Paul Tracy, Franck Montagny and David Martinez at Forsythe. (15)
Alex Tagliani at Walker. (16)
Mario Dominguez and Alex Figge at Pacific Coast. (18)
Antonio Pizzonia and Juho Annala at Rocketsports. (20)
Reference At The EDJE>>
This brings the number of drivers where the points actually matter to nine (in BOLD) who will be fighting for a points paying position with eleven drivers who are racing this race as the FINAL race for the ChampCar World Series and do not have a ride with the IRL series sanctioning body for the 2008 season.
Are you all ready … I am just going to have to say it!
THIS IS WEIRD!
If this lack of support and excitement from the Indianapolis Racing League to the fans of open-wheel racing in Los Angeles continues, 2008 will have to go down as a mutt year in the annals of Long Beach Grand Prix history.
The race is due to be held April 18-20, 2008 with civic activities to begin one day earlier at 11 a.m., racing greats Mario Andretti and Parnelli Jones will be inducted into the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame (Pine Ave. at the Convention Center), joining past inductees Phil Hill, Dan Gurney, Paul Newman, Carl Haas, Chris Pook and Brian Redman. Former land speed record holder Gary Gabelich will also be inducted posthumously.
... notes from The EDJE
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by xorpheous on -
Not to be a skeptic or anything, but I do live in Missouri. Show me! I'll believe 20 cars at LBGP when I see it. Much of that line up seems to be speculation.
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Permalink Reply by EDJE on -
I'll be watching too.
Use this thread to inform all on the happenings on the run-up to the PAR-TAY AT THE BEACH! (now, that's a little over the top given this year where the IRL hasn't even shown up with any event support).
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Permalink Reply by EDJE on
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xorpheous, THAT ... is what I thought.
Vasser?, come oooonn! He is not about to take away points from any of the T-Team drivers - He's a T-Team owner. If his team can not win it, he will want another good driver to get as many points as possible. I am sure he would want the T-Teams to have the greatest competitive impact as possible under unification!
Unless Pacific Coast Motorsports is able to hook-in with some sponsorship for Mario Dominquez (and maybe one other later in the season - this is Figge's last race) the only folks with skin in the game at Long Beach are the nine in BOLD. I understand there are still contract difficulties to resolve in order for Paul Tracy to be free to run in the IRL.
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Permalink Reply by EDJE on
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Sorry, this is a little of the long held attitude stuff I need to "get over" - really.
BTW, the Indy Racing League will be awarding points for a race that I will attend and this race is STILL not mentioned anywhere officially on any Indianapolis ... oops! Indy Racing League website dropdowns, schedule, materials, advertising, or official appearances. The Long Beach race will be held but the IRL isn't gaining any fans.
Truthfully, nobody likes to get stiffed, or pushed aside.
What, Tony George can't drop by the paddock?
Thanks for the heads-up ... it will be "Indy" from now on.
... notes fron The EDJE
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Permalink Reply by xorpheous on
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It is sad that the IRL hasn't promoted the race. Yes, I know its technically a CCWS gig, but since many of the drivers and teams are part of the ICS, and that the LBGP will be a points race for THIS season. It should be a slam dunk to promote next weekend as a AOWR Double-Header!
I think you're right on the money about the LBGP being 'stiffed' this year by TG.
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