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Was AJ right?
was aj foyt right when he said the irl was turning into CART lite? it certainly appears that way. i mean more and more street/road courses, less and less american drivers in american series and confusion over future engine/chassis plans? i don't quite get what the hell is going on. its sad when rahal and hilderbrand are being left out for sato and viso? come on
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Al Schonberg on -
I agree about the Chicago race, I've gone to several of them. The only thing I can say is that it's possible some of the street courses lose money due to costof actually putting a safe and racy enough course together. Temporary bleachers, saftey walls, fences, and several other things needed. Long Beach usually draws well and makes money, and Cleveland was a good one too (should bring that back). I'd love to see them go back to Atlanta and Vegas. Lowe's was a great track as well, but I don't think they want Indycars back after the tragedy durung it's third race there.
What I mean about bad dates is, a majority of the good ovals also have NASCAR once if not twice a year. It seems NASCAR gets the dates they want. Indycar has to settle for what's left and what doesn't conflict with long standing dates they already have. If you schedule a NASCAR race and INdycar race to close together some people can't afford to go to both these days, and unfortunately NASCAR seems to picked by more fans (who happen to enjoy both). I would love to see that changed. I recall many NASCAR fans who watch the Indycars at Chicagoland get hooked and admit that our guys put on a better show.
Cart was a victim of it's greed and poor management not by the product on the track and the racing. The IRL has suffered to because of some poor business decisions, but the racing for the most part has been way better than NASCAR.
I want to see three or more chassis (affordable, sleek and racy, and mostly safe), three or more engine suppliers (make the engines affordable and possibly do away with the engine lease or make it optional).
Give me 22-24 races with at least half being ovals (3/4 mi. to 2 1/2 mi), 7 or 8 pure road courses (Elkart Lake, Birmingham, Mid Ohio, and a few others. The rest would be street courses such as Long Beach, Cleveland, Edmonton, and Brazil. What do ya think?
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Permalink Reply by Joshua Bault on
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Let's not lose sight of the facts. The main reason that Indy does not add more ovals is that NASCAR, or those affiliated w/ NASCAR, are the majority stock holders for a lot these oval tracks. As for the rest of them, IRL has to play second fiddle on race dates 'cause NASCAR constantly dangles a "second race date" in their face. As a result they don't want to give the IRL anything for worries of pissing off NASCAR.
I could not agree more that the IRL needs more American drivers as well as ovals. Though I do not want to see it become an all American/oval racing series. I would put Helio, Tony, and Scott up against anyone out there. But to have Rahal and Rice on the sidelines is bad business. Now TG has jumped ship and an ever improving Carpenter is out too.
Remember that it's the tracks that need to come to the IRL for races. They are the ones responsible for local promotions, staff, and maintaining the tracks. TG should have jumped all over Las Vegas and New Hampshire when they were presented. I'm not by any means a TG hater, but I do feel a change will do us good. Hopefully Randy Bernard will be a major improvement in leadership (blindfold please), and the merger of Star Mazda and USF2000 w/ Indylights will grab more young American talent.
Bottom line is let's be more positive. If I was a business looking at the IRL and saw their fans walking around waiving their fists, I would sure think twice.
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Permalink Reply by Joe on -
the last time I checked, there are 365 days in a year. Let napcrap have one or two races at any of the tracks they want. That leave 363 days for Indycar to pick from. You can't tell me they couldn't put together a schedule that would work. They don't need to pick a date a week or two after a nascab race. I have talked to a few nascab fans who went to IRL races and loved it. I think that's the real thing nascab is scared about. They know the IRL is a better racing series than what they have to offer when it comes to ovals. As far as street/road courses. It doesn't matter who races on them. f-1, nascab, irl, it's all boring to me. As for more Chassis, more engines, and more American drivers...that's what this series needs. That and better management along with a better tv deal.
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As far as NASCAR fearing the IRL, that was pretty much my point Joe. The day that Champ Car folded and the surviving teams joined the IRL, NASCAR went out a bought a boatload of stocks on the ovals. That was to cover their ass. Not to mention that there was talk of the IRL doing a pre-race for NASCAR at Phoenix, which was meant as a slap in our face. Though I think that might have back fired since Indycar would have been proven to be superior. And for the 365 days a year thing, I don't know if a Tuesday morning race in late December at Michigan would go over very well. Come on now, let's use some thought. There are many variables that need to be taken in when planning a race and making it a success, and those limit the possibilities greatly.
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Permalink Reply by joey kowailw on -
the tv deal is the worst thing for the irl, 1% of the nation being able to see it is a joke. what joker signed that deal? if loudon and las vegas offered deals they should of took them.
the merger between feeder series is a good thing. but failed drivers in lower european classes will come across i'm sure.
i think the series needs, quick slick cars, less hype over a overrated average driver currently looking average in NASCRAP, a tv deal on anything but vs, even pbs would be better cause it would be seen by most of the naiton. philip morris pulling out is a indication of this? i mean yes they can't put marlboro on the cars but they haven't in f1 and we all know who sponsors ferrari don't we? but they have a brilliant exposure. there has to be a exit clause for indy car and versus? its not working move on.
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Very true. What is surprising to me is that Direct TV was somewhat of a title sponsor for the IRL in '08. Seems like we would have a little clout with the situation. But regardless, this has been a disaster so far. The coverage has been first class, but being a Direct TV customer now I'm s--- out of luck.
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Permalink Reply by joey kowailw on
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yea directv where a presenting sponsor. surely when the deal was signed they looked in to exposure rates? i'm all for a expanded program into the indycars and the drivers. but when 300,000 people can see that. they can danica's butt hole and not many people will see it cause they can't.
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