IRL to Gulfport, Miss.?

[jeffconn]

Apparently the IRL is thinking about an additional race this year and next just yards off the beach in Gulfport, Mississippi.

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/thesunh...s/16764268.htm
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunhera...l/16799149.htm

[Scheckterfan54]

Ya know, that would be really cool for that area to get that kind of media exposure and for the IRL to supply that platform(via espn/abc/espn2)...but i do not understand what the race teams would benefit from running an exhibition race after the last points race of the season. It is hard enough to get some of the teams funded for the 17 races we already have, now they go down to gulfport/biloxi(beautiful area by the way!) to participate in an exhibition race. Save the race for 08 or just add it this year as a points race!

[Mark in Oshawa]

Just what Gulfport needs. They damn near get wiped off the map and then they can spend some money on putting in an IRL race? Last time I heard, a lot of people in that part of the world were still trying to put their lives back together, but maybe something like this would do something for the area. I guess I would have to remain a skeptic...

[Hoss Ghoul]

Ya know, that would be really cool for that area to get that kind of media exposure and for the IRL to supply that platform(via espn/abc/espn2)...but i do not understand what the race teams would benefit from running an exhibition race after the last points race of the season. It is hard enough to get some of the teams funded for the 17 races we already have, now they go down to gulfport/biloxi(beautiful area by the way!) to participate in an exhibition race. Save the race for 08 or just add it this year as a points race!

The reason they're talking of adding it as an exhibition race at the end of the year is because Chicagoland has contracted to be the last points race of the year. Adding it in mid-season is probably nearly impossible, the IRL's schedule is pretty well set, and breaks are limited.

Autoweek has been reporting on this for a while now, and it seems at least possible they'll have something at years end. They've also reported the possibility of races in Palm Springs and 2 or 3 other locations that slip my mind...but those were all possibilities for '08.

[jeffconn]

Just what Gulfport needs. They damn near get wiped off the map and then they can spend some money on putting in an IRL race? Last time I heard, a lot of people in that part of the world were still trying to put their lives back together, but maybe something like this would do something for the area. I guess I would have to remain a skeptic...

Actually the thinking here on the Gulf Coast is it's a no-brainer for the city government. Gulfport needs the tourist dollars badly. The south Mississippi area needs something to rally around. And the media spotlight, frankly, has been on New Orleans and Katrina. This event would VISUALLY show the world that Katrina cleanup isn't anywhere near over yet. This event could bring in a LOT of money directly and indirectly to south Mississippi. Although i do remain skeptical that it will happen this fall, i'm hoping that it will, for Gulfport's sake. Plus, this part of the country don't get too many big league motorsports. I'd be hanging out there all weekend anyway.

[GayParis]

The reason they're talking of adding it as an exhibition race at the end of the year is because Chicagoland has contracted to be the last points race of the year. Adding it in mid-season is probably nearly impossible, the IRL's schedule is pretty well set, and breaks are limited.

Autoweek has been reporting on this for a while now, and it seems at least possible they'll have something at years end. They've also reported the possibility of races in Palm Springs and 2 or 3 other locations that slip my mind...but those were all possibilities for '08.

Time is running out for this year, however there is still a slight hope it will happen by both IRL and city officials. I know the city is behind it for reasons already mentioned. However, whether the infrastructure is there to support such a venture in a short period is the 'big unknown'.

[jeffconn]

"Council green-lights IRL talks"
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunhera...s/16848982.htm

[gofastandwynn]

I am putting the odds on this at slim to none. At this point there is just to little time to get it together. Plus you have to get honda to provide the engines for it, and most of the teams already have their budgets layed out.

Maybe next year, but I would rather see them go to the west coast.

[Mark in Oshawa]

The IRL just keeps looking for little places to run street races where as 10 years go, Street races were evil and never made money according to the IRL braintrust and its fans. Now they cant find towns small enough.

If the IRL wants to follow this strategy, I will watch, but it hasn't worked for Champ Car in markets such as Denver, what makes them think Gulfport will work?

The IRL can find a small town to race in if Gulfport doesn't work for them, just run up to Trois Rivieres Quebec, the street race there has been around for 30 years plus and the infrastructure of the track is basically permanent now. It would make more sense to me than some of the ideas they have had lately.

Honestly, what are the people at IRL head office thinking??

Jeff, if the people of Gulfport want this race, all power to them, it is their tax dollars, but for the love of rudy, don't you guys have your lives and city to rebuild first? I can tell you, if anyone makes money on this deal, it wont be the common taxpayers of Gulfport Mississippi. If everyone had a roof over their head and life was normal, that would be acceptable, but I don't see how you can divert money and attention away from rebuilding your town.

As for New Orleans getting the attention, well, they are the squeaky wheel getting the grease I suppose, but the real fallacy of that mess is the fact they will rebuild the city really at all in the same manner. At least Gulfport has the sense to be above sea level....

[jeffconn]

Mark, very good argument. i don't disagree with most of it. Just a few things from the Mississippi point of view. The 2nd biggest employer in this area was the tourism industry. People coming to see this race will bring in the money that will get the infrastructure and those houses fixed. AND, it will be let potential tourists know that it's safe to go to southern Mississippi. An IRL race could be something that the locals can rally around, much as the New Orleans Saints became a huge symbol for New Orleans this past season. I can tell you from some of my N.O. friends that the Saints coming back was a huge boost to that city. To paraphrase one of them, it told the world that N.O. was down but not out. And if Gulfport (or any city for that matter) waited until all their problems were solved, no city would ever hold a race or build a stadium or do any improvements to their city.

And by the way, those repairs to the Jones Park area would have happened anyway. Jones Park was where most of the festivals and fairs were held. Why not push the repairs ahead so that some good P.R. can happen?

Just my two cents. I'm in the Navy here. Love this area. Might retire here.