The final insult...

[PAcartfan]

So I'm watching the last ten minutes of the ChampCar World Series Long Beach Gran Prix. Not just a CCWS race, not just a CCWS season, the end of the series. The end forever. And what does ESPN decide to do? Give us Danica Patrick's head and voice over the ENTIRE last ten minutes!!!!!!! Unbelievable!!!! It's no wonder Reid didn't know if the white flag came out!! He and Goody were too busy kissing her highness's underweight tush! I have never been so mad at anything I've ever seen in OW racing.

What a load of crap. What a way to go out. Absolute bull####!!!

[Vegasguy]

2nd!

[-Helix-]

You expected something different?

Danica is the big story of the weekend, not Will Power.

It's not like the finish was very exciting or anything. If there was an actual battle at the end I'm sure they would've cut away from Danica for it.

Talk about whining for the sake of whining. :rolleyes:

If it makes you feel any better there won't be anymore weekends with more than one race after this and you won't have to worry about it happening again.

[PAcartfan]

You expected something different?

Danica is the big story of the weekend, not Will Power.

It's not like the finish was very exciting or anything. If there was an actual battle at the end I'm sure they would've cut away from Danica for it.

Talk about whining for the sake of whining. :rolleyes:

If it makes you feel any better there won't be anymore weekends with more than one race after this and you won't have to worry about it happening again.

Sorry Helix-- this is not whining! This is fact. I was screaming at the TV -- not whining!! I don't care how much people love Patrick and how much this may or may not mean to motorsports or any of that. She WAS NOT PARTICIPATING IN THIS EVENT!!! And this event was robbed because she was given screen time at the absolute worst time.

Again- this is the END of CCWS!! It'd now DEAD! Whatever happens from here on out- for good or bad- is the future.

This is nothing short of what I said at the beginning. An insult!

[Gatorboi]

The whole coverage was bull**** to say the least. This was the end of an era in motorsports and had nothing to do it DP lucky win!

It was the best way to drive one last thorny stick into the hearts of the Champ Car fans. Absolutly embarrising<<<

[millencolin]

I was very pissed off about that too. Sure, she won, but for god's sake there is a race that is about to finish. talk to her afterwoods because there were more important issues at hand!

[Vegasguy]

You expected something different?


Yes, decent coverage of the finish of a race. Danica or not, I have NEVER seen an interview over the finish of a race.
I would actually have been really annoyed had they done the same thing with Rahal over the finish of the Motegi race. It's just disrespectful to the cars and teams in the race.

[-Helix-]

The whole coverage was bull**** to say the least. This was the end of an era in motorsports and had nothing to do it DP lucky win!

It was the best way to drive one last thorny stick into the hearts of the Champ Car fans. Absolutly embarrising<<<

Had nothing to do with Danica?

You're all forgetting that CHAMP CAR AND INDYCAR ARE THE SAME SERIES NOW. IT HAD EVERYTHING TO DO WITH DANICA.

So Danica's win happened before Power's and she's a bigger name and got all the attention. Boo hoo. Big deal. Move on. You can say it's not whining all you want. But it is.

It was 10 minutes of a 2 hour race. If something would've happened I'm sure they would've cut away from her. But Power had it in hand and was just cruising. Hardly worth kicking Danica out of the booth for.

Christ. So glad this is the last weekend we'll have to deal with these "concerns" (coughwhiningcough)

[fugariracing]

We'll get enough slamming of the Dani-car series down our throats for next week at Kansas and certainly in the leadup to Indy. So I wasn't expecting any different, and if she was going to be on the telecast then it should have been at a less important stage of the race, not when the end is near. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out.

The whole coverage of the race, save for Jamie Little returning and she can run circles around their other clown Brienne Pedigo both in terms of reporting skill and looks (and apparently driving talent since she won the pro/celeb race), was abysmal. Painful to watch. Way to disregard 30 years of history, or just the end of a race (and not just any race) for the almighty princess.

Given the "historic" events of the weekend, I don't think it could have been handled any worse. Danica winning based on fuel-mileage, with a reduced field, and not televised live halfway across the world. And then another series signs off but it means nothing because she has jetsetted back to have the announcers kiss ass.

It was never mentioned Dominguez passed Tagliani for 3rd, the only note he got was when Little said something like PCM may field a car for Indy and beyond. Montagny, who drove a helluva weekend in only his second time ever in a Champ Car, finishes 2nd for Forsythe and isn't mentioned either.

All in all, a tear has been shed here for the end of the CC era and IRL has a long way to go to make up for this mess of a weekend, IMO. My $.02 worth.

[-Helix-]

Yes, decent coverage of the finish of a race. Danica or not, I have NEVER seen an interview over the finish of a race.
I would actually have been really annoyed had they done the same thing with Rahal over the finish of the Motegi race. It's just disrespectful to the cars and teams in the race.

Well I hate to break it to you but if Rahal had gotten into Motegi with 10 minutes left in the race after getting a historic win like Danica's earlier that day they WOULD have done the same thing.

And Motegi's finish was a snoozer anyway so I wouldn't have complained. I just don't see how this is considered "bad coverage". How anyone could seriously expect anything different is beyond me.

There's a reason they're still talking about DANICA'S win on ESPNEWS right now and not Power's win. DANICA IS THE BIG NAME. DANICA = RATINGS. ESPN LIKES RATINGS. They are a business. Their job is to cover IndyCar racing, not make sure Champ Car has a respectful sendoff. ESPN did their job. Get over it.

[harvick#1]

The whole coverage was bull**** to say the least. This was the end of an era in motorsports


I'll say, who goes to commercial with 6 MINUTES LEFT IN THE RACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oh wait, ESPN does :mark:

[ezhop7]

Gentlemen think about it which driver is going to sell tickets Danica or Will Power! The same thing goes on in NASCAR...Dale Jr (has not won all year ...points paying race) or Carl Edwards(3 wins).

[BenRoethig]

I think the greatest insult by far was letting this historic race fall into a timed event.

[PAcartfan]

How anyone could seriously expect anything different is beyond me.


btw-Champ Car and the IRL are not "the same series" now. Champ Car died. Period. A handful of people had the resources to go run in the IRL on short notice. I haven't seen a damn thing that has changed in the IRL since this >cough< "merger." And- if they are the same series -as you say- why were there two races within hours of one another? I'm getting off the point.......

I appreciated the very brief moments of history we got to see. I appreciated the first 3/4 of the race when the focus was on the race itself. I did not appreciate the cutting away with 5 minutes left. I did not appreciate the absence of coverage on the real BIG story-- that of PT's plight (it was given lip service only). And again- I did not appreciate the biggest travesty I have ever seen in motorsports coverage--talking to another driver about another race over the end of this --THE LAST CCWS RACE EVER!!!!!!!!!!

I too am glad it's over Helix. I have my Sundays free now. I have never enjoyed watching the crapwagons and now that the next Princess of Wales has been crowned, the "on the fence" decision that I have been debating got cleared up for me today. OVER THE LAST 10 MINUTES OF THE CCWS RACE!!

[tbyars]

Given the "historic" events of the weekend, I don't think it could have been handled any worse....It was never mentioned Dominguez passed Tagliani for 3rd, the only note he got was when Little said something like PCM may field a car for Indy and beyond. Montagny, who drove a helluva weekend in only his second time ever in a Champ Car, finishes 2nd for Forsythe and isn't mentioned either.

I guess it doesn't dawn on you guys that those things, including Power's win, happened with a "reduced field" as well....

I pretty much agree with Helix here. I will be glad to reevaluate my stance as soon as someone tells me exactly what the broadcast team missed in the last few laps of the race by visiting with Danica, who was, no matter how you try to cut it, THE motorsports story of the weekend.

Remember, your other option was about a 42-minute (by the time commercials were factored in) highlight show. Anyone want to talk about that option?

[PAcartfan]

Gentlemen think about it which driver is going to sell tickets Danica or Will Power! The same thing goes on in NASCAR...Dale Jr (has not won all year ...points paying race) or Carl Edwards(3 wins).

True. True. No argument on your point.

This was not just another race though. This was the end of a significant professional motorsports series. People have had their careers defined in this series. People have died in this series. How many families over the years were able to put food on their tables over the years because of the jobs this series had? How many charities benefitted from the benevolence of this series over the years.

OMG- how cool would it have been if they would have done a memorial to Gonzalo Rodriguez and Greg Moore and Jeff Krosnov and the others who lost thier lives in the series? How cool would it have been to show some of the benevolent things done over the years and those who benefitted? How cool to get Bourdais and Mansell and Mario, and the Unsers and -Dear God- the hundreds of others who made CART/CCWS what it was to maybe say a word or two about what the series meant to them? How about a montage of some of tracks or some of the special milestones?

Oh Wait-- ESPN! duh!

Thank God we all know that Danica made the gdm 7:00 flight.

And THANK GOD Arute was there. Can you imagine this *not really that historic* event without him?

[PAcartfan]

I guess it doesn't dawn on you guys that those things, including Power's win, happened with a "reduced field" as well....


I never mentioned that in my statements and that isn't what has me steamed (never mind that I think it's apples and oranges and how I strongly believe Patrick would have hit the fountain in the first lap).

This was the last CCWS race ever. It's simply about respect.

[bblocker68]

And what does ESPN decide to do? Give us Danica Patrick's head and voice over the ENTIRE last ten minutes!!!!!!! Unbelievable!!!! It's no wonder Reid didn't know if the white flag came out!!



The white flag doesn't come out in Champcar. The Flagman gives the "one to go" finger.

nOObs :)

[PAcartfan]

The white flag doesn't come out in Champcar. The Flagman gives the "one to go" finger.

nOObs :)

You are right. My apologies.

(just an aside- shouldn't Marty have known that?)

[nigelred5]

That pit in my stomach just got really effing big. Sad sad ending to what was once a great series. I guess we really had no reason to expect anything different.

[PAcartfan]

Just hopped over the indycar.com

Apparently, there was no Long Beach Grand Prix today??!!??

I though they were "one series"??

maybe I do have a point.....

