11-5: The 2012 schedule

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Originally Posted by anthonyvop

When it comes to the Milwaukee race I believe Albert Einstein had it right

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I have the same feeling. Fortunately/unfortunately, the racing is not the problem. It's the way it has been managed and promoted since Carl Haas stepped away from teh race that it just can't seem to draw a crowd. It is THE classic Indycar short track. It's too bad there aren't more flat fairgrounds style short tracks on the schedule. I'd love to replace the whopping 9 days of horse racing annually at our state fairgrounds with car racing, but it would never happenin that neighorhood.

update on Baltimore:

Baltimore grand Prix: City picks new management team - baltimoresun.com

The brickyard 400 is a novelty race and one of the worst NASCAR races on the schedule and the main reason attendance has been going down. The only thing that makes the race noteworthy is because it is at IMS.

Over the years at IMS for the I500 there were four types of fans, those that loved the I500 no matter what raced there, the IRL/TG fan, the CART faithful who gave up their I500 tickets and finally the corporations that gave away their tickets just to keep a foot in the door at IMS.

With all the changes coming to Indycar in 2012 including new chassis the return of the turbo charged engines, multiple engine manufacturers and elimination of the last of IRL management I believe you will see renewed interest in Indycar from long time fans of American Open Wheel racing. As the new chassis develops towards additional manufacturers interest will again increase.

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Originally Posted by nigelred5

I have the same feeling. Fortunately/unfortunately, the racing is not the problem. It's the way it has been managed and promoted since Carl Haas stepped away from teh race that it just can't seem to draw a crowd. It is THE classic Indycar short track. It's too bad there aren't more flat fairgrounds style short tracks on the schedule. I'd love to replace the whopping 9 days of horse racing annually at our state fairgrounds with car racing, but it would never happenin that neighorhood.

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I hear people say that the racing isn't the problem and I wonder what race they are watching.

The cars look ridiculous there like an adult sitting in a Kindergarten classroom chair. Too big and overpowered to be driving around in a circle. It is the poster child for those who dislike ovals.

I know that many will take exception to this but look at it from the point of view of people who don't like oval racing.

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Originally Posted by nigelred5

There has been a little. There are three groups that definitely have submitted proposals. One local group, one from PA, and the group headed by the guy that came in the last month and basicallt saved the day. Way too many beers to spew the details. From my understanding, the Local group has barely recieved the courtesy of acknowledgement of reciept of their proposal. From the sound of it, Indycar and the city know whot they want, they have to igure out how to make it work.

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City officials are completing a five-year deal with a new group to manage the Baltimore Grand Prix and plan to announce the terms of the deal Wednesday,

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The mayor's office did not say who would receive the contract to operate the three-day racing festival.

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So much for open and transparent governance in Baltimore.

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Originally Posted by anthonyvop

I hear people say that the racing isn't the problem and I wonder what race they are watching.

The cars look ridiculous there like an adult sitting in a Kindergarten classroom chair. Too big and overpowered to be driving around in a circle. It is the poster child for those who dislike ovals.

I know that many will take exception to this but look at it from the point of view of people who don't like oval racing.

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I know you don't like ovals and I'll accept that this is you view of Milwaukee, but you should accept that your view is a minority view among IndyCar fans and out of step with what a majority of fans want. For me, I like ovals like Milwaukee, the old Phoenix, and Loudon. It's the banked Nascar ovals I don't bother with. To me, Milwaukee was one of the better races last year. The difference between Milwaukee and a place like Homestead is the Mile was once a successful race. If they give it 3 years and can't grow the fanbase back to respectable levels, then it's time to draw a line under Milwaukee.

If you don't like oval racing, then F1 is better to watch I think.... Now we're only having 5 ovals on the schedule, but about some years it could be the half of the schedule or a little more... And then an IndyCar season might be not that enjoyable for you. It's a pity for you ChampCar doesn't exist anymore... If I'm right they only had road/street courses in 2007 and on the 2008 schedule there were only road/street courses planned as well.

I truly love the 1,5 mile high banked ovals but Milwaukee always has great races, and I think another 1 mile oval needs to be on the schedule. Really hope Phoenix can make it's return in 2013.

What about a return to Chicagoland? It's kinda ridiculous that this oval is not on the schedule anymore in my opinion. But at least we have 16 races, of course I hope for a 17th race, but I'm already very happy with Milwaukee being on the schedule for this year.

I believe attendance is the only measure of what racing fans want and attendance has not been at Milwaukee and other ovals for a long time. The minority are the fans, holding on to ovals that at one time was an attraction but not today based on attendance. You can blame promotion all you want but even knowledgeable fans that have a schedule don't attend those races.

Yeah, I would love to attend those races.... But for me it's not that easy to do, as I live in The Netherlands.... That's far outside the United States, and so I'm only able to attend those races when I have some holidays..... :(

Of course the lack of attendance is the reason for the lack of ovals, but I can remember times when at Kansas there was enough attendance and when the attendance at Homestead and Milwaukee was not even that bad..... Also to make the Chicagoland event a night race was a big mistake. I love night races, but the attendance was terrible in 2010 compared to 2007/2008 when it was just a race in the afternoon.

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Originally Posted by anthonyvop

City officials are completing a five-year deal with a new group to manage the Baltimore Grand Prix and plan to announce the terms of the deal Wednesday,


So much for open and transparent governance in Baltimore.

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The details hadnot been finalized as of Friday evening. Even with open government rules, which I am bound by daily working directly with several government contractors, you don't announce who won a contract until it is signed sealed and delivered. It will be anounced wednesday. There is a protest period in government contracts once the contracts are announced. I will be shocked if it isn't the group led by Dale Dillon and Felix Dawson. Dawson is partnering with local financing and was involved in the group that originally tried to take over BRD before the city cancelled their contract. Dillon is basically Indycar's "guy" with a track record with the oronto and St Pete street races and came in and basically pulled a rabbit out of his backside and made the race happen. Bascially, they got rid of the questionable guys, kep the guy that actually knew what needs to be done, and partneredwith investors that actually have money.