Sorry, but I have 5-bucks that says Champ Car does not answer the bell in 2008...

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Originally Posted by garyshell

I never said it explained ALL the woes. But team and series financing is the biggest of all those woes. Yes, the series was still strong for a couple of years, as existing contracts ran out. But then the advertisers, (remember THEY are the ones who fund this entire effort) ran for the exits with one destination in mind. One destination and one race. No amount of card playing ever could or ever will counter Madison Avenues fascination with the 500. For a long time I hoped against hope that this was not true, but sadly the past five years have proved my hopes false.

If this were not true, please explain how we see recognizable company names on sidepods in IOWA??? The advertisers are not there to advertise in Iowa, trust me.

Gary

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Yes, I will agree with you that it does not explain all of the series woes. CART and Champ Car's inability to create a "sound product" is what has drove the sponsors away. Yes, the I-500 is important, but had CC played their cards right they would not be in the situation they are in.

Even with the I-500, the IRL is floundering as a series. Recognizable names sit on the sidepods in IOWA because, sadly but truthfully, the series is better off than CC. Yes, the sponsors realize the importance of the big race and in the IRL, the sponsors find 'stability.' Names like Penske, Gnassi, Foyt, and Andretti surely help when attracting sponsorship.

Do the sponsors really care about the split? No, they want their product name on something that sells (NASCAR). Our series is being run by inept and imcompetent Amigos. The I-500 matters because CART/CC has failed to find an alternative to the race.

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Originally Posted by tbyars

But I thought you were "just a fan." Where does "just a fan" get real inside information?

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He probably gets it from FerrrariF1, who picks up the papers, while Champ Car is out of town, in Australia.

Jeff

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Originally Posted by mike15

Brent as usual we disagree.

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No surprise there.

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Originally Posted by mike15

NASCAR America dominates the racing dollar.

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Dominate does not mean completely own, and NASCAR is bloody expensive to run in now, as you should know by now.

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Originally Posted by mike15

Champ Car should and will take the opportunity to expand into the world market. Rather than take what is left after NASCAR America drains the racing dollar and battling the confusing split thing, Champ Car can solicit foreign money that does not care about NASCAR or the split. With foreign sponsors Champ Car can stabilize the North American market and give the foreign sponsors the opportunity to promote in North America.

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But short of moving to Europe completely, what will the European sponsors gain? Not much. You continually bring up this point, and I continually remind you that most sponsors on CC's level really don't care about international exposure.

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Originally Posted by mike15

The WORLD in Champ Car World Series is exactly what is needed to boost the bottom line for Champ Car.

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No, I think CC should drop the World bit for now. They do not have the resources or support to go globe-hopping, especially if sponsors aren't paying for it. It's a huge waste of time and money for the teams other than the Amigos.

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Originally Posted by mike15

Zolder worked well even with the high ticket prices. The high ticket price was the number one problem with attendance. In 2008 Zolder should spread the ticket price so more race fans can attend.

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That gonna happen? I don't bet on it.

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Originally Posted by mike15

The goal of Champ Car is to have 50% of it's races in North America and 50% in the world.

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They will be bankrupt long before then because the current crop of CC teams cannot expect to keep globe-hopping. In CC's current shape, it makes zero financial sense.

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Originally Posted by mike15

With NASCAR America dominating the USA, Champ Car needs to capture the world racing dollar that has been opened up by F1. [The F1 venues are in constant flux going after the high dollar.

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And this is different form NASCAR in America how exactly?

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Originally Posted by mike15

They are dropping venues that can no longer afford F1 and Champ Car can come in and make those venues profitable. The World is a win win for Champ Car because as I said race fans in Europe don't care about the split or NASCAR. Plus, they support their home town teams and drivers.

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America supports its home teams too. CC just doesn't give them jack all to root for. You should know that too.

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Originally Posted by sanguin

IMO A1GP is not a threat to CC. They have their own problems, canceling races and changing drivers.They are also having sponsor trouble. Besides the fact they run in the winter.

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And this is different from CC in what way????? CC is guilty of everything you mention above, including scheduling races in winter (before they cancelled that race!).