[Vegasguy]

The white flag doesn't come out in Champcar. The Flagman gives the "one to go" finger.

nOObs :)

That's correct...... but he didn't have a clue if it was the last lap or not. That was more the point I think.

I want to say that I didn't have a problem with the Danica interview. Or the fact that they were able to get a camera in the booth and get her on TV even though they said that the booth was too small when Graham was in there. (caught in a lie there ESPN)

My issue was with how long it kept going with no mention of the actual race at all.

[Champcar4life]

I think the whole thing sucks, the covers was flat, the play by play was missing something. No highlights leading up too the race from past CART/Champcar races held at Long Beach, at least the Lemans races was worth watching. :mad:

[tbyars]

This was not just another race though. This was the end of a significant professional motorsports series.

And you call Helix names? To be very truthful, this hadn't been a significant motorsports series for at least 4 years.


People have had their careers defined in this series. People have died in this series. How many families over the years were able to put food on their tables over the years because of the jobs this series had? How many charities benefitted from the benevolence of this series over the years.

Couldn't the same be said of the IRL?


OMG- how cool would it have been if they would have done a memorial to Gonzalo Rodriguez and Greg Moore and Jeff Krosnov and the others who lost thier lives in the series? How cool would it have been to show some of the benevolent things done over the years and those who benefitted? How cool to get Bourdais and Mansell and Mario, and the Unsers and -Dear God- the hundreds of others who made CART/CCWS what it was to maybe say a word or two about what the series meant to them? How about a montage of some of tracks or some of the special milestones?

Oh Wait-- ESPN! duh!

Thank God we all know that Danica made the gdm 7:00 flight.

And THANK GOD Arute was there. Can you imagine this *not really that historic* event without him?

You know, I think there are a few things I should point out to you that should be painfully obvious.

First of all, most of the things you mentioned happened in the CART years. And CART - and it's heritage - died four years ago when it went bankrupt. If the con job the previous owners of the CCWS tried to pull is not obvious to you - especially after what we are now beginning to learn - you may want to catch up on your reading.

Second, after all the badmouthing and derogatory things CC fans have said about the IRL over the years (things you seem to want to continue here and now), I'm not sure those fans DESERVED more than they got today. Bottom line - actions have reactions, and this may very well have been the reaction to years of all of the fan rhetoric.

There was NO NEED for all the items you mention in your post, because that did not end today. Legally, whether you want to admit to it or not, that history is NOW A PART OF THE IRL.

The series goes on. Today, in my mind, was nothing more than an abnormally brought about by a scheduling conflict that couldn't be resolved.

[NickFalzone]

It was a weak ending to a series that I never watched. So, to me, the Danica interview was not that big of a deal. I didn't see any really exciting action in the side by side. That said, I completely understand how ESPN's conclusion of this event came off as borderline offensive to the real champcar fans. It felt like a rush job, everyone is happy to move on from this event to the single-series. I don't know that I'd blame Reid or Goodyear either, it's the producer's call at ESPN as to how to handle the event. And they treated it just like any other race.

I do agree with some of what TB says above though, which is that it's not really being honest when you say CC and Cart are one in the same. CART was finished back in 2004, today was not the end of CART. Also, the only way IndyCar will get back into popularity is through personalities like Danica, Helio, Rahal, Power along with commercialization through big sponsors. The end of the LB race was a total sellout, but it was an effort to commercialize a race that only a small audience (based on ChampCar ratings last year) really cared about.

[mlj]

Just hopped over the indycar.com

Apparently, there was no Long Beach Grand Prix today??!!??

I though they were "one series"??

maybe I do have a point.....

Furthermore, Indycar.com doesn't even have the drivers from CC listed in their list of Drivers. I, too am mad as hell that the last ten minutes of the last race had to be all about the "Divine Ms D" The posts here from the Indy crowd just goes to show that they don't consider us part of their series. Very disrespectful with no sign of empathy..

[Chris R]

I thought putting Patrick on at the end like that was a disgrace. It was not her race - Power did an awesome job and all they could do was fawn over Danica. What's more, as a racer, she could have said - wait a minute - someone else is out there and I do not want to take away from their moment... Very disappointing way of dealing with the end of the race...

That being said - congrats to Danica on her win... she deserved it - but Will Power deserved his win just as much and he deserves the credit just as much.....

[beachbum]

Taking the last 10 minutes of the last Champ Car race to blather all over Danica was an insult to race fans, the race teams, anyone who ever cared about the history and future of US Open Wheel , and certainly all of the Champ Car followers. Ok, she is a story. But so is the last Champ Car race. It deserved more respect regardless of your feeling toward Champ Car.

I always thought CART at its height was a great series. But the poor management of its last years and the amateurish comedy of errors that followed called Champ Car was difficult to support. I thought Champ Car lasted longer than it deserved and don't mourn its passing. But I was furious over todays broadcast -absolutely furious. Some may think Danica! is the future of Indy Car racing but the race today was an end of an era, a important era. The Champ Car Teams and fans deserved more respect from the broadcasters - a lot more.

They could have at least given some commentary about what was happening on-track, but they treated the race as an unimportant side show. Today was a day that should sadden all race fans. Today was a day when racing took a back seat to hype and hero worship.

[pits4me]

You expected something different?

Danica is the big story of the weekend, not Will Power.

It's not like the finish was very exciting or anything. If there was an actual battle at the end I'm sure they would've cut away from Danica for it.

Talk about whining for the sake of whining. :rolleyes:

If it makes you feel any better there won't be anymore weekends with more than one race after this and you won't have to worry about it happening again.

Actually the big story is the one ESPN chose to ignore during the LB telecast -- Simona's victory in the Atlantic race.

[pits4me]

Well I hate to break it to you but if Rahal had gotten into Motegi with 10 minutes left in the race after getting a historic win like Danica's earlier that day they WOULD have done the same thing.

And Motegi's finish was a snoozer anyway so I wouldn't have complained. I just don't see how this is considered "bad coverage". How anyone could seriously expect anything different is beyond me.

There's a reason they're still talking about DANICA'S win on ESPNEWS right now and not Power's win. DANICA IS THE BIG NAME. DANICA = RATINGS. ESPN LIKES RATINGS. They are a business. Their job is to cover IndyCar racing, not make sure Champ Car has a respectful sendoff. ESPN did their job. Get over it.

Rahal wasn't part of the Motegi Show. FULL STOP!

Maybe as an armchair fan your analysis is acceptable but ESPN/ICS lost a lot of credibilty in my book today.

I was there and upon getting home, very dissappointed watching the ESPN coverage on DVR. If they really wanted to build the European audience, they could have at least acknowledged the other women driver who won today. Great Job Simone and Newman Wachs Racing.

[indycool]

I watched the telecast. I heard Reid and Goodyear make many mentions about the history of Long Beach, Goodyear's experiences driving there. Saw historic cutaways leading into commercials, like Vasser's victory in a CART race and him pulling into Victory Lane. Saw references to unity, like Vasser had Tom Anderson from Ganassi "running" his car from the pits.

indycar.com has had driver biogs and summaries on it of the drivers who are running the entire series ever since they were named. indycar.com had Long Beach television information on its homepage for days.

If someone doesn't think Danica Patrick winning is not the story of the weekend in motorsports, Google it and see.

So Reid missed one finger which maybe he couldn't even see from where he was instead of a white flag, which would've told the whole place there was one lap to go.

As of now, it's irrelevant. It's one series. The series has had four different winners in four races this year so far, including a youngest and a first woman. Deal with it.

[harvick#1]

Maybe as an armchair fan your analysis is acceptable but ESPN/ICS lost a lot of credibilty in my book today.


ESPN lost its racing credibility when the brought NASCAR back to the lineup in 07. it seemed ESPN downgraded all their racing coverage when this happened.

there were mentions of previous races (as Indycool stated).

throwing in commercials with 5 minutes left in the race was although downright idiotic.

when a female driver wins her first career race in the series, you knew this was gonna be the talk of the race, it was just gonna happen. could've ESPN waited to talk to Danica until after the race, prolly, but they also spent time talkin to Helio during the race too and no one got mad.

the race is over now, the series may RIP and now we have one series. onto Kansas

[jimispeed]

Taking the last 10 minutes of the last Champ Car race to blather all over Danica was an insult to race fans, the race teams, anyone who ever cared about the history and future of US Open Wheel , and certainly all of the Champ Car followers. Ok, she is a story. But so is the last Champ Car race. It deserved more respect regardless of your feeling toward Champ Car.

I always thought CART at its height was a great series. But the poor management of its last years and the amateurish comedy of errors that followed called Champ Car was difficult to support. I thought Champ Car lasted longer than it deserved and don't mourn its passing. But I was furious over todays broadcast -absolutely furious. Some may think Danica! is the future of Indy Car racing but the race today was an end of an era, a important era. The Champ Car Teams and fans deserved more respect from the broadcasters - a lot more.

They could have at least given some commentary about what was happening on-track, but they treated the race as an unimportant side show. Today was a day that should sadden all race fans. Today was a day when racing took a back seat to hype and hero worship.


You know, no-one could have said it any better!!


And up to the point of when Danica showed up, I was enjoying the race and thought the PR guys were doing a great job!! They even had an open mind enough to point out the great things that are/were Champcar, and how Indycar should follow suit!

Before some of you decide to blow this thing up into a push/pull battle, this wasn't a Champcar/IRL thing....

Complete disrespect not only for race fans, but also for the drivers!!

Sorry whoever you are for making that decision!!

The wrong call............

[Ironcurtainantihero]

I am frankly sickened by this post and all of the whining and complaining being done. I think some of you would simply find ANYTHING to complain about because you think you're entitled to or are owed something.

Fact, Champ Car is dead. Based on the past 4 years, it should have died 4 years ago. While I agree that Marty Reid and Scott Goodyear, who were quite capable I thought today, should have been aware that the white flag had been shown for the final lap of the Champ Car World Series, but I don't blame them for that. Nor do I blame them for the Danica Patrick interview because she did win and it was news.

I doubt some of you watched today's race because you were celebrating Champ Car. Rather, you were watching so you could come onto boards like this and whine about what you didn't like-which is everything IRL. If you don't want to watch, don't. You won't be missed.

