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Without Indy, there would have been no USAC. Without Indy, there would have been no CART. Without Indy, there would have been no IRL. The more you try to diminish the Indianapolis 500, the more you try to diminish open wheel racing.
It is NOT still a split, IMO, between those who enjoy the "500" and those who enjoy other open-wheel races. It is a split between those who recognize the magnitude of the "500" and its importance and those who do not.
Starter, I have made that same point (adding supermodifieds) many times on these boards in response to the CART/CC jihad that coined the term "AOWR" for its preference of series. Obviously, I agree with you. But those who believe minimizing the Indianapolis 500 is going to build up other ICS races are about two bubbles off plumb, IMO.
BTW, at no time did I diminish the importance of Indy, I just think its a HUGE expense for the teams and could be shortened without impacting it in a negative way.
Obviously its huge, its the largest single day sporting event in the world.
The Brickyard 400 is number 2.... and it's 3 days.
Vegasguy, guess you had to live in Indy during the couple years they tried a two-week format back in the '90s. Nevermind the politics that got the idea on the board, but it SEVERELY diminished the magnitude of the race just in the eyes of people locally, for starters. People were wandering around Indy trying to say "month of May," for example, when it was no longer close to the month of May. It was bewildering, it was here and gone quickly and it was not the spectacle that got it to its previous status.
On another point, a good many teams are based in Indy, as a good many NASCAR teams are based in Charlotte. Indy is more of a "home game" than a "road trip" than any other race on the schedule in that vein.
Yes, things change. And maybe it's just my opinion. But when Leo Mehl left the IRL, so did the two-week program. Again, nobody, not a single person IN INDY who I talked to liked it. Or warmed to it. Or made money off it. Or enjoyed it at all. Even people I know at the track. It was already an option, it was tried briefly and it was unsuccessful. Maybe it'll be thought of again, maybe not. They might consider riding mechanics again. Who knows? But considering its failure, a two-week program would be a tall order to sell around these parts right now.
Indycool, I could see how the people of Indianapolis would be impacted as you said.... but the rest of the worlds fans would get over it pretty quick IMHO and the teams would save a ton. They have said so themselves in the past.
Now riding mechanics using the 2 person tubs hauling tools and parts..... pretty cool. ;-)
I think that a lot of good things have happened since unification, I think a lot of great things are coming down the pipeline. I hope they really do combine the best aspects of the 2 series and bring over more of the Loyal Champ car fans, it can only improve the series.
IMHO it would be almost criminal if they just left it as is because lets face it... it's not the product it could be or most want it to be.
I plan on giving it 3 yrs.
On a philosophical level, "the split" was never about a guy named Tony George or some organizations named IRL and CART. It was about if the city of Indianapolis and the Indy 500 was going to be the "racing capital", or if it was going to be a part of a larger series just like all the other races. Tony George said as much. That is obvioulsy what they are selling when thier slogan is "I am Indy" and it says "racing capital" on huge signs in Indy.
So after a decade of fighting about it Tony is in control but is the matter really settled? It is easy to say "the split" was the cause of the downward spiral of the sport but it remains to be seen if this status quo is actually healthy. There are plenty of reasons why putting one venue on a pedestal is bad for the sport. We have the city and those who live in the region using a prestigous one day race as a means to generate an economic boost for a whole month - at the expense of the teams and the rest of the sport.
This is the essence of the split. Worship Indy or be gone you are banished to Europe or something. It isnt over at all! What's more is it was created in Indianaoplis and it is so disingenuous to act like it was fans of rival, now vanquished series that caused it. Saying our race is the best, this is the racing capital, the whole schedule should bend to our will, all other tracks and cities should declare "We are Indy", the championship winner barely matters next to this race winner....it is just astounding arrogance and IMHO a house of cards that, now that the scapegoat of CCWS is out of the picture, will come tumbling down eventually of its own accord.Quote:
AOWR IS the Indy 500. If you're more into street circuits or road courses there are have a dozen or more Eurocentric Series that should fit that bill.
Nope. Somebody else would have stepped forward and started a major formula series.Quote:
Originally Posted by indycool
That is like saying without Apple there never would have been personal computers.
Or mayby it is between those who realize that times and tastes change and those who refuse to give up the past.Quote:
Originally Posted by indycool
They did. It was called the ChampCar World Series. Surely you remember? And you remember what happened to it?Quote:
Originally Posted by anthonyvop
Tastes haven't changed. They tried something different and its diminished everything to a point where Indy and its revenue is the only thing keeping everything else afloat. There is not enough interest in a major formula series to make it work, that's just the way it is. The only tastes that have changed are the people who left open wheel for NASCAR.Quote:
Originally Posted by anthonyvop