Lanigan working to get Houston on the schedule 2011

[MDS]

As I first suggested, shorting the month of May leaves room for Houston to get on the schedule next year. It appears now they have a "handshake deal" in place, and if Mi-Jack can find the sponsorship/city and state funding Houston will be back on the schedule in 2011.


“We continue to keep Houston on the radar as a potential race market for the future,” said Terry Angstadt, Indy Racing League's commercial division president. “It's a top-10 media market with a strong affinity for sports and motor sports legacy as the home to Foyt Racing.” Mi-Jack Promotions has until the end of June to come up with a presenting or title sponsor to make sure the event is included on the 2011 schedule.
“The popularity of open-wheel racing in Houston is high,” Kosich said. “All parties involved want to have Houston on the schedule going forward, and we are closing in on making that happen.”

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/car/6859543.html

Add to that Mid-Ohio is in the last year of a three-year contract there are rumors, which are probably speculative at this point, that Honda will move the Honda Indy 200 from Mid-Ohio to Burke Lakefront Airport in 2012, which makes sense if Houston is on the schedule because Mike Lanigan is the same promoter.

[Mark in Oshawa]

I would like to see Houston come back, only because they seemed to put a lot of people in to watch it, the series would be welcome there again I am sure, and it was a half decent race course for a street circuit.

[jwhite9185]

i wouldnt mind seeing both houston and cleveland back - but not at the expense of mid ohio!

[Chamoo]

So does that mean TMS is gone in 2011? Or does it get pushed back to the fall? It makes no sense to race in Houston, travel back to Indy, then back to Texas from both a logistical and fan perspective.

[nigelred5]

I'm probably one of the few race fans that Mid-Ohio does absolutely nothing for. I don't find races at the track interesting to watch at all on tv. In person may be different, but I'd much rather watch Cleveland. Houston would be fine because I've got family, free accomodations and cheap flights between here and there. It's a cheaper weekend for me than trekking out to M.O. but I wouldn't say a better spectator event.

[nigelred5]

Personally, I'd rather see Lanigan putting the effort into sponsorship for two cars and drivers of the quality we are used to seeing from NHL on the track for the whole season.

[Lousada]

So does that mean TMS is gone in 2011? Or does it get pushed back to the fall? It makes no sense to race in Houston, travel back to Indy, then back to Texas from both a logistical and fan perspective.

It says in the article the race is planned for October 2011. I don't know how MDS comes up with a May race.

[HoustonCartFan]

Great! Please don't put it back at Reliant Park!

[Mark in Oshawa]

I'm probably one of the few race fans that Mid-Ohio does absolutely nothing for. I don't find races at the track interesting to watch at all on tv. In person may be different, but I'd much rather watch Cleveland. Houston would be fine because I've got family, free accomodations and cheap flights between here and there. It's a cheaper weekend for me than trekking out to M.O. but I wouldn't say a better spectator event.

I would rather see the Burke Lakefront course myself. I love Mid-Ohio for smaller formula such as the SCCA runoffs provided, but for Indycars I think it is too tight. It is one of the concerns I have with Barber in Alabama....

Gotta let high horsepower cars run.

As for them running in Reliant Park or not, I thought the course there was ok by streetcourse standards....

[nigelred5]

.....or it was once they milled out the bumps, opened up those first few corners anyway... Personally, I think they REALLY, REALLY need to re-think how they approach temporary course construction at a place like Reliant Park. There is plenty of room to make it much more spectator friendly. Much more like Cleveland and less like an artificial Monaco. Why do they insist on the endless canyon of concrete walls in a parking lot?The view needs to be opened up for the spectators.

[Scotty G.]

Goody! Another street festival!

Maybe we can add Baltimore and Gillette Stadium too! That's just what America is hankering for....more street racing! :D

At this rate, there will be about 4 ovals left by 2011.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Goody! Another street festival!

Maybe we can add Baltimore and Gillette Stadium too! That's just what America is hankering for....more street racing! :D

At this rate, there will be about 4 ovals left by 2011.

