Las Vegas Double-header?

[nigelred5]

Just read Mark C's rumor that the Las Vegas Season Finale may actually be a full weekend double header Street race (on part of the Strip)-Oval weekend to finish the season???

Anyone heard anything on the street out that way?

[Lousada]

Well last year the deal got blown off because the IRL wanted to do a streetrace on the parkinglot of LVMS and SMI of course refused it.
I suppose they desperately want to avoid the embarrasment of that huge stadium with only 30k attendance so they are pushing for a streetfest. With a double header you might have a real Indy-friendly partycrowd over for the weekend that then also visit the oval.

[MDS]

It's not in the cars for this year, but 2012.

The idea would be to have a street race on Friday that involves a part of "The Strip" in some fashion and the finish with a night race on Sunday. Not sure if they're thinking full points for both, but I think that would make for one hell of a weekend.

A street and oval double header weekend has never been done, and never been done before is the best way to get attention.

The announcement about Vegas was supposed to come on or before Dec. 1 and uhm, that's today. They're trying to line up some big money for the finale.

[SarahFan]

How cool would it be?....very

Will it happen? ..... I wouldn't bet on it


What's up with the 200$mil double?

[Mark in Oshawa]

It is a big idea, in a series with not a lot of support, money or friends in sponsor land. Down the road, I am game for it, but if they are going to Vegas, they cant go and fall on their faces....right now there is no guarntee that will happen...

[TURN3]

As awesome as I thought the ChampCar downtown event was, the locals were livid. I want it to happen but I just can't see the casinos or local business owners getting behind this. The Maloof brothers seem to have a liking to the sport and are in pretty tight with the Andretti's, get them to throw some weight around and they might be able to get some people to move. I don't see the MGM-Mirage or Harrahs groups giving a toot, and they own about half the casinos on the strip these days.

[MDS]

My guess is that it would have less local resistance if it was on the strip and not in downtown or somewhere that isn't used to to big activities. Most locals avoid the strip unless they have to work there.

I've only gotten to Vegas once this year but it all depends on who wants to work with them. I would think they're thinking of a place either on the north end of the strip near the convention center (Since the LVCVA is potentially bank rolling the thing) or south near the airport. For example on the south end if the Luxor, Tropicana and Excalibur wanted it to work it could work.

The sun sets around 4:30 in Vegas this time of year, Vegas is three hours behind the East coast so start the race around 5:30-6 p.m. local time, 8:30-9 p.m. on the west coast. That's why they want the strip, they want it for the lights, the background. They're selling it like Bangkok or Yaz Marina.

[Scotty G.]

Maybe they ought to try and make one LV race work first, before worrying about 2 in a weekend.

[TURN3]

My guess is that it would have less local resistance if it was on the strip and not in downtown or somewhere that isn't used to to big activities. Most locals avoid the strip unless they have to work there.

I've only gotten to Vegas once this year but it all depends on who wants to work with them. I would think they're thinking of a place either on the north end of the strip near the convention center (Since the LVCVA is potentially bank rolling the thing) or south near the airport. For example on the south end if the Luxor, Tropicana and Excalibur wanted it to work it could work.

The sun sets around 4:30 in Vegas this time of year, Vegas is three hours behind the East coast so start the race around 5:30-6 p.m. local time, 8:30-9 p.m. on the west coast. That's why they want the strip, they want it for the lights, the background. They're selling it like Bangkok or Yaz Marina.

No way it they could use the strip at intersection of Tropicana. That would essentially shut Vegas down. That is THE busiest section of the entire strip. If they got onto the strip at all it would have to be somewhere like the convention center like you suggest. I know they did it in the 80's but honestly the place most well suited for something like this is Caesars. I could see it possible working around by the Wynn and the convention center too though. So long as it doesn't block the taxi route between Mandalay and the Rhino I'm good!

[FIAT1]

They should start a season in Vegas on the street and close in Vegas on the oval. Weather is nice to start in March and promote the thing all the time, with all the people that stop in Vegas it should work.

[garyshell]

No news of the double header, but there is this:
http://www.racer.com/las-vegas-indycar-finale-for-oct-16/article/193873/?DCMP=EMC-RACER_DAILY

Gary

[champcarray]

I'd love to see a road course / oval doubleheader at a dual-purpsose facility, such as Indy or New Hampshire. Several of us previously advocated helping restore the lustre of Indy using by taking this tack. It would make for one hell of a "speed week" there! Being a New Englander, I'd love to see New Hampshire break new racing ground by being the first track to do this.

[champcarray]

What other racing facilities currently have both oval and road courses? Daytona and Eurospeedway Lausitz come to mind, but I honestly have no idea how rare or common this is.

[Chamoo]

Most ovals now have some sort of road course built into them. Iowa, homestead, vegas, daytona, new hampshire, indy, texas world speedway (the older superspeedway), eurospeedway, motegi etc...

The question with many of these circuits is length and quality of the road course. I watched a 1h 45min race at the Iowa speedway road course for rolex gt cars, and the race was like 148 laps long because the course was so short. Safe to say, that was their only experiment there.

Sorry for the poor grammar. On my cell phone.

[BobbyC]

If I'm Bruton Smith I'd put up stands, suites, and temporary lights on the outside road course (2.4 miles) and put the IndyCars on Friday night at the permanent track and then go to oval racing Sunday with the Truck, Lights, and IndyCar tripleheader.

[UltimateDanGTR]

If I'm Bruton Smith I'd put up stands, suites, and temporary lights on the outside road course (2.4 miles) and put the IndyCars on Friday night at the permanent track and then go to oval racing Sunday with the Truck, Lights, and IndyCar tripleheader.

Only if those stands you mention could be filled....we all know the 'half-empty stand plague' that is blighting American motorsport at the moment.

[Mark in Oshawa]

If I'm Bruton Smith I'd put up stands, suites, and temporary lights on the outside road course (2.4 miles) and put the IndyCars on Friday night at the permanent track and then go to oval racing Sunday with the Truck, Lights, and IndyCar tripleheader.

You doing it with your money or his? If it is his, he wont do this without guarntees and the people at the IRL cant make those...

Scott and I don't always agree, but I am with him. Lets get one Vegas race off with success before we plan two..

Putting one on the Strip will NEVER happen boys....I went to Vegas, saw the volume of traffic that street carries,and realized it would be a living hell down there with that street 8 or 10 lanes wide shut down in the Casino district.....