Who is responsbile for the current state of the IRL's fate?

[Mark in Oshawa]

After some thought, and a nice note from Starter, here we go. Scott, I am going to point out to you that you are out on your own little island I suspect.
So here is the poll:

With the understanding that no one is totally at fault for the current state of AOW, what do you think is the biggest cause of the current condition?


Car Owners?

The Economy?

Tony George?


If Starter wants to show me how to make the poll official up there, I would appreciate it, but I will let this play out regardless before registaring my thoughts.

[downtowndeco]

Which state are you referring to? That the series has title sponsor for the first time in years? A stable, diverse schedule? 24 cars starting in what is a horrible economy? A paying 10 year TV deal? Danica Patrick? That the Indy 500 is still the most attended one day sporting event of any kind in the US? An exciting new race in a new country?

Just want to understand what I'm responding to.

[SarahFan]

Dude is funny

[garyshell]

This can come to no good end. Mark, cut your losses now and ask Starter to just delete the thread. I know you intentions are good, but there is no way this will ever be a civil discussion.

Gary

[Chris R]

I'll bite:

1. The economy

TG and the car owners didn't help - but if the economy was bustling all would be reasonably well... Money makes the racing tire turn.....

[tfisch100]

Given that Carl Fisher built the Speedway in Indiana, It is his fault that the IRL is in Indiana.

[Lousada]

I'll bite:

1. The economy

TG and the car owners didn't help - but if the economy was bustling all would be reasonably well... Money makes the racing tire turn.....

24 cars is not at all bad. I don't think there would be more in a better economy. The economy is not responsible for .24 ratings.

[px400r]

24 cars is not at all bad. I don't think there would be more in a better economy. The economy is not responsible for .24 ratings.

Let's see if 24 is full time for the entire season. And I agree, the economy is not responsible for the ratings. That's a result of the product and the tv package.

[Chris R]

24 cars is not at all bad. I don't think there would be more in a better economy. The economy is not responsible for .24 ratings.

True, but with a better economy the teams would be more stable, drivers would be paid and promoted better, sponsorship would be available to promote.... Obviously all of these things go hand in hand - but if the economy were better the errors of TG and the car owners etc. would not matter quite so much...

I also think a better economy would have seen a new car hitting the track by now and perhaps some of the manufacturers that are sitting on the sidelines would jump in on the new engine....

So, i do not want to downplay all of the other factors that got us to this point, but realistically if the economy had not tanked right after the "re-unification" I think everything (including ratings) would be better right now...

Also, I do not want to downplay the progress that appears to have been made - 24 cars, a series sponsor etc. - these are good thing - far better than I expected a month or two ago.....

[anthonyvop]

I'll bite:

1. The economy

TG and the car owners didn't help - but if the economy was bustling all would be reasonably well... Money makes the racing tire turn.....

The IRL has been sliding since it's creation so you can't blame the economy.

[Chris R]

The IRL has been sliding since it's creation so you can't blame the economy.

I agree, but I think better economic conditions after "re-unification" wouuld have made for more success in spite of itself......

[Wilf]

The IRL has been sliding since it's creation so you can't blame the economy.Thanks to the Olympic bobsleders we learned you can slide uphill, at least on a portion of the course. So, for once, I agree with you.

[anthonyvop]

I agree, but I think better economic conditions after "re-unification" wouuld have made for more success in spite of itself......

The IRL is a business. Any failures on it's part is a direct result of management. To blame it on the economy just points to poor planning on the part of management. Many companies thrive in spite of the economy due to good management.

F1 and the ALMS seem to be adding teams in spite of the economy. NASCAR isn't going anywhere. F-Atlantics and A1GP are gone. All because of management.

[slorydn1]

Tony George pushed me away (the split)

Reunification brought me back.

The rotten economy doesn't help.

The greed of Versus will keep me from watching most of the races this year as they pretty much air at the same time as Nascar races, so watching web streaming is not an option for me and I can't DVR the races and watch them later like I did last year.

The lack of American drivers with good rides doesn't help.

So yeah, I'd have to say although Indy Car is doing better now that it has been, Tony George personally set American open wheel racing back over a decade, and the growth that Nascar experienced in that time has allowed it to deal with crappy economy better than Indy Car. Thanks Tony!

[anthonyvop]

The greed of Versus


F.Y.I.

Versus does not exist to provide Indy Car coverage.

Versus does not exist to provide inexpensive entertainment.

Versus does not exist to make your viewing pleasure convenient.

Versus exists for one thing only........To make Money! To claim anything else is just fooling yourself.

[e2mtt]

The racing. That's what I think... it's the racing. Racing series are all about the racing, and if the racing isn't enjoyable to watch & follow, what is the point?

I follow many kinds of racing, and watch Nascar, Indycar, MotoGP & F1 races. Indycar races are mostly boring compared to the others.

[px400r]

The IRL is a business. Any failures on it's part is a direct result of management. To blame it on the economy just points to poor planning on the part of management. Many companies thrive in spite of the economy due to good management.


I second that. Any blame on the state of the IRL starts and ends with the IRL itself.

[Wilf]

I second that. Any blame on the state of the IRL starts and ends with the IRL itself.

And continuing that logic, first CART and then CCWS failed because they were mismanaged; outside factors had no effect.

[anthonyvop]

And continuing that logic, first CART and then CCWS failed because they were mismanaged; outside factors had no effect.

Outside factors have an effect.


But

Good management adapts to outside factors.

I do not blame the demise of CART/Champ Car on the IRL, Tony George, Roger Penske or the economy.

The demise of CART/Champ Car was self-inflicted as is the decline of Indy Car racing.

[SoCalPVguy]

Tony George and only tony f-ing george !!!
WithOUT the "split" a unified Indycar series could have easily survived today's issues: A poor economy, drop off of sponsors, Nascar rise in popularity, lack of American drivers, various owner challenges, etc... and retained a network TV presence. F TG

[F1boat]

Which state are you referring to? That the series has title sponsor for the first time in years? A stable, diverse schedule? 24 cars starting in what is a horrible economy? A paying 10 year TV deal? Danica Patrick? That the Indy 500 is still the most attended one day sporting event of any kind in the US? An exciting new race in a new country?

Just want to understand what I'm responding to.

Haha, nice answer.

[SarahFan]

After some thought, and a nice note from Starter, here we go. Scott, I am going to point out to you that you are out on your own little island I suspect.
So here is the poll:

With the understanding that no one is totally at fault for the current state of AOW, what do you think is the biggest cause of the current condition?


Car Owners?

The Economy?

Tony George?


If Starter wants to show me how to make the poll official up there, I would appreciate it, but I will let this play out regardless before registaring my thoughts.



mark.....you do relize that your thread title and opening post are two seperate questions dont you?

[px400r]

And continuing that logic, first CART and then CCWS failed because they were mismanaged; outside factors had no effect.

What the heck does that have to do with the original question?

Are you somehow implying that the state of the IRL today is the fault of CART/CCWS?