By the way, I was also a Champ Car fan, but a racing fan even more. I am very happy with how things have gone this year and look forward to even more from the new IRL in the future.

[garyshell]

I will be glad to reevaluate my stance as soon as someone tells me exactly what the broadcast team missed in the last few laps of the race by visiting with Danica, who was, no matter how you try to cut it, THE motorsports story of the weekend.

What did they miss? Pretty simple actually, they missed the last few laps of the last race ever of the Champ Car series. They had replayed the IRL race earlier in the day and got the full ten minutes of GREAT coverage of Danica with her family and all the emotion. It was really a nice bit of coverage. But to then break into the coverage of another series (yes this race was NOT sanctioned by the IRL was it?) to add nothing new to what had already been said was just tacky. This would be like having an interview with Tiger Woods during the last ten minutes of an LPGA event.

But what's done is done. All the moaning and groaning is not going to change it. Nor are any of the ill concieved justifications for this bone headed move going to change the disappointment felt by the fans of the former ChampCar series.

Gary

[fugariracing]

I guess it doesn't dawn on you guys that those things, including Power's win, happened with a "reduced field" as well....

I pretty much agree with Helix here. I will be glad to reevaluate my stance as soon as someone tells me exactly what the broadcast team missed in the last few laps of the race by visiting with Danica, who was, no matter how you try to cut it, THE motorsports story of the weekend.

Remember, your other option was about a 42-minute (by the time commercials were factored in) highlight show. Anyone want to talk about that option?

They missed Dominguez passing Tag for 3rd, said nothing of Montagny in 2nd. Didn't interview either after the race, usually podium guys get the microphone but not in this case. Although I guess there is something to be said for interviewing Vasser and PT which was classy.

Obviously Danica is news, and if she got to the track mid-race and couldn't get on until the end of the show to visit with the broadcast crew, that would be different. But if she was there at ANY point before the end of the last CC race, then IMS Prod and ESPN should have made more an effort to put her on before the end, as a sign of respect to those who won't be following the interests of the united IndyCar Series because they were CC fans and don't support TG and the IRL.

[garyshell]

First of all, most of the things you mentioned happened in the CART years. And CART - and it's heritage - died four years ago when it went bankrupt.

<snip>

Legally, whether you want to admit to it or not, that history is NOW A PART OF THE IRL.

Hold on a second you can't have it both ways here. If all this heritage is now part of the IRL (and I agree that it is) then I have to ask where did they buy the rights to that heritage? Remember it was clearly stated in the "merger" that the IRL was going to buy that heritage from CCWS. By that act, I think it is pretty clear that CCWS did have the rights to that heritage.

Now as to this:


Second, after all the badmouthing and derogatory things CC fans have said about the IRL over the years (things you seem to want to continue here and now), I'm not sure those fans DESERVED more than they got today. Bottom line - actions have reactions, and this may very well have been the reaction to years of all of the fan rhetoric.

That sort of thinking is painting all ChampCar fans with the same brush. I am insulted by that. I stayed up and watched the Montegi race in its entirety, including the extend coverage of Danica. And I loved every minute of it. To the point I called my niece today when the replay was on and told her to TIVO it so we could eventually burn it to DVD for her five month old daughter to view some day. But I am a Champ Car fan. I watched the Long Beach race and felt cheated by imposition of the Danica story on an event that had NOTHING to do with her. Yeah, maybe some of the CCF fans deserved this. But I and other fans of ChampCar and now the combined series sure as hell didn't.

Gary

[garyshell]

Did ESPN cut into their NASCAR coverage today to interview Danica???

Gary

[Fangio]

Marty Reid is a mumbling disgrace, he wasn`t paying attention to the monitors in St. Pete either, and he had no clue on what was going on at key points in the race.
As far as the broadast, it does not surprise me that the ICS fans had no problem with it....some things never change.
But that was no way to broadcast the last few laps of ANY race, totally unprofessional. Anybody without blinkers could see that.

[ChicagocrewIRL]

I'm a long time IRL guy and a fan of Danica Patrick but what ESPN did with the closing laps of ChampCar was an abomination and an insult and at the least, was boorishly insensitive to every ChampCar fan and also IndyCar fan.

There will be plenty of time in the coming weeks to promote Danica's win but the final closing laps of the last ChampCar race ever was not the time to do it .

Shame on ESPN .

I'm calling Bristol first think Monday morning to let them hear about it. It's the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen .

completely without class ESPN

[xtlm]

just for information, NCCartfan
Champcar does not equal CART

anyway...

yeah, I was a little annoyed that I had to listen to her for 10 min at the end of the race...but I knew it was coming, they said the day before or earlier or at some point that she was going to be interviewed during the race, and they also said I think that she wasn't going to be there for the start of the race.

Oh and Jamie Little > Breanne Petigo (however spelt...she is bad...i mute it, its embarrasing to listen too sometimes...)

I didnt think the rest of the telecast was that bad....

[weeflyonthewall]

I'm a long time IRL guy and a fan of Danica Patrick but what ESPN did with the closing laps of ChampCar was an abomination and an insult and at the least, was boorishly insensitive to every ChampCar fan and also IndyCar fan.

There will be plenty of time in the coming weeks to promote Danica's win but the final closing laps of the last ChampCar race ever was not the time to do it .

Shame on ESPN .

I'm calling Bristol first think Monday morning to let them hear about it. It's the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen .

completely without class ESPN

I too thought it was disgraceful and showed a total lack of respect for Champ Car fans. I hope DP gets bumped come Indy. Let it rain on Tony's parade for a change.

[ChicagocrewIRL]

I too thought it was disgraceful and showed a total lack of respect for Champ Car fans. I hope DP gets bumped come Indy. Let it rain on Tony's parade for a change.

I think the only way she gets bumped is if she gets fired from AGR, and she and Sarah Fisher end up team mates at Sarah Fisher Racing.

She is in a prime time ride with a prime time team. Something Janet Guthrie, Lynn St. James, Sarah Fisher, and Kat Legge didn't have.

[gofastandwynn]

What did they miss? Pretty simple actually, they missed the last few laps of the last race ever of the Champ Car series.

Gary

Gary, the truth is the vast majority of america didn't give a crap that it was the last CC race ever. After last night the story wasn't Long Beach, the story in the press was Danica. That was what America woke up to this morning, with it making the mainstream news that maybe drew more viewers to Long Beach. I will guarantee that you won't see the mainstream news talking about the last CC race tomorrow.

Now with that said, I was watching the end of the race on DVR was was saying "Guys. Guys!!! Pass for 2nd place!!! Maybe mention it!!!"

And as far as the CCf guys go, now that is is all over, it couldn't have happened to a nicer group of guys. :rolleyes:

[Ranger]

Gary, the truth is the vast majority of america didn't give a crap that it was the last CC race ever. After last night the story wasn't Long Beach, the story in the press was Danica. That was what America woke up to this morning, with it making the mainstream news that maybe drew more viewers to Long Beach. I will guarantee that you won't see the mainstream news talking about the last CC race tomorrow.

Now with that said, I was watching the end of the race on DVR was was saying "Guys. Guys!!! Pass for 2nd place!!! Maybe mention it!!!"

And as far as the CCf guys go, now that is is all over, it couldn't have happened to a nicer group of guys. :rolleyes:

You don't think they could have picked a better 10 minutes to broadcast that interview?

[gofastandwynn]

You don't think they could have picked a better 10 minutes to broadcast that interview?

I am not saying that, I said the timing sucked, but that is ESPNs decision, not the IRLs.

And as far as Marty Reid missing the white flag, I didn't see it, and I thought CC didn't use a white flag on the last lap.

[ShiftingGears]

I am not saying that, I said the timing sucked, but that is ESPNs decision, not the IRLs.


Noone was blaming the IRL for ESPN's utter disrespect for the final Champ Car event.

[-Helix-]

You don't think they could have picked a better 10 minutes to broadcast that interview?

Yeah, shame on ESPN for not having a reporter on Danica's flight to get the interview while she was still en route.

[BobGarage]

at least you got TV coverage of long beach!!!!!!!

all we got in the UK was at least two repeates of the rain delay coverage from motegi followed by 4 showings of the race and not a single showing of long beach. Thats ****!



however I do agree, that from whats been said it was the wrong time to air a danica interview. she had her time at the end of the motegi broadcast the LB broadcast was not the place to give her morte air time.

no other race winner get air tiem over other series coverage so why does she?

[-Helix-]

I thought most people watched the races on mute anyway? With all the hate for the announcer team you would think so. The frame of the race was still bigger than the frame showing Danica so you guys shouldn't have had any problem still following the race.

Oh no, the last 10 minutes weren't full screen!

AOW is doomed if something so simple as this causes people to get so upset.

Also, if it wasn't for Motegi not being able to re-schedule this "Champ Car finale" would've never taken place. So all this crap about ESPN having a "duty" to all of Champ Car's teams, fans, and history is utter balony. The race should have never taken place to begin with had things gone right.

And all of Champ Car's history and tradition is now IndyCar's history and tradition and just another page in the book of AOW. The fanatics are trying to turn this ugly stepchild of a scheduling conflict into a last hurrah of a series when it is NOT. The series MERGED. Champ Car didn't die today, it changed names.

This was an INDYCAR RACE. Thus the big story, Danica, gets airtime priority during INDYCAR coverage over an otherwise uneventful finish to a race.

But sure, lets whine and show our lack of common sense and logic. A great weekend for AOW and I feel like I should be embarrased to call myself a fan.

[-Helix-]

no other race winner get air tiem over other series coverage so why does she?

This was two races of the same series. It's not like it was an F1 race or something.

The points count towards the INDYCAR standings. It was an INDYCAR race. Danica is an INDYCAR star. So she got an interview on INDYCAR coverage.

I'm still not seeing the part where I should be surprised or outraged by what happened.

[BobGarage]

This was two races of the same series. It's not like it was an F1 race or something.

The points count towards the INDYCAR standings. It was an INDYCAR race. Danica is an INDYCAR star. So she got an interview on INDYCAR coverage.

I'm still not seeing the part where I should be surprised or outraged by what happened.

ok, so if Long Beach had been run on the Saturday and Motegi on the Sunday you'd have been happy if ESPN aired an interview with Will Power over the final ten minutes of the motegi race???

[Ranger]

ok, so if Long Beach had been run on the Saturday and Motegi on the Sunday you'd have been happy if ESPN aired an interview with Will Power over the final ten minutes of the motegi race???

Duh!! That guy's the IndyCar Rookie of the Year so far! that guy's a STAR!!! :D

:rolleyes:

To me it seems quite logical that I would be annoyed by blatant poor form itself from ESPN, regardless of whether or not it was the last ChampCar race ever.

[F1boat]

Danica's fifth place at Indy 500 overshadowed Wheldon's VICTORY few years back. I think that the journalists are the reason why so many people dislike Danica, with silly moves like this. It is the same in F-1 with Lewis Hamilton IMO.
I agree that Power deserved as much credit as Danica, at least in his race.

[ShiftingGears]

This was two races of the same series. It's not like it was an F1 race or something.

The points count towards the INDYCAR standings. It was an INDYCAR race. Danica is an INDYCAR star. So she got an interview on INDYCAR coverage.

I'm still not seeing the part where I should be surprised or outraged by what happened.

Would you expect an interview of a driver at the last F1 race to **** all over the coverage of the upcoming F1 race?

Similarly, would you see an interview of a footballer from the previous match ruining the coverage of the game thats being played?

Pull your head in.

[BenRoethig]

I am not saying that, I said the timing sucked, but that is ESPNs decision, not the IRLs.

And as far as Marty Reid missing the white flag, I didn't see it, and I thought CC didn't use a white flag on the last lap.

That and its semi-arbitrary when they determine one lap to go on a timed race. They should really announce 5-10 laps to go.

[garyshell]

Gary, the truth is the vast majority of america didn't give a crap that it was the last CC race ever. After last night the story wasn't Long Beach, the story in the press was Danica. That was what America woke up to this morning, with it making the mainstream news that maybe drew more viewers to Long Beach. I will guarantee that you won't see the mainstream news talking about the last CC race tomorrow.

Now with that said, I was watching the end of the race on DVR was was saying "Guys. Guys!!! Pass for 2nd place!!! Maybe mention it!!!"

And as far as the CCf guys go, now that is is all over, it couldn't have happened to a nicer group of guys. :rolleyes:

Do they interview Tiger Woods during the last three holes of an LPGA event?

Gary

[nanders]

You are right. My apologies.

(just an aside- shouldn't Marty have known that?)

Agreed, I'm sure ESPN hires people who can tell time. So if you know when the start of the race is you should know when the end is. Remember the "producer" is talking on the head phones to these guys. But this reinforces their knicknames of "Dumb and Dumber."

[PAcartfan]

[quote="xtlm"]just for information, NCCartfan
Champcar does not equal CART

QUOTE]

Gee- thanks for straightening that out for me xtlm. I didn't realize....

I guess the Sprint series doesn't equal the Nextel series or the Winston Cup series either.

[BenRoethig]

just for information, NCCartfan
Champcar does not equal CART

Gee- thanks for straightening that out for me xtlm. I didn't realize....

I guess the Sprint series doesn't equal the Nextel series or the Winston Cup series either.

That's a change of sponsorship Champ Cart was an almost completely animal from CART.

CART-Major open wheel series that raced on a variety of tracks.

Champ Car- Spec formula feeder series using a spec version of the of the Ford Cosworth Engine and Lola chassis formerly used in CART. Situated somewhere around GP2.

[Dr. Krogshöj]

Champ Car- Spec formula feeder series using a spec version of the of the Ford Cosworth Engine and Lola chassis formerly used in CART. Situated somewhere around GP2.

...and the IRL that uses a spec version of the Honda engine and a nearly spec version of a five year old Dallara chassis design.

[DrDomm]

The good thing was that this was widescreen HD.

But other than that, it was downhill. It was shown on tape delay so that ESPN2 could show cheerleading!

While the end was completely disrespectful to the CC fans that were watching, so was the beginning. I watched it on DVR, and thought I taped the wrong race when it started with all the Danica crap.

I'm not a fan of Reid, Goodyear, or Arute. The girls are just embarrassing. The right thing would have been to focus a little more on the tradition of the race (sure there were a few shots of previous races), highlight the fact that it will be on the ICS schedule next year, and throw in some token CC personality to help in the booth.

Was Danica a big story? I guess. Personally, I don't think anyone winning an IRL race (or CC race for that matter) is a huge story right now. Hopefully that changes in a few years. I think it could...just need to see some improvement in the formula and the addition of Walker, Forsythe, and few former CC drivers.

For people to come here and criticize CC fans (or others) for voicing their disappointment in the coverage is silly. This is an internet forum. It's purpose is for fans to come an offer opinions, whether good or bad. So to say, "stop whining"?...Please. We're all stuck with the poor treatment from ESPN for the foreseeable future. Hopefully they read these forums, and see what we're thinking.

[skyh]

All my worst, most paranoid fantasies about what would happen to the sport of American Open Wheel Racing if Tony George "won" the inter-series war turned out to have been, well, nowhere nearly paranoid enough.

For the first time in my Champ Car viewing history, I turned off my TV without watching the end of a race, because the disgusting fawning of the ESPN's Danica groupies and their utter contempt for Champ Car, its drivers, its teams, and its fans, had become unbearable.

In 4 decades of watching motorsport, I have never seen such a disgraceful and disrespectful travesty as I was forced to witness today. In 90 agonizingly long minutes, the IRL's talkers (by no stretch of the imagination can they be called announcers - in fact, it is only by stretching the definition of the word to the breaking-point that the noises emerging from my TV could even be called speech) managed to insult Champ Car's history, its fans, the viewing audience, the CC drivers (and Graham Rahal in particular), the Japanese nation, and the English language.

The atrocities were far too many to list in full, so I'll stick to those few of the most notable issues I can bear to mention before my stomach rebels.

1) Could the IRL not find some announcers who are capable of mastering the most basic principles of grammar? Perhaps they could find a remedial English coach to introduce them to the letters "ly" and "g" - that quaint old English tradition, the adverb. Brienne Pedigo is attractive - but what a pity English is her second language. The best one could say about the other members of the TV team is that they made her sound like a linguist by comparison. The dumbing down of AOWR is in full swing - can it be long before the start of every race is heralded by a massed chorus of "boogity boogity boogity" from the booth?

2) We were treated to a nice dose of cultural chauvinism and triumphal American ignorance by Marty Reid and Jack Arute (who if he ever met Lewis Hamilton, would probably try to rub his head for luck), as an Australian restaurant in Japan was referred to as "kind of American food"; and we were informed that the only 2 places one could eat in Motegi were that restaurant and McDonalds - the wide Japanese culinary tradition presumably,being beneath the notice of superior Americans. I'm sure Honda was pleased - perhaps they could use the quote in the promotion for next year's race. Of course, given the event's continuingly abysmal crowds, it probably wouldn't make any difference if they did, since apparently the only spectators are Honda employees for whom attendance is compulsory.

3) And then, of course, we had Danica Patrick. Or rather, we had Marty and Jack's stalker-level obsession with her - the overhyped celebrity herself thankfully did not show up until last 10 minutes of the race. I'm sad to say that, in my irritation at the obligatory fawning Danica-references injected every 30 seconds into the "commentary", I was insufficiently appreciative of the prodigious restraint exercised by the parties concerned. Those initial 80 minutes seem like a memory of lost paradise, in comparison with the horrors visited upon an unsuspecting CC audience once Paris, err Danica, finally graced her ESPN devotees with the Royal Presence.

All pretense of any interest in the race actually in progress was instantly abandoned. Multiple passes for podium positions in two laps were clearly matters of import only to the common herd, people so tacky and dull as to be under the ridiculous impression that they had tuned in to watch a motor race, rather than Vapid Thoughts of the Rich and Famous. Only little people watch Champ Car, right?

The on track action was relegated to a small, silent window in a corner of the screen, while Marty spent the rest of the race (or as much of the rest as I could stomach) prostrate before The Princess, her 10 pounds of mascara, and her deep insight into anything but the final laps of the race supposedly on ESPNs broadcast schedule at that moment.

I once thought that Britney Spears was as low as the American media could sink, and that racing was fortunately immune to such midless drivel - apparently, I was wrong. A few more such performances, and the transplanted CC teams in the IRL will be able to contemplate the edifying reality that their TV audience has become indistinguishable from that of The Jerry Springer Show (apart from being 1/20th the size).

[BenRoethig]

...and the IRL that uses a spec version of the Honda engine and a nearly spec version of a five year old Dallara chassis design.

Which has nothing to do with the common link between CART and Champ Car. Two completely different series, same car (initially).

[weeflyonthewall]

I thought they were trying to rebuild the fan base and reconcile the bitterness of the divide. Is this a demonstration of what to expect as the future of ICS open wheel TV?


All my worst, most paranoid fantasies about what would happen to the sport of American Open Wheel Racing if Tony George "won" the inter-series war turned out to have been, well, nowhere nearly paranoid enough.

For the first time in my Champ Car viewing history, I turned off my TV without watching the end of a race, because the disgusting fawning of the ESPN's Danica groupies and their utter contempt for Champ Car, its drivers, its teams, and its fans, had become unbearable.

In 4 decades of watching motorsport, I have never seen such a disgraceful and disrespectful travesty as I was forced to witness today. In 90 agonizingly long minutes, the IRL's talkers (by no stretch of the imagination can they be called announcers - in fact, it is only by stretching the definition of the word to the breaking-point that the noises emerging from my TV could even be called speech) managed to insult Champ Car's history, its fans, the viewing audience, the CC drivers (and Graham Rahal in particular), the Japanese nation, and the English language.

The atrocities were far too many to list in full, so I'll stick to those few of the most notable issues I can bear to mention before my stomach rebels.

1) Could the IRL not find some announcers who are capable of mastering the most basic principles of grammar? Perhaps they could find a remedial English coach to introduce them to the letters "ly" and "g" - that quaint old English tradition, the adverb. Brienne Pedigo is attractive - but what a pity English is her second language. The best one could say about the other members of the TV team is that they made her sound like a linguist by comparison. The dumbing down of AOWR is in full swing - can it be long before the start of every race is heralded by a massed chorus of "boogity boogity boogity" from the booth?

2) We were treated to a nice dose of cultural chauvinism and triumphal American ignorance by Marty Reid and Jack Arute (who if he ever met Lewis Hamilton, would probably try to rub his head for luck), as an Australian restaurant in Japan was referred to as "kind of American food"; and we were informed that the only 2 places one could eat in Motegi were that restaurant and McDonalds - the wide Japanese culinary tradition presumably,being beneath the notice of superior Americans. I'm sure Honda was pleased - perhaps they could use the quote in the promotion for next year's race. Of course, given the event's continuingly abysmal crowds, it probably wouldn't make any difference if they did, since apparently the only spectators are Honda employees for whom attendance is compulsory.

3) And then, of course, we had Danica Patrick. Or rather, we had Marty and Jack's stalker-level obsession with her - the overhyped celebrity herself thankfully did not show up until last 10 minutes of the race. I'm sad to say that, in my irritation at the obligatory fawning Danica-references injected every 30 seconds into the "commentary", I was insufficiently appreciative of the prodigious restraint exercised by the parties concerned. Those initial 80 minutes seem like a memory of lost paradise, in comparison with the horrors visited upon an unsuspecting CC audience once Paris, err Danica, finally graced her ESPN devotees with the Royal Presence.

All pretense of any interest in the race actually in progress was instantly abandoned. Multiple passes for podium positions in two laps were clearly matters of import only to the common herd, people so tacky and dull as to be under the ridiculous impression that they had tuned in to watch a motor race, rather than Vapid Thoughts of the Rich and Famous. Only little people watch Champ Car, right?

The on track action was relegated to a small, silent window in a corner of the screen, while Marty spent the rest of the race (or as much of the rest as I could stomach) prostrate before The Princess, her 10 pounds of mascara, and her deep insight into anything but the final laps of the race supposedly on ESPNs broadcast schedule at that moment.

I once thought that Britney Spears was as low as the American media could sink, and that racing was fortunately immune to such midless drivel - apparently, I was wrong. A few more such performances, and the transplanted CC teams in the IRL will be able to contemplate the edifying reality that their TV audience has become indistinguishable from that of The Jerry Springer Show (apart from being 1/20th the size).

[garyshell]

Which has nothing to do with the common link between CART and Champ Car. Two completely different series, same car (initially).


I am not sure the IRL front office agrees with this statement. At least I am pretty sure their legal staff does not.

When the unification was announced one of the things talked about was the IRL in effect purchasing the history from ChampCar in the form of the intellectual property surrounding the driver records. The IRL is now showing their driver records to include both the ChampCar and CART era's, since they bought that intelectual property from CCWS. Prior to that purchase the IRL driver records only dated back to the formation of the IRL.

Clearly the legal folks think there is some link between CCWS and the old CART, otherwise the driver records would now only include the combined IRL and CCWS records.

Gary

[bblocker68]

All my worst, most paranoid fantasies about what would happen to the sport of American Open Wheel Racing if Tony George "won" the inter-series war turned out to have been, well, nowhere nearly paranoid enough.

For the first time in my Champ Car viewing history, I turned off my TV without watching the end of a race, because the disgusting fawning of the ESPN's Danica groupies and their utter contempt for Champ Car, its drivers, its teams, and its fans, had become unbearable.

In 4 decades of watching motorsport, I have never seen such a disgraceful and disrespectful travesty as I was forced to witness today. In 90 agonizingly long minutes, the IRL's talkers (by no stretch of the imagination can they be called announcers - in fact, it is only by stretching the definition of the word to the breaking-point that the noises emerging from my TV could even be called speech) managed to insult Champ Car's history, its fans, the viewing audience, the CC drivers (and Graham Rahal in particular), the Japanese nation, and the English language.

The atrocities were far too many to list in full, so I'll stick to those few of the most notable issues I can bear to mention before my stomach rebels.

1) Could the IRL not find some announcers who are capable of mastering the most basic principles of grammar? Perhaps they could find a remedial English coach to introduce them to the letters "ly" and "g" - that quaint old English tradition, the adverb. Brienne Pedigo is attractive - but what a pity English is her second language. The best one could say about the other members of the TV team is that they made her sound like a linguist by comparison. The dumbing down of AOWR is in full swing - can it be long before the start of every race is heralded by a massed chorus of "boogity boogity boogity" from the booth?

2) We were treated to a nice dose of cultural chauvinism and triumphal American ignorance by Marty Reid and Jack Arute (who if he ever met Lewis Hamilton, would probably try to rub his head for luck), as an Australian restaurant in Japan was referred to as "kind of American food"; and we were informed that the only 2 places one could eat in Motegi were that restaurant and McDonalds - the wide Japanese culinary tradition presumably,being beneath the notice of superior Americans. I'm sure Honda was pleased - perhaps they could use the quote in the promotion for next year's race. Of course, given the event's continuingly abysmal crowds, it probably wouldn't make any difference if they did, since apparently the only spectators are Honda employees for whom attendance is compulsory.

3) And then, of course, we had Danica Patrick. Or rather, we had Marty and Jack's stalker-level obsession with her - the overhyped celebrity herself thankfully did not show up until last 10 minutes of the race. I'm sad to say that, in my irritation at the obligatory fawning Danica-references injected every 30 seconds into the "commentary", I was insufficiently appreciative of the prodigious restraint exercised by the parties concerned. Those initial 80 minutes seem like a memory of lost paradise, in comparison with the horrors visited upon an unsuspecting CC audience once Paris, err Danica, finally graced her ESPN devotees with the Royal Presence.

All pretense of any interest in the race actually in progress was instantly abandoned. Multiple passes for podium positions in two laps were clearly matters of import only to the common herd, people so tacky and dull as to be under the ridiculous impression that they had tuned in to watch a motor race, rather than Vapid Thoughts of the Rich and Famous. Only little people watch Champ Car, right?

The on track action was relegated to a small, silent window in a corner of the screen, while Marty spent the rest of the race (or as much of the rest as I could stomach) prostrate before The Princess, her 10 pounds of mascara, and her deep insight into anything but the final laps of the race supposedly on ESPNs broadcast schedule at that moment.

I once thought that Britney Spears was as low as the American media could sink, and that racing was fortunately immune to such midless drivel - apparently, I was wrong. A few more such performances, and the transplanted CC teams in the IRL will be able to contemplate the edifying reality that their TV audience has become indistinguishable from that of The Jerry Springer Show (apart from being 1/20th the size).

Great post with great points!

Move over PT, we now have a new open wheel villan!!

[tbyars]

You don't think they could have picked a better 10 minutes to broadcast that interview?

And there, in my mind, we have the entire crux of the matter here.

Guys, don't shoot the messenger, but this is my opinion.

Things on a broadcast of this nature don't happen by accident. Danica was on for the last 10 minutes of the broadcast because that was the way it was supposed to be. If Danica hadn't won Saturday night, then you would have seen Helio, Ed or even Tony George. Danica's win gave them the opportunity.

Heck, this was a tape delayed event! If they hadn't wanted her on there at the end of the race for a reason, they could have changed it, even after the fact by using the original race footage and have the announcers do new voice over. They didn't.

This was purposeful and it's intent was to send a message or two.

First of all, this was NOT the last CCWS race ever. It was the first IRL-sanctioned race at Long Beach. I think the intent of the interview was to take away any long drawn out CCWS swan song.

And, as I hinted in a previous post, I firmly believe this was a bit of manufactured payback. When you add an "F" to anything having to do with the IRL, when you make fun of the league's injuries, when you threaten IRL officials, when you threaten terrorist acts at IRL races, then, when you end up on the short end of the stick, there comes a time when you have to pay the piper.

Personally, I fully believe that the IRL showed it response to the lack of respect that CC fans - as a general rule - have shown to the IRL over the past 13 years with its actions at Long Beach yesterday.

You may not like it. But, I assure you, it was NO accident it happened. If you don't like my opinion, let's hear one of your own as to why that happened.

[Wilf]

So I'm watching the last ten minutes of the ChampCar World Series Long Beach Gran Prix. Not just a CCWS race, not just a CCWS season, the end of the series. The end forever. And what does ESPN decide to do? Give us Danica Patrick's head and voice over the ENTIRE last ten minutes!!!!!!! Unbelievable!!!! It's no wonder Reid didn't know if the white flag came out!! He and Goody were too busy kissing her highness's underweight tush! I have never been so mad at anything I've ever seen in OW racing.

What a load of crap. What a way to go out. Absolute bull####!!!

And to make matters worse, the New York Times which routinely covers motor racing only when there is a death, ran a story on Danica's win and never even so much as mentioned that a race occured at Long Beach. I'm sure they will issue an appology when they realize they missed the REAL story.

[Lousada]

Things on a broadcast of this nature don't happen by accident. Danica was on for the last 10 minutes of the broadcast because that was the way it was supposed to be. If Danica hadn't won Saturday night, then you would have seen Helio, Ed or even Tony George. Danica's win gave them the opportunity.

Heck, this was a tape delayed event! If they hadn't wanted her on there at the end of the race for a reason, they could have changed it, even after the fact by using the original race footage and have the announcers do new voice over. They didn't.


This was a timebuy from Champcar for an event sanctioned by Champcar. I don't think the IRL had any influence on this whole dealing at all. They just made it a points paying race for the ICS and that's all.
My Theory: ESPN just did what ESPN does best, shoving their selfcreated hype down people's throat.

[nanders]

Tell ESPN/ABC what you think about the coverage here: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?page=contact/espntv

[fugariracing]

First of all, this was NOT the last CCWS race ever. It was the first IRL-sanctioned race at Long Beach. I think the intent of the interview was to take away any long drawn out CCWS swan song.

This was a CC race, and as some other posters have said it may not have even happened had Motegi been able to change its date. You didn't notice the Champ Car logo emblazoned on the T&S on the top of the screen?


And, as I hinted in a previous post, I firmly believe this was a bit of manufactured payback. When you add an "F" to anything having to do with the IRL, when you make fun of the league's injuries, when you threaten IRL officials, when you threaten terrorist acts at IRL races, then, when you end up on the short end of the stick, there comes a time when you have to pay the piper.

Personally, I fully believe that the IRL showed it response to the lack of respect that CC fans - as a general rule - have shown to the IRL over the past 13 years with its actions at Long Beach yesterday.

You may not like it. But, I assure you, it was NO accident it happened. If you don't like my opinion, let's hear one of your own as to why that happened.

CCF are a lack of class as a whole - there should be reasoned debate but over there is continually IRL-bashing. That is why the website was set up, for people who have that opinion of TG and the IRL series to converse amongst themselves and bash. Sure, it grew into talking about CC fandom and races and the like but as soon as CC was absorbed into IRL it was back to same 'ol, same 'ol round those parts.

Track Forum is the same way, vice versa. Continued CC-bashing and IRL praise, where they may choose to skate past fundamental flaws masking the issues of the series.

CCF and TF represent the polar opposites of the spectrum for open-wheel fans in this country. Whether you visit there or not is your own choice, just prepare to be flamed on either side if you don't agree whole-heartedly with their propaganda.

As far as whether the interview timing was intentional, perhaps it was, but what IRL does is their business and they chose to alienate the CC fans for their last swansong event, which no matter how much you think it isn't, it was.

IRL has a lot to gain by convincing the CC fans to "switch sides" if you will and follow the merged series, because the CC fans have always been a loyal if passionate and occasionally hot-tempered group. They care about OW and have put a lot of their time, money, and energy into it. More fans, more exposure, more sponsors, better TV ratings - it's a win-win situation. By alienating them even more by "crapping" on their final parade, with the interview in the last ten minutes, IMO, they further drove the CC fans away from following the series. There is much work to do for improving the series if they can't gain some of the CC fans.

[garyshell]

My Theory: ESPN just did what ESPN does best, shoving their selfcreated hype down people's throat.

That, by no means, is the exclusive province of ESPN. It is characteristic of every 24 hour news effort, be it hard news, entertainment or sports. Without self created hype, they think that they can't fill the 24 hours. It's cheaper to ask a crime victim "Well what are you feeling right now?" than it is to create a documentary piece on crime.

Gary

[garyshell]

This was a CC race, and as some other posters have said it may not have even happened had Motegi been able to change its date. You didn't notice the Champ Car logo emblazoned on the T&S on the top of the screen?



CCF are a lack of class as a whole - there should be reasoned debate but over there is continually IRL-bashing. That is why the website was set up, for people who have that opinion of TG and the IRL series to converse amongst themselves and bash. Sure, it grew into talking about CC fandom and races and the like but as soon as CC was absorbed into IRL it was back to same 'ol, same 'ol round those parts.

Track Forum is the same way, vice versa. Continued CC-bashing and IRL praise, where they may choose to skate past fundamental flaws masking the issues of the series.

CCF and TF represent the polar opposites of the spectrum for open-wheel fans in this country. Whether you visit there or not is your own choice, just prepare to be flamed on either side if you don't agree whole-heartedly with their propaganda.

As far as whether the interview timing was intentional, perhaps it was, but what IRL does is their business and they chose to alienate the CC fans for their last swansong event, which no matter how much you think it isn't, it was.

IRL has a lot to gain by convincing the CC fans to "switch sides" if you will and follow the merged series, because the CC fans have always been a loyal if passionate and occasionally hot-tempered group. They care about OW and have put a lot of their time, money, and energy into it. More fans, more exposure, more sponsors, better TV ratings - it's a win-win situation. By alienating them even more by "crapping" on their final parade, with the interview in the last ten minutes, IMO, they further drove the CC fans away from following the series. There is much work to do for improving the series if they can't gain some of the CC fans.

I agree with everything you said 1000% with one NOTABLE exception. I don't really think for one second that the IRL had ANYTHING to do with the placement of the Danica interview into the broadcast. I give their PR folks a LOT more credit than that. (Remember we are not dealing with the kind of PR staff that we came to loathe at CCWS.) I am willing to bet the IRL PR folks were cringing, knowing the blow back that was going to be generated. Nope, I lay this at the feet of the idiots at ESPN and I am not talking about the announce staff either. This was a producers call, pure and simple. An idiotic call at best.

[BenRoethig]

I believe that, if you'll check, you will find you are mistaken on that.

Technically, its an associate event. Champ Car ran it, but for all intents and purposes, it was an Indycar Event. Any teams (or drivers) that choose to join the Indycar series later in the season (like PCM) will probably have their Long Beach points count.

[Randy_L]

I would think that if Danica Patrick was such a big story then ESPN would not have pre-empted the race at Motegi for freakin’ billiards. Who in hades or nature watches pool on TV anyway? Talk about ‘get a life’! Oh, but it gets better ratings than the old IRL by itself in Japan. But true to their bumbling clamor for ratings they tried to make up for it by shoving that interview in our faces during the closing laps of Long Beach because that’s all the time they had to devote, and gawd knows that a female winning something is worth more attention than mere racing. More testament to the sorry state of motor sport in this country. Let’s hope for better times ahead when the real story is the racing and the princess swinsuit model can shill products on the soap opera channel.

[JPMfan]

Regardless being an IRL or Champcar fan, what transpired yesterday was an insult to everybody; viewers, drivers, sponsors and team owners alike.

Not the fact they had Danica on, but the timing of it and the fact that the interview seemed to have priority over the finish of the actual race itself.
It was just like answering you're cellphone during a funeral speech.
It was beyond shame actually, because viewers had not just witnessed the end of Champcar, but one of the better LBGP's of the last few years.

[cartpix]

Furthermore, Indycar.com doesn't even have the drivers from CC listed in their list of Drivers. I, too am mad as hell that the last ten minutes of the last race had to be all about the "Divine Ms D" The posts here from the Indy crowd just goes to show that they don't consider us part of their series. Very disrespectful with no sign of empathy..

I agree> the Champ Car teams are treated like step children. They are refered to as "transition teams". When Penske, Rahal, Ganassi, Fernandez, et al went to the IRL, they weren't "transition teams"...

I haven't seen the televised race yet. But while they were busy interviewing Danica, did they happen to catch Rahal looping into the tires in turn 8?

Jeff

[!!WALDO!!]

Regardless being an IRL or Champcar fan, what transpired yesterday was an insult to everybody; viewers, drivers, sponsors and team owners alike.

Not the fact they had Danica on, but the timing of it and the fact that the interview seemed to have priority over the finish of the actual race itself.
It was just like answering you're cellphone during a funeral speech.
It was beyond shame actually, because viewers had not just witnessed the end of Champcar, but one of the better LBGP's of the last few years.

Amazing, the biggest news story of the day was Danica. On my bottom line from Comcast the Blue Bug called this IRL RACING. So why not help the rating with Danica.
Starter things most people will get over things but they will not. This will eventually cause all of us to lose this sport to this continual sniping and spewing of total dislike.
(OF COURSE I AM NOT TALKING OF ANY POSTER BY NAME, THOUGHT, OR BY REFERENCE.)

[harvick#1]

did they happen to catch Rahal looping into the tires in turn 8?

Jeff

not at first, but they showed a replay.

but the ABC/ESPN crew was pretty poor in the ALMS race also, they missed the Acura pass on the Porsche in P2 in the final minute, at least they stayed on the 3 car race win GT2.

but ESPN went to absolute **** for some reason, they used to be very good in running races, but it seems they downgraded production or something, maybe since its not Baseball, Basketball, or Football. ESPN doesn't give a ****

[JPMfan]

Amazing, the biggest news story of the day was Danica. On my bottom line from Comcast the Blue Bug called this IRL RACING. So why not help the rating with Danica.
Starter things most people will get over things but they will not. This will eventually cause all of us to lose this sport to this continual sniping and spewing of total dislike.
(OF COURSE I AM NOT TALKING OF ANY POSTER BY NAME, THOUGHT, OR BY REFERENCE.)

Danica was a big story indeed, even the leading dutch sports newspaper had extensive coverage of it.

The big BUT in this, is that the interview was on during the last five laps of the race and was even getting priority over the last lap itself. I have never seen that in any racing coverage before.
As a longtime fan of american open-wheel I felt a bit ashamed how utter amateurish it looked and sounded. But then again this is exactly the department the IRL should first look at. Please give us some better announcers and bring back John Beekhuis.

[Chris R]

Overall, the coverage was better than anything we have seen from Champcar in several years. The camera /picture quality was nice - made me realize how bad it had gotten last year. The reporters were no better or worse than anything else we have seen recently. They could stan improvement - which will come with time... Overall, I thought they did a decent job with the exception of how they handled the Danica interview.

Yes, she was the story of the week - but they picked the worst possible time to plug her in - the result was that it appeared that both ESPN and Patrick had no class... They could have chosen to talk to her about the current race and have her comment on what she was seeing - they could have promoted both Danica and Long Beach - instead they sort of fawned over her - just poorly handled and presented....

To me the poor etiquette had nothing to do with the split - it was a continued sign of the lack of professionalism that has characterized ALL of AOWR for the past several years. I think AOWr is well on the road to recovery and this will just be a bump in the road 6 months from now....

[BobGarage]

I have never seen that in any racing coverage before.



ITV cut to an ad break in a Live F1 race a few years back with just 3 laps to go.

They were absolutley slated in public at the time and appologised. but then F1 is massive over here and so the number opf outraged fans was so much bigger.

The IndyCar series doesn't have enough fans at the moment to make as much of a fuss about this as the British did about that a few years ago. (ITV have now lost the contract for F1 in the UK).

[JPMfan]

ITV cut to an ad break in a Live F1 race a few years back with just 3 laps to go.

They were absolutley slated in public at the time and appologised. but then F1 is massive over here and so the number opf outraged fans was so much bigger.

The IndyCar series doesn't have enough fans at the moment to make as much of a fuss about this as the British did about that a few years ago. (ITV have now lost the contract for F1 in the UK).

Well you British even seemed to manage to delay the start of a football game, because of Eastenders. So I don't doubt the might of the British people one bit LOL!

[!!WALDO!!]

Danica was a big story indeed, even the leading dutch sports newspaper had extensive coverage of it.

The big BUT in this, is that the interview was on during the last five laps of the race and was even getting priority over the last lap itself. I have never seen that in any racing coverage before.
As a longtime fan of american open-wheel I felt a bit ashamed how utter amateurish it looked and sounded. But then again this is exactly the department the IRL should first look at. Please give us some better announcers and bring back John Beekhuis.

The race was all but over, the race was behind third place. Instead of boring people to turn this off, remember in 2 markets 60 Minutes was coming on and this race was already taped and edited. They broke with 4:50 to go, went away for 2:30 and came back with 4:05 to go.
I know your love for the CCWS makes you think it really mattered about a 4 year old series coming to end. Truth is it was listed as IRL RACING, not to many people that have no dog in the fight really cared and the Announcers never left, called both races from Long Beach. Marty Reid owns the Production Company that get paid to put on the show and your fellow countryman spells his name Jon.

I know this really hurts that Danica won and the CCWS is officially gone but that is the way it is. I am sorry that this is the way it is and I wish I could have personally handed to CART and the CCWS $100,000,000 to keep it alive but that would only be one year.
(NO REFERENCE TO ANY POSTER, LIVING, DEAD or NOT YET BORN.)

[nanders]

This message is hidden because !!WALDO!! is on your ignore list.

[garyshell]

I know this really hurts that Danica won and the CCWS is officially gone but that is the way it is.

So you are back and up to the same old tricks. No one said this was about Danica winning or being hurt by it. In fact if you bothered to look you'd see that most of the folks speaking up in this thread were congratulating Danica on her win in another thread. Nor is it about CCWS being officially gone. So don't try to steer this into something it isn't. This is about interrupting a race with ten laps to go to interview a driver from another race. Period. That is the ENTIRE scope of the beef we have. And the beef isn't even with the IRL, it is with ESPN. They are the bone heads who did this.

As was mentioned in another message, we continue to see some sore winners here who just can't resist the opportunity to reub salt into the wounds that SOME ChampCar fans still feel. Trying to make our dislike for ESPN's handling of the interview into a "then you must hate Danica" story is a perfect example of that sort of salt.

And as for your feeling sorry. We don't buy it, not for one second.

Gary

[cartpix]

Agreed, I'm sure ESPN hires people who can tell time. So if you know when the start of the race is you should know when the end is. Remember the "producer" is talking on the head phones to these guys. But this reinforces their knicknames of "Dumb and Dumber."

And if they had ANY kind of race feed, into the booth, they should have noticed the clock counting down, since the red lights went off at the standing start. Even I could see it on the "jumbotrons", during the race, & I'm just a dumb photographer.

Jeff

[JPMfan]

The race was all but over, the race was behind third place. Instead of boring people to turn this off, remember in 2 markets 60 Minutes was coming on and this race was already taped and edited. They broke with 4:50 to go, went away for 2:30 and came back with 4:05 to go.
I know your love for the CCWS makes you think it really mattered about a 4 year old series coming to end. Truth is it was listed as IRL RACING, not to many people that have no dog in the fight really cared and the Announcers never left, called both races from Long Beach. Marty Reid owns the Production Company that get paid to put on the show and your fellow countryman spells his name Jon.

I know this really hurts that Danica won and the CCWS is officially gone but that is the way it is. I am sorry that this is the way it is and I wish I could have personally handed to CART and the CCWS $100,000,000 to keep it alive but that would only be one year.
(NO REFERENCE TO ANY POSTER, LIVING, DEAD or NOT YET BORN.)


It had nothing to do with preference, the word here is etiquette.

And actually I liked the fact that Danica finally won her first race. It seems you assume to much from a post, maybe referencing to your paranoid tendecy to interpret any critisism to the IRL or the unified series as an act of treason.

[Alfa Fan]

This message is hidden because !!WALDO!! is on your ignore list.

ditto lol, does anyone actually see his "contributions" any more?

[garyshell]

ditto lol, does anyone actually see his "contributions" any more?

When I heard he had been banned, I edited my ignore list, thinking maybe when he came back from the imposed hiatus, that he might rethink his attitude toward the rest of us. I may have to rethink that decision.

Gary

[!!WALDO!!]

It had nothing to do with preference, the word here is etiquette.

And actually I liked the fact that Danica finally won her first race. It seems you assume to much from a post, maybe referencing to your paranoid tendecy to interpret any critisism to the IRL or the unified series as an act of treason.

Frankly I find words mean something but if you feel they don't then ok. It was the biggest news story and at a unified race so I guess you are right she did not need to be the poluting the lousy coverage and the final 10 minutes would have been better if they screaming how great this race was going and Jon Beekhuis helping out with the color. Bet you missed this: Marty Reid owns the Production Company that get paid to put on the show. This show was a paid bt ABC/ESPN Deal, not a CCWS paid for race so etiquette means what?

Treason, although I am not suppose to mention it but I do have 75 CART/CCWS races under my belt in person with paid tickets. So hate to see it go but realism tells me it is gone and there nothing to do.

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

[Wilf]

not at first, but they showed a replay.

but the ABC/ESPN crew was pretty poor in the ALMS race also, they missed the Acura pass on the Porsche in P2 in the final minute, at least they stayed on the 3 car race win GT2.

but ESPN went to absolute **** for some reason, they used to be very good in running races, but it seems they downgraded production or something, maybe since its not Baseball, Basketball, or Football. ESPN doesn't give a ****

Maybe this will give all reason to take a deep breath -The ALMS race was on ABC - Both open wheel races were scheduled to be on ESPN2 and the postponned Motegi race was live on ESPN Classic. Open wheel fans, we have got to get over our parochial interests. If you missed Marty talking about the action, and I find it hard to believe anyone misses Marty talking about anything, I'm sure it was not some evil ploy by TG to stick it to you as someone else hinted at; it was a C team broadcast crew dealing with what they had been told was a big story. They don't know racing to begin with and are probably still stumbling around long beach looking for a ball and a bat. Yes it was clumsy; it could have been done better but while you were seeing the FINAL CCWS race, the rest of the viewers were just seeing another race. The producer should not have allowed it to happen, Marty should have realized what was happening and moved on, but C team players, if they know anything, know who signs their paycheck.

It is time to move on.

[cartpix]

I agree with everything you said 1000% with one NOTABLE exception. I don't really think for one second that the IRL had ANYTHING to do with the placement of the Danica interview into the broadcast. I give their PR folks a LOT more credit than that. (Remember we are not dealing with the kind of PR staff that we came to loathe at CCWS.) I am willing to bet the IRL PR folks were cringing, knowing the blow back that was going to be generated. Nope, I lay this at the feet of the idiots at ESPN and I am not talking about the announce staff either. This was a producers call, pure and simple. An idiotic call at best.


I whole heartedly agree. What good does it do the IRL to alienate the CC fans? If they care anything about growing the product or the viewing audiance, why would they want to drive away new fans? Just doesn't make sence.

Jeff

[Vegasguy]

I know this really hurts that Danica won and the CCWS is officially gone but that is the way it is.

This has nothing to do with the fact that Danica won... this has to do about a lack of respect and a lack of skill from both the on air talent and the Director.

Was it a big deal that Danica won this weekend? Sure, any fool can see that. Do I think it was an impressive win? No, but then I really didn't think Graham's was all that impressive either. I never do when it boils down to a fuel run. Even Jimmy Johnson's win at Phoenix the same days as Graham's win was a fuel run, but it was still a win.

Was it good broadcasting to have a 9 min interview in the last 10 min of this race, or ANY race for that matter? No!

Do you think Varsha, Hobbs and Matchett would have allowed it? No way!

[EagleEye]

I watched the telecast. I heard Reid and Goodyear make many mentions about the history of Long Beach, Goodyear's experiences driving there. Saw historic cutaways leading into commercials, like Vasser's victory in a CART race and him pulling into Victory Lane. Saw references to unity, like Vasser had Tom Anderson from Ganassi "running" his car from the pits.

indycar.com has had driver biogs and summaries on it of the drivers who are running the entire series ever since they were named. indycar.com had Long Beach television information on its homepage for days.

If someone doesn't think Danica Patrick winning is not the story of the weekend in motorsports, Google it and see.

So Reid missed one finger which maybe he couldn't even see from where he was instead of a white flag, which would've told the whole place there was one lap to go.

As of now, it's irrelevant. It's one series. The series has had four different winners in four races this year so far, including a youngest and a first woman. Deal with it.

I agree with indycool, 100% All this whining is getting extremely old. "Crap cars, crap engines, crap, crap....".

The last four races have been the best since...well, 1995. Danica, love her, or hate her, was the story of the weekend. The media crush from her victory, just adds to Graham’s win, and the unified series. The press outside the motorsports realm, has been increased ten fold, or more. It has been a long time since an open wheel, or races, received top billing over a NASCAR event. Cup and the Nationwide series usually get top billing, but not this week.

The telecast was in HD, something that would not have occurred if TG had not come up with a plan to have one series. There was a lot of history about the LBGP on the telecast and in fact quite a bit of chatter about the race on the Motegi Telecast. Given that it was a timed event, I think they did a great job of balancing everything from the race, the past and the weekend.

The best word to describe what is going on is “momentum.”

If the Champcar faithful could put up with 17 cars, lawsuits, splotchy schedule, no HD, no TV deal (buy time is NOT a TV deal), and race cancelations, I would think they would be able to suck it up a bit and just enjoy the success and growth that is happening right in front of us. There are good things happening…not perfect, but now that this weekend is over, and Indy coming up…just wait until the new schedule comes out in June. Talk is several teams have been approached for real sponsorship deals, in dollar amounts they have not seen in ten years!

I told you all last year when things were going bad, and was bashed for it. Now, I’m telling you things are on a huge up-swing. Sit back, grab a beer (if your old enough to drink), and relax. IF the growth continues, and money is pumped into the sport, we could see beautiful new chassis in 2010.

