What Happens Next?

I cannot help but notice some "outside" factors that must be contributing to the problems of Champcar.

1. The Ferrari deal for A1-GP - all of the sudden it appears as though this series has a future that looks a lot like the future they are talking bout for Champcar.....

2. Drivers to NASCAR - this has been talked about alot and it should be - the exodous of open wheelers to NASCAR is epedemic and it is undermining what little cedