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I'm with you, DBell: I dont' have faith that TG can lead Indy racing back to prosperity, let along its former glory. He has spent years focusing on cost contrainment tactics, but it appears that the IRL wasn't rolling in cash during our economy's good times. Why would this model work now? Having a series that attacts top drivers, teams, manufacturers/suppliers, and advertisers -- and loyal fans -- is not cheap.
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Originally Posted by Fiero 5.7
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this has to do what with the thread?
In an economic climate which has seen empty seats multiplying at NASCAR events and sponsors jumping off like fleas on a dying dog Indycar has added sponsors, had more drivers fighting for 33 spots since the split, and filled the IMS grandstands to 95% capacity, and in all this the Rush Limbaugh of Open Wheel writes in the NewMax of racing that Tony George is about to get the boot....and the Crapies/NeckcarHeads go for it...ha ha ha...
Is that what we learned? I thought it was that trying to run a series for the purpose of being a grid filler for a single grand event is untenable. Maybe someone should try running a series that is NOT just all about Indy, and yet still goes there. Then maybe there would then be some success. That hasn't been done in what, 13 years?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa
He is supposedly getting the boot from IMS, not from the IRL. Perhaps the family is not so worried about the IRL and the 500, but more worried about the 400 and the motorace. How are ticketsales doing for the by400 after last years debacle? Perhaps that's why they want Humpy Wheeler????Quote:
Originally Posted by SportscarBruce
I had some faith last year because at least I figured we had momentum with the merger (the fact Tony agreed to a merger that at least gave the CCWS crowd an honourable way to save face), and a misplaced view that Brian Barnhart knew what he was doing. I wasn't sold on Tony's marketing and sales, but I was cautiously optimistic he may have learned something. This year, I am less so, but I don't know what can be done in this economic climate. My whole point, and always was that the seeds of this mess always went back to his original jihad to rule the OW world in North America. This sport was not without fault in 1994, but it didn't deserve the last decade and a half.Quote:
Originally Posted by DBell
I have no faith in Tony personally to understand the series, and it is why I find it troubling they wont let him run the Speedway in the future it seems, but they want him running the IRL. My god, he has no idea on what to do with the IRL, it is the reason he is spending money like water. The Speedway makes money, and he has done a great job keeping it a showpiece. That is what he knows. Marketing of a series? Understanding Racing from the spectator at home, the team owner, or the fan in the stand? He doesn't grasp these realities and he should have handed the series over to someone who does a long time ago.
It was an ancedote that RM told on Wind Tunnel a few years back that convinced me Tony doesn't get it. RM reported on TG getting the team owners/managers together for a pre-season meeting and they were on him for all the costs of racing, and Tony scolded them for spending money on hospitality. He of course thought they were doing all of this just for fun, when in reality the hospitality aspect is the payback to the sponsors for signing LARGE checks to allow you to run. He didn't grasp the concept. THAT my friends is the thinking that has brought us to this point.
I have always said it, and sometimes bitten my tongue, but TG has not learned enough from his mistakes these past 14 years. He does not understand this sport in a manner that leads me to believe he can lead it. I have been quiet the last year on this because I wanted to be wrong in that he had learned, but I don't think he has.
Nice man, nice race track, give up being a series manager.....
Humpy Wheeler would do wonders. Everyone knocks his lack of "OW" pedigree, but the guy is a master promoter and he knows a good idea when he see's it. I guarntee you that if he was running IMS this year, the second Brian Barnhart tried to stop Helio from climbing that fence, the old boxer would be in Brian's face telling him that unless he wanted his jaw around his ear, to shut his trap and let the man climb the fence..... Humpy knows how to put on a show, and THAT is what the Indy 500 and the IRL NEEDS.
Bruce...you hate Robin don't you? Just admit it....and remember he has been right either totally or partially pretty much all the time, and he is usually ahead of the story.Quote:
Originally Posted by SportscarBruce
People don't like Robin are usually just the ones who refuse to believe what they don't want to happen is happening....
sounds like posters who are upset with other posters for posting TV ratingsQuote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa
If Miller had the knowledge of motorsports that Limbaugh has of political science, France and Ecclestone would be licking his shoe-laces.Quote:
Originally Posted by SportscarBruce
[quote="Mark in Oshawa"]I had some faith last year because at least This sport was not without fault in 1994, but it didn't deserve the last decade and a half.
The sport deserved it, many of the loyal fans did not.
it seems, but they want him running the IRL.
Maybe that is because many/some WANT the IRL to go away.
It was an ancedote that RM told on Wind Tunnel a few years back that convinced me Tony doesn't get it. RM reported on TG getting the team owners/managers together for a pre-season meeting and they were on him for all the costs of racing, and Tony scolded them for spending money on hospitality. He of course thought they were doing all of this just for fun, when in reality the hospitality aspect is the payback to the sponsors for signing LARGE checks to allow you to run. He didn't grasp the concept. THAT my friends is the thinking that has brought us to this point.