[cartpix]

It seems to me that Danica, herself, is just as guilty as ESPN. She is so full of herself to be interviewed in the booth during the last 10 minutes of the race. She must think she is bigger than the sport, if her winning Motegi is more important than the end of the race. I bet she would be upset if someone else did it to one of her races. She'd be walking away, stamping he feet.

Jeff

[downtowndeco]

I whole heartedly agree. What good does it do the IRL to alienate the CC fans? If they care anything about growing the product or the viewing audiance, why would they want to drive away new fans? Just doesn't make sence.

Jeff


IMO you're looking at it all wrong. On one hand you have a few hundred/maybe thousand hardcore CC fans that might have been insulted. If you think that number is too low look at the ratings CC got last year (quite a few zero shrares).

On the other hand they had a chance to chat with the name of the weekend. Danica Patrick. Tens of thousands if not millions of fans have been following her carreer. If you doubt me do like IC said, google her name & see what you come up with.

IMO they gained main more viewers going with Danica than they ever could have lost by pissing off a few CCF dead enders.

[Indy500'79]

I too am glad it's over Helix. I have my Sundays free now. I have never enjoyed watching the crapwagons and now that the next Princess of Wales has been crowned, the "on the fence" decision that I have been debating got cleared up for me today. OVER THE LAST 10 MINUTES OF THE CCWS RACE!!

If you're that bitter - goodbye, take care.

[cartpix]

WOW, the insencetivity (on both sides of the fence) in this post is amazing. If this is the kind of stuff that is going to continue, AOW is dead!

Jeff

[cartpix]

IMO you're looking at it all wrong. On one hand you have a few hundred/maybe thousand hardcore CC fans that might have been insulted. If you think that number is too low look at the ratings CC got last year (quite a few zero shrares).

On the other hand they had a chance to chat with the name of the weekend. Danica Patrick. Tens of thousands if not millions of fans have been following her carreer. If you doubt me do like IC said, google her name & see what you come up with.

IMO they gained main more viewers going with Danica than they ever could have lost by pissing off a few CCF dead enders.

OK, I'll play. You say there is a few hundred fans (maybe a few thousand) by CC ratings. How many people do you think were watching Long Beach? Do you really think people woke up, yesterday morning, heard Danica won the night before & tuned into Long Beach to watch a race they didn't even know existed (by your own zero share ratings statement), because they figured that the IRL was coming all the way back from Japan, lock stock & Dallaras to run at the beach. That's a mighty big stretch.

Jeff

[gofastandwynn]

OK, I'll play. You say there is a few hundred fans (maybe a few thousand) by CC ratings. How many people do you think were watching Long Beach? Do you really think people woke up, yesterday morning, heard Danica won the night before & tuned into Long Beach to watch a race they didn't even know existed (by your own zero share ratings statement), because they figured that the IRL was coming all the way back from Japan, lock stock & Dallaras to run at the beach. That's a mighty big stretch.

Jeff

Just to throw this out there Jeff, on my on screen guide the LBGP was listed as "IRL Racing".

[cartpix]

Just to throw this out there Jeff, on my on screen guide the LBGP was listed as "IRL Racing".

Even if it was, who was going to search out an IRL race, the day after an IRL race, half the way around the world, in Japan. IMO, not many. Add to that the people that stumbled across the race, looked at the screen & said, "HEY, isn't that teh same kind of racing that that Deana Whatshername won, that we heard on the news this morning. You said it, yourself, Champ Car had dismal TV numbers (which I agree with), last year. But, then again, IRL numbers (other than Indy) were crap, too. The question is, how many NEW fans tuned into the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, to see IRL & Diane Whosit, that won in Japan, last night?

Jeff

[nanders]

Agreed, I'm sure ESPN hires people who can tell time. So if you know when the start of the race is you should know when the end is. Remember the "producer" is talking on the head phones to these guys. But this reinforces their knicknames of "Dumb and Dumber."


And if they had ANY kind of race feed, into the booth, they should have noticed the clock counting down, since the red lights went off at the standing start. Even I could see it on the "jumbotrons", during the race, & I'm just a dumb photographer.

Jeff

That's what I thought. Photographers are smarter then announcers. But if the "Nopi Chicks" were there, would you be?

[Champcar4life]

ok, so if Long Beach had been run on the Saturday and Motegi on the Sunday you'd have been happy if ESPN aired an interview with Will Power over the final ten minutes of the motegi race???

No either one would had been wrong.

[ShiftingGears]

Frankly I find words mean something but if you feel they don't then ok. It was the biggest news story and at a unified race so I guess you are right she did not need to be the poluting the lousy coverage and the final 10 minutes would have been better if they screaming how great this race was going and Jon Beekhuis helping out with the color.
You wouldn't see it a Homestead interview pasted all over St Petersburg coverage. It's just poor form and poor etiquette and blatant disrespect, NOT ABOUT CCWS VS IRL!


Treason, although I am not suppose to mention it but I do have 75 CART/CCWS races under my belt in person with paid tickets. So hate to see it go but realism tells me it is gone and there nothing to do.

Please, tell us all how old you are for the billionth time.

[maxmach]

Putting Danica, or anyone, on for the last 10 minutes is wrong. Even if she was the sports, hmmm b-ball playoffs going on...nhl....ok, she was the motorsports story of the weekend.
But this is a big but, I beleive EagleEye said, the momentum, of the general public, not the 26 posters who read and post on this forum, is going to be huge. And most of them did not see either race. So, while it was the last Champcar/CART first IRL race of Long Beach(which I have been to 8 times) the fact is, a lot more people will be tuning in to Kansas and the 500. Which is great for American Open Wheel racing. Which I support. Do you?

[champcarray]

My 2 cents:

The Danicia interview became disrespectful when it last more than a couple of minutes and blotted out the end of the race.

I would like to have seen more historical-montage footage, too. It was billed as a send off for the CCWS series, but it wasn't treated that way.

I was damn glad to hear those turbos wail one last time!

[Hondo]

It's a sad commentary that on the day of the death of the only racing series (CART) that came close to giving F1 a run for it's money, the men of the premier American open wheel series, the IRL (an American series for American drivers, right Mr. "My driver is from Sweden" Foyt?), got their collective butts whipped by a girl. Kind of reminds me of when the CART drivers had to make the one race at Indy after the split. Doing one race, in unfamiliar cars, and still took the IRL drivers to school and whupped them on their own flagship track. But, more power to them, they produced a product sponsors are willing to finance.

[TioWoody]

Okay, my turn.

First, all of you should have been at the race. For years I have tried to tell you that OW just doesn't come across on TV.

Second, CC's TV coverage went down the tube when Tommy and Bob were dropped from the broadcast booth.

Third, IMO the best thing that could happen in the near future would be to have a rivalry - but let's face facts - the drivers have remained friends for all these years. But I wouldn't mind some rivalry continuing among us fans.

Fourth, and this is no excuse for the TV team, but Tags car was slowing down, so it wasn't like Mario made some heroic pass. Which is not to say that I'm not happy for Mario - he has brought a lot to OW racing.

Fifth, I can hardly wait for the time when Simone D puts Danica in her place - oh, wait she already has - she won an Atlantic race! (See how fun a rivalry can be!)

Sixth, let's all admit one thing - we like OW racing - so we have something vital in common - maybe like blood between brothers - mine once threw D-cell batteries at me - and yet, last month we toured the South Seas together.

Seventh, Indycool, I still look forward to having that iced tea together sometime - of course, you realize it probably won't be until you convince TG to go turbo.

[!!WALDO!!]

You wouldn't see it a Homestead interview pasted all over St Petersburg coverage. It's just poor form and poor etiquette and blatant disrespect, NOT ABOUT CCWS VS IRL!



Please, tell us all how old you are for the billionth time.

So who gave the LBGP $4,000,000? So where did that $4,000,000 come from? Who supplied the Broadcasting Rights?

This is why I wish the IRL would have just left Champ Car to its own devices and not step in and try to save it.

Blatant disrespect to whom?
(NO REFERENCE TO ANY POSTER, LIVING, DEAD or NOT YET BORN.)

[ShiftingGears]

So who gave the LBGP $4,000,000? So where did that $4,000,000 come from? Who supplied the Broadcasting Rights?

This is why I wish the IRL would have just left Champ Car to its own devices and not step in and try to save it.

Blatant disrespect to whom?

It's not about IRL vs Champ Car! It's not about who owes who money!

It's blatant disrespect to the fans, the drivers, the teams...anyone expecting decent coverage of the race. I have never seen any other series, motorsport or otherwise, do something as poor and as amateur as interview someone from another sporting event during the running of another. Let alone when its the last race for many teams and drivers.

[!!WALDO!!]

It's not about IRL vs Champ Car! It's not about who owes who money!

It's blatant disrespect to the fans, the drivers, the teams...anyone expecting decent coverage of the race. I have never seen any other series, motorsport or otherwise, do something as poor and as amateur as interview someone from another sporting event during the running of another. Let alone when its the last race for many teams and drivers.

It has to do with money.

Was the race live or taped? Was the Rahal wreck covered? Did anything occur in those 10 minutes.

Hottest news story not covered on an IRL televisied event so that 40 people here who didn't go get upset.

I am emailing links to these posts to the IRL. I believe they need to see what their $4,000,000 bought them.

Blatant disrespect to the fans, the drivers, the teams...How about not paying them last year for racing, or is that ok because Champ Car did that?
(NO REFERENCE TO ANY POSTER, LIVING, DEAD or NOT YET BORN.)

[jarrambide]

OK, we all got a chance to vent, which I believe was necessary taking into consideration it was the last race of CC, not easy for some of us fans, but no need for this thread anymore.

I remind everyone that this is an IndyCar forum, this forum is for fans of the series or fans of OWR that like to watch races of every OW series even if they don´t follow all of them closely.

If you don´t like IndyCar, believe it owes you something or is the evil empire of Star Wars, then this is not the place for you, criticizing the series is permitted, but there is fine line between criticizing and bashing.