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Originally Posted by garyshell

I never said it explained ALL the woes. But team and series financing is the biggest of all those woes. Yes, the series was still strong for a couple of years, as existing contracts ran out. But then the advertisers, (remember THEY are the ones who fund this entire effort) ran for the exits with one destination in mind. One destination and one race. No amount of card playing ever could or ever will counter Madison Avenues fascination with the 500. For a long time I hoped against hope that this was not true, but sadly the past five years have proved my hopes false.

If this were not true, please explain how we see recognizable company names on sidepods in IOWA??? The advertisers are not there to advertise in Iowa, trust me.

Gary

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IMO,They are in Iowa because of ethanol and the track.Ethanol wants them in corn country and the track will pay them. If what you said were true about the 500, there wouldn't be a need for TG to pony up to fill the field and there would be more than 18 cars in the series. The ratings have been falling for 10 years. I'm sure Madison ave. has noticed that too. I highly doubt TG will have the leverage to secure another lucrative tv deal ,especially if his subsidy program doesn't pan out.

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Originally Posted by BrentJackson

America supports its home teams too. CC just doesn't give them jack all to root for. You should know that too.

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America only supports the home team when they win and then only if they dominate the event.

You like to blame everything on Champ Car but Champ Car has brought back racing at Road America and Portland and now Laguna. Road America had a pitiful attendance and Portland will probably not make the 2008 schedule because of poor attendance. I'm sure you will make it Champ Cars fault for poor attendance at American venues BUT with Champ Car, the foreign venues do attract great fans to the venues in high numbers.

Now why is it that Champ Car with the same ingredients have better attendance in foreign lands than in America hmmmmm?

America is NahSCAR land and Americans like their racing with big shiny billboards with huge numbers that go round and round. They want to sit back in their seats for 5 hours anticipating the next big crash.

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Originally Posted by nigelred5

ALMS has the significant involvement and manufacturer support for teams and races to pay the bills. The ALMS also shows clear evidence of knowing what they are and reacting to challenges with positive results and exposure. Audi, Honda, Porsche, Chevrolet, Aston Martin and possibly Pugeot, a manufacturer that doesn't even sell cars in the US. They also spend wisely on their television package rather than paying an arm and a leg to show a race broadcast rarely better than something from the local college access channel.

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The manufacturers pay the bills and they still need an audience to justify it. So you're think a tv pkg between SPEED and CBS is better than CC's on one network? No way. Have you seen the ALMS races on CBS? they are pretaped and cut to fit a time slot. They're awful. CC just got their tv pkg. They haven't had one full year with their new partner yet. Last year some races were still on other networks. They also have atlantics on ABC/ESPN.
The truth is F1 ,ALMS, GA, IRL, CC and other series all have bad ratings. This is not unique to CC at all. Even Nascar is on 2 year low.

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A deal with Eurosport?

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It is a good one and an asset for CC.

IMO

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Originally Posted by heelntoe

A post with this little knowledge should not be allowed to be viewed by intelligent people. David Clare has been given the amunition from Ferrari to bury any idea of CCWs performing or getting sponsors in Europe or any region within the FIA arena...look to A1GP to move out of the winter only schedule and in sync with F-1 (where David Clare worked) eliminating the last great hope of CCWS abroad.

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DC is trying to bury CC? I thought he was trying to stop the money bleeding from that series. Exactly what ammunition does Ferrari give? They are making money from a deal. This is just a lot of wishful thinking.IMO.

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Originally Posted by nigelred5

Regardless of how much they spend directly, 7-11 is owned by a Japanese conglomerate and there are obvious reasons there would be ties to Honda.

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The problem is what happens if/when honda leaves for nascar?

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Originally Posted by sanguin

It is a good one and an asset for CC.

IMO

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You've never had the pleasure of watching, or at least trying to watch a race on Eurosport, have you? Delays, cutting to races half-way through, cutting if races over-run. You name the things they could do to annoy the fans and they do it - they've even kept with live tennis in preference to CCWS. I think most of the races were on Europsort 2 this year as well. I say I think as I don't have satellite or cable tv and stumped up the money for Race Director. The only good thing about the (international and therefore) Eurosport feed is the commentators - Jeremy Shaw and James Hinchcliffe are great - just a shame those ridiculous banners obscure a lot of the track when in-car.

Eurosport do the bare minimum to have CC on their network. They spend a lot more time advertising the WTCC, in much the same way as Sky TV (UK satellite) plug A1GP and (to a lesser extent) the IRL.