Show me which oval wants the IRL and I am all for them going Scott. I think and said so in a thread earlier they should be in New Hampshire...but that was when Tony was still running the IRL that they turned down New Hampshire....

[SarahFan]

not gonna happen...downtown told me so

[MDS]

It says in the article the race is planned for October 2011. I don't know how MDS comes up with a May race.

Well, if its going to be in October it it won't be around Reliant Stadium, because the Houston Texans have football games that month. Also, I didn't say that it would be a May race, just that the move to shorten the Month of May made me some make some calls

[Mark in Oshawa]

Well, if its going to be in October it it won't be around Reliant Stadium, because the Houston Texans have football games that month. Also, I didn't say that it would be a May race, just that the move to shorten the Month of May made me some make some calls

They could race in the fall. The property and land around a stadium isn't so tiny that there wouldn't be room for both. The CNE grounds in Toronto where the race is held has trade shows and the Toronto FC soccer stadium in use while the set up and tear down for the race is going on. Both can be accomodated. That said, First week in May makes more SENSE to me....

[MDS]

They could race in the fall. The property and land around a stadium isn't so tiny that there wouldn't be room for both. The CNE grounds in Toronto where the race is held has trade shows and the Toronto FC soccer stadium in use while the set up and tear down for the race is going on. Both can be accomodated. That said, First week in May makes more SENSE to me....

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the reporter got it wrong, at least according to the two guys I spoke with in Houston. I work in public relations in the south and have some contacts in Houston who work for companies who used to sponsor the race there. They both said they'd been approached about reviving the May race, but couldn't say for certain that it meant it would be revived in May.

When the merger happened in 2008 there was a lot of talk about how Houston could not be accommodated into the 2008 schedule because Kansas couldn't be moved, Indy's schedule couldn't be clipped and The race only has a narrow window because of the cattle show in early April and conflicts with the football schedule in the fall. While it might be possible to have the race while the Texans are playing an away game, or a bye, those things move every year, and the NFL owners more than likely wouldn't allow it.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the reporter got it wrong, at least according to the two guys I spoke with in Houston. I work in public relations in the south and have some contacts in Houston who work for companies who used to sponsor the race there. They both said they'd been approached about reviving the May race, but couldn't say for certain that it meant it would be revived in May.

When the merger happened in 2008 there was a lot of talk about how Houston could not be accommodated into the 2008 schedule because Kansas couldn't be moved, Indy's schedule couldn't be clipped and The race only has a narrow window because of the cattle show in early April and conflicts with the football schedule in the fall. While it might be possible to have the race while the Texans are playing an away game, or a bye, those things move every year, and the NFL owners more than likely wouldn't allow it.

They can work with the NFL. The owner of the Texans can be I am sure asked for a weekend they book with the NFL as an away game. Cities with teams work around other events all the time. There is no CANT if you don't believe in it. If the promotors of this race in Houston go to the Texan's and work out a deal of some sort, you can bet one weekend a year the race will be booked and the Texan's are on the road. If the Detroit Lions can keep having their home date on Thanksgiving every year, it isn't that hard for the NFL to ensure that the Texans are on the road the 3 rd weekend of September every year...

[bblocker68]

Do whatever it takes to get Cleveland back on the schedule. It's the best street race there is, by far. If you criticize it, then you never say a race there. Too many epic battles were waged on that course.

Mid-O and Laguna Seca are beautiful venues with challenging tracks and the most famous sets of turns in America, but they do not make for good racing with the Indy cars.

[nigelred5]

Do whatever it takes to get Cleveland back on the schedule. It's the best street race there is, by far. If you criticize it, then you never say a race there. Too many epic battles were waged on that course.

Mid-O and Laguna Seca are beautiful venues with challenging tracks and the most famous sets of turns in America, but they do not make for good racing with the Indy cars.

That's precisely why one of my recommendations for the new formula is to not only make them more competetive through chassis competition, but actually make the cars physically smaller and more nimble, so there is simply more room on a lot of tight tracks.

[SarahFan]

That's precisely why one of my recommendations for the new formula is to not only make them more competetive through chassis competition, but actually make the cars physically smaller and more nimble, so there is simply more room on a lot of tight tracks.


how do you make them smaller and maintain safety at 230mph into the wall at indy or texas?

or in an accident similar to Micheal andrettis or kathrine legs at RA?

