Biggest crowd and ratings since 1996

[anthonyvop]

http://sportsmediawatch.blogspot.com...ox-office.html

NASCAR did end up winning the ratings battle with the Indy 500. The Coca Cola 600 drew a 4.7 final rating (up 7% from the 4.4 overnight) while the Indy 500 finished with a 4.5 (down 12% from the 5.1 overnight).

[Champcar4life]

"TV ratings for the Indy 500 rose from a 4.8 in 2007 to a 5.2, and Sunday's estimated attendance of 275,000 was the largest for the race since the split --"

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...2/?eref=sircrc

It look a lot more then the 275K, it was filled to the brim and someone at the track say he believe it was a little over 300k and that tickets sold out faster this year then it did last year and what tickets didn't sale were just enough to get them onto the ground, but all the good seats were sold out.

[!!WALDO!!]

It look a lot more then the 275K, it was filled to the brim and someone at the track say he believe it was a little over 300k and that tickets sold out faster this year then it did last year and what tickets didn't sale were just enough to get them onto the ground, but all the good seats were sold out.

They sold over 100,000 in the Infield. The most people I ever saw.

I read once that this "merger" would bring 150,000 back to the Speedway.

So it tells me the CART/CCWS fans took the $20.00 tickets. I wonder if that is why the CCWS failed, they showed up on Free Friday.

Track did get a little one laned as time went on. Saw both GR and MR get out of the groove and eat the wall as there was nothing that could be done.

Sweepers almost on every caution.

Congrats to Buddy Lazier in climbing into 8th place in the all time laps finished.

(NO REFERENCE, IMPLIED OR REAL TO ANY POSTER, LIVING, DEAD, or NOT YET BORN.)

[NickFalzone]

I dunno how it works, but Curt Cavin on his Q&A said they stopped selling general admission seats once the infield got so packed:

Question: A friend told me he was in the infield but that they stopped selling general admission seats prior to the race due to the size of the infield. Can you confirm? (Thomas, Rockville, Ind.)
Answer: I'm not sure I can confirm that because I wasn't there to witness it, but track president Joie Chitwood said essentially the same thing when we spoke Monday afternoon.