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They gotta find a place for Surfers. I understand that they can't just drop some of the venues that they have been running for years to embrace some of the old Champ Car events, but Surfers is a must. I see there's still a possibility, let's hope it happens.
I've got to believe that existing contracts dictated most of the venues for 09. I suspect questions revolving around the TV contract may have influenced the schedule as well. While it's a little much for the fans having six ovals in a row, that has to be easier for the teams and preparation week to week. I'd love to see a F1 style schedule racing every other week. Hopefully Surfers will be resolved and be added to the fall with Motegi. I believe the gaping hole in the schedule is designed to give them a big window for their date to coincide with the Supercars schedule. I'd love to see Mexico city slot in there as well but What about MARCH?? Nascar is what, seven races into their season and F1 is probably 3 races in before they start.? I guess they don't want to go head to head with the March spring Breakers in Florida and March is probably out for Las Vegas and Phoenix as possibilities due to NASCAR races, so what other warm weather venues would you look at? Mexico or Houston possibly? Lots of negatives to starting the season in either. I believe Surfers will get added, however I'm just upset to not see places like Cleveland and Road America.
Now firstly I'm kind of surprised not seeing them even mentioning about a race at Mexico, and just like most of you guys, I'm fairly disappointed by the schedule, but then again, I'm actually thinking possibly Indycar has their own reasons for doing so.
So far we have seen the season going reasonably well and most of the figures are looking good, but neither was it a big step from the past, the numbers are all up by a slight bit, not too much. So what am I thinking is, that Indycar is just trying to take small but steady steps to make things happen, I've heard them saying a prospective 20 race schedule for the year 2011 and the new chassis would only come in 2011 too, I'm guessing they're just not doing anything in a big hurry but trying to set up a good fundamental for the long term perspect.
If they expand to a 20 race schedule in 2010 (which IMHO is a bit doubtful), then it wouldn't surpise me if they just leave surfers where it is as a non championship race next year, and then include it in 2010 on 24 October with the final round in the US the week after (like back in the CART days).
As for Homestead, I think it will be a spectacular flop this year. Being so close to the Sprint Cup finale, who in their right mind thinks that Homestead will get anybody in the stands for the IRL race? I reckon Homestead will be gone after next year unless a miracle happens.
IMHO the Las Vegas oval would have been a better place to finish the season, even if it is just a cookie cutter oval. Just get rid of one of the other similar tracks and problem solved.
I still think the best way to finish the season is a 500 mile race on a super speedway like CART did at California in the late 90's.
Well, sponsors for one (Peak at Chicagoland for example), as well as the season ticket package for the speedway, in addition the lower costs of running at at permeant facility. It both the League & the Speedway can make money on it then it will stay, and that what cleveland has not been able to do for a long time.Quote:
Originally Posted by MDS
Also remember that a number of these events were locked in with 3 year deals that were signed before the buyout/merger ever happened, then you get to the point where there are only so many weekends that you can run at some locations. The was just no room for Cleveland & New Hampshire with the contracted race dates & weeks off the teams say they need. Just saying "just get ride of this track & that track" isn't realistic.
Another thing to remember about Vegas is the rumored future 2nd fall cup date that Bruton Smith will more from New Hampshire to Las Vegas. So lets say the IRL runs Vegas next year, then they add a fall cup race in 2010 and the IRL race would come off the schedule as quickly as it got on, much like what happened to the 2nd Texas race. Doesn't make much sense.
I think that the shedule is OK, although I think that ovals should dominate indy Car racing. i hope that when they are on road courses, they will make more double weekends with the ALMS.
No Cleveland, Surfers, Road America, Portland. Former Champcar races, just Toronto and Long Beach?
Some Unification!!
Fool me once......
Let's get Elk Lake
Surfers should be a no brainer....biggest event on the calendar
Mexico City....another huge event we need back
I am really surprised we're happy with some events that draw 30,000 and look away from ones that draw 100s of thousonds.
Also, Elk Lake is the best road course available to IndyCar. Why that didn't make it I doin't understand.
Personal we all knew that ovals were going to dominate, its TG series and what the series been based on for all these years Ovals!!.
Sadly i think we should had a better mix from the 90's, of street, road courses, few super speedways, and small percentage of 1.5 mile ovals.
This is what attracted fans to the tracks as we can see now ovals have very few spectators while if we see street/road courses throughout the world we witness bigger crowds because transport easier to the track, there seem to be a fascination with street tracks, while road courses its more the historic heritage etc etc
All im thinking is where the new fan going to come from or goto the track, surely we would have seen bigger crowds throughout this season on ovals due to the number of teams/drivers/cars that come from champcar, which clearly this hasnt happened.
To the point we are now getting rid of some of the well supported fan tracks like surfers, cleveland road america etc and alienating them fans who are willing to travel to a circuit.
Some of you have got to get over this. Quit belly aching about the fact that this isn't a unification. It isn't, OK! Who cares? CC went bankrupt, they are done, kaput, over, never to be heard from again. I know this isn't the PC thing to say, but it is the truth.
IndyCar stepped in and saved a couple of their economically viable races Long Beach and Surfers. Surfers has scheduling issues for this year and next, but I would guess that next year will probably be like this year, a non-points race.
CC couldn't make places like Portland, Cleveland, Mt. Tremblant, Houston, etc. work economically. I liked these places, but they don't make any money. Is TG supposed to just keep hemeraging money to make the couple hundered (maybe?) ChampCar fans happy?
I'm not too happy with the schedule either. What happend to traditional tracks like Phoenix, and Michigan? But I know the realities of today.
Get over it. The war is over. Watch what you have. If you don't like it there are other other series to watch. I hear that the F1 owners are forming a new group. Maybe you'll get your wish and they will call it Championship Auto Racing Teams. Then will you be happy?