Atlantic series out, Indy Lights in at Long Beach

[Rex Monaco]

The Atlantic series, which has been a staple at Long Beach for nearly all of its 34 previous years, is out, replaced by the IRL's Indy Lights development series.
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The American Le Mans Series, Formula Drift and Toyota Celebrity races will all be back. The World Challenge also may return.
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Also definitely out of the IRL mix is Auto Club Speedway.

http://www.whittierdailynews.com/sports/ci_10741747

[Mark in Oshawa]

I have never liked the Indy lights series in the past as I had always seen the Atlantics. I am of the opinion the IRL should have absorbed Atlantics with the merger and made just one open wheeled feeder series. Atlantics have a history and pedigree and the roots of this series go back to the 70s when Rahal and Villeneuve did battle with Keke Rosberg and then the f1 guest drivers at Trois Rivieres. The name has meaning and the Indy Lights have never really produced drivers and a history to rival that. Maybe they will....but Atlantics have been a legitmate name and rung on the ladder of North American racing.

[RusH]

Atlantics should be part of ALMS non-ICS events.

It`s a IMSA series anyway now....no?

[V12]

I remember when I first started following, the old Indy Lights were the second-tier series, with the smaller Atlantics a third-tier series. Would it really be a bad idea to go back to that?

[indycool]

We have another thread questioning the continued viability of the Atlantic series under new ownership and what it exactly is going to be. The Indy Lights Series has cars, drivers and a schedule. Bird in the hand.....

[Mark in Oshawa]

We have another thread questioning the continued viability of the Atlantic series under new ownership and what it exactly is going to be. The Indy Lights Series has cars, drivers and a schedule. Bird in the hand.....

IC...the Atlantics had all of that too....until Kalkoven sold Champ Car to the IRL in the merger. What I am saying is that the Indy Lights don't have the history and pedigree with a lot of race fans that the Atlantics do. The Atlantic concept has been around since the 70's and although they don't have the HP of the Lights or any other OW major series, they are light, nimble and VERY entertaining when there is a good field of them with aggressive young drivers. What is more, they are cars that reward smoothness since you don't have the power to hide rough driving and they are a proven product that has been around FAR longer than the IRL even.

So to say the IPS/Indy Lights has the bird in hand is true...but if the bird in the hand is a turkey, I would suggest the Atlantics are a road runner....

If you doubt this, may I remind you that the Atlantics have more than once been the lead show at stand alone events over their history...whereas the Indy Lights for the most part are filling track time to support their big brother almost exclusively.

[indycool]

No question about all you've said being true, Mark.....all I was saying was that there is some skepticism -- including mine -- that the new ownership of Atlantics will make things fly right or at all. I'm reminded of Gentillozzi taking America's oldest road racing series and killing it.

[Mark in Oshawa]

No question about all you've said being true, Mark.....all I was saying was that there is some skepticism -- including mine -- that the new ownership of Atlantics will make things fly right or at all. I'm reminded of Gentillozzi taking America's oldest road racing series and killing it.

We can agree on that turkey Gentilozzi. Atlantics should have been part of the merger/buyout and folded into the IPS/Indy Lights to make one series..and call it Atlantics. For whatever reason, it wasn't, and IMSA picked up so they have a series they can put on the track to help fill track time on ALMS weekends and also run as a stand alone. I have I think stated pretty clearly that the Atlantic brand has some history and loyalty with the racing fans and it is a mistake to not have it in the IRL family. That said...Gentilozzi isnt screwing it up!! What he did with Trans-AM should have told all of us he had no business running any race series.

[Rex Monaco]

No question about all you've said being true, Mark.....all I was saying was that there is some skepticism -- including mine -- that the new ownership of Atlantics will make things fly right or at all. I'm reminded of Gentillozzi taking America's oldest road racing series and killing it.

And some of us are skeptical that TG has what it takes to make AOWR fly.

Although our skeptism is not based on conjecture, as is yours.

[indycool]

Yours isn't based on conjecture? Gimme a break.

[Rex Monaco]

Yours isn't based on conjecture? Gimme a break.

It's not called conjecture when one has a 12 year track record of facts, data, statitics and knowledge to draw their conclusions from.

[indycool]

Oh, THAT'S what you have.

[weeflyonthewall]

I remember when I first started following, the old Indy Lights were the second-tier series, with the smaller Atlantics a third-tier series. Would it really be a bad idea to go back to that?

Not enough sponsorship to go around. Maybe Obama can include racing in his wealth redistribution plan.

[weeflyonthewall]

We have another thread questioning the continued viability of the Atlantic series under new ownership and what it exactly is going to be. The Indy Lights Series has cars, drivers and a schedule. Bird in the hand.....

Do the people questioning it understand the foundation that has helped Atlantics survive and even outlive IndyLights after the 2001 season. It was a forgone conclusion that TG would drop them from the LBGP. Once he's revised the track configuration he won't have to contend with the Atlantic track time comparison either.

[indycool]

Just what is known about the Atlantic series for '09? Is the owner Ben Johnston now? Is it an "arrive and drive" series? Is Johnston financially sound? Who is he and what does he know about putting together a racing series? Are drivers and teams committed? If so, who are they? Is there a schedule? Where's Vicki O'Connor, who kept it going strong all those years?

[vintage]

It would be great if Atlantics got out some sort of information soon, as teams and drivers need to start planning for next year. There does seem to be a bit too much "radio silence" out there right now.