*I dont disagree.....just not sure it can be done?

[MDS]

They can work with the NFL. The owner of the Texans can be I am sure asked for a weekend they book with the NFL as an away game. Cities with teams work around other events all the time. There is no CANT if you don't believe in it. If the promotors of this race in Houston go to the Texan's and work out a deal of some sort, you can bet one weekend a year the race will be booked and the Texan's are on the road. If the Detroit Lions can keep having their home date on Thanksgiving every year, it isn't that hard for the NFL to ensure that the Texans are on the road the 3 rd weekend of September every year...

It could be that they have a deal in place with the Texans and the NFL, and if that's the case the deal is probably more advanced than what they're letting on. The NFL is beyond having to do favors for anyone else, and probably doesn't want an event during their season that's competition for tickets, but maybe they've signed on, if that's the case who knows what their level of involvement might be.

[garyshell]

That's precisely why one of my recommendations for the new formula is to not only make them more competetive through chassis competition, but actually make the cars physically smaller and more nimble, so there is simply more room on a lot of tight tracks.


how do you make them smaller and maintain safety at 230mph into the wall at indy or texas?

or in an accident similar to Micheal andrettis or kathrine legs at RA?

*I dont disagree.....just not sure it can be done?

I think the issue with tracks like Mid-Ohio and RA is not so much with the size and nimbleness (is that even a word???). I think it is one of being unable to run side by side safely without the fear of launching. That's why I keep harping on the need for protection of that by having body work in front of each wheel. I was there when Michael did the end-over-end at the end of the back straight. I don't ever want to sit through that again and I am sure no driver does even more so! We can still have "open-wheel" and protect against launches. Do that and these sorts of tracks will become VERY exciting.

Gary

[Mark in Oshawa]

That's precisely why one of my recommendations for the new formula is to not only make them more competetive through chassis competition, but actually make the cars physically smaller and more nimble, so there is simply more room on a lot of tight tracks.

Ummm that would be F1..and the last time I looked, they didn't often provide great RACES with side by side action. They cost a lot. Lets face it, to have a cheaper OW formula (which will be required until this sport can make a comeback IF it does) then you wont get lighter and nimbler. Furthermore, what I LOVED about classic Indy/Champ Cars from the 80's and 90's was the longer wheelbase and nasty power of them. They never put on a good show at places like Mid-Ohio because they are hard to drive and FAST in a straight line.

I do know that Houston can come back but they have to start designing street courses with a bit more room to pass. St. Pete's works in this sense, Toronto has 2 good spots, Long Beach ditto. If we are going to have street races (and even tho I don't mind them, I don't want to see more than 5 of them) then spend the time and get the course design into something that provides a spectacle AND a great race.

[nigelred5]

Hmm, same materials, physically smaller engine, smaller car= lighter car. There's plenty of examples to choose from. F1 has failed to address the real reason their races aren't competetive- their brakes work too damn well. It's shocking how quickly an F1 car accelerates, but more shocking is how quickly they stop the first time you see a modern F1 car in person. Outlaw carbon brakes and greatly extend braking distances. Do Atlantics have these problems? Why not look at a 3/4 or 7/8 size indycar that retains similar proportions or are we trying to accomodate the Top Gear Stereotype of an american driver?
Same room between the white lines + smaller cars= more room between tires, etc. more room to race. MidOhio and many street courses are simply too narrow for current Indycars. I agree though as I already have stated, they need to re-think the design of temporary road courses, especially when there IS more room to pull back corners and widen not only the racing line, but the view for spectators. Cleveland, Edmonton, St Pete. I realise they have to cover curbs, storm drains etc, but Move the walls back where they can. Do teh walls HAVE to be the edge of the race course, especially when they are racing through a damn parking lot???


IMHO of course.......

[nigelred5]

how do you make them smaller and maintain safety at 230mph into the wall at indy or texas?

or in an accident similar to Micheal andrettis or kathrine legs at RA?

*I dont disagree.....just not sure it can be done?

Do they have to run 230 at Indy or Texas? Don't get me wrong, I still long for 241.425. NASCAR, to their credit did prove the racing doesn't have to suffer when the cars are slowed, but it definitely takes something special out of the INDY tradition. Sadly, that tradition is already long gone IMHO.
Kat's accident had absolutely nothing to do with contact, that was a structural failure of the wing. Michael would have spun even in a closed wheel car the way he clipped PJ Jones. Thankfully they both were in a safe car, but it doesn't HAVE to be a car of that width and length to remain safe.

[garyshell]

MidOhio and many street courses are simply too narrow for current Indycars.

Only because of the concerns about launching a car if the wheels intertwine. Prevent that and the width is no longer an issue. I don't think an IRL car is much wider than an ALMS car. But I don't have any numbers to back that up. Where the hell is Hoop when we need him??? I'll dig around on google and see what I can find.

Gary

P.S. The Porsche RS Spyder LMP2 had a width/track of 78.7 inches. The IRL car has a width/track of max of 78.5 inches.

[Lousada]

Do they have to run 230 at Indy or Texas? Don't get me wrong, I still long for 241.425. NASCAR, to their credit did prove the racing doesn't have to suffer when the cars are slowed, but it definitely takes something special out of the INDY tradition. Sadly, that tradition is already long gone IMHO.
Kat's accident had absolutely nothing to do with contact, that was a structural failure of the wing. Michael would have spun even in a closed wheel car the way he clipped PJ Jones. Thankfully they both were in a safe car, but it doesn't HAVE to be a car of that width and length to remain safe.

Indycar PR people say that the no.1 reason people watch Indycar is the speed. This is of course a red herring, because you need to know what people who are NOT watching care about if you want to grow. But until they figure that out, they can't afford to alienate the remaining fans.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Indycar PR people say that the no.1 reason people watch Indycar is the speed. This is of course a red herring, because you need to know what people who are NOT watching care about if you want to grow. But until they figure that out, they can't afford to alienate the remaining fans.

The Indycar PR people couldn't find their @ss with both hands. If they knew why people tuned in, they wouldn't have the dismal TV ratings on a cable network. It isn't speed that attracts people, it is tradition. The only people left enthused about the sport do it because they are the hard core that are left. People may go to an event in their backyard, such as Houston or the streets of Toronto, but the hardcore faithful are watching because they are fans of racing, and while we would love to see speed records fall at Indy, we go for the racing do we not? THE RACING. REAL racing, not faux foot to the floor drafting matches at Texas or Chicago too.....We need these cars to be beside each other.

[garyshell]

The Indycar PR people couldn't find their @ss with both hands.


Oh they now how to find it. They just have to reach for their neck and slide their hand up.

Gary

[vintage]

Sounds to me like Lanigan should be spending his time looking for sponsorship for his team.

[Chamoo]

Sounds to me like Lanigan should be spending his time looking for sponsorship for his team.

Perhaps, but you should realize that these owners have other interests then simply the Indycar Series. Not sure if you've heard that Roger Penske is not simply an Indycar Series team owner.

Maybe Lanigan would use any profits he gains from the Houston and Cleveland race to help run NHL? Perhaps that's his thinking?

[Mark in Oshawa]

Sounds to me like Lanigan should be spending his time looking for sponsorship for his team.

Lanigan has people on both counts. He can walk and chew gum.....

Many rich and powerful men have something called STAFF that do the grunt work and set up the meeting....

[bblocker68]

What happened to Mi-Jack?? Did the Laningan's sell it? It use to be a fixture on open wheel cars.

[Mark in Oshawa]

What happened to Mi-Jack?? Did the Laningan's sell it? It use to be a fixture on open wheel cars.

THey are still around, but I think Lanigan isn't into spending his own money to race or make racing happen. Sponsors go on the cars of the richest men in the IRL, Chip Ganassi and Roger Penske. There is a reason Chip and Roger have money, they use other people's money to make their racing happen.

So if this Houston deal is to come off, I suspect it wont be sponsored out of Lanigan's Mi Jack or any other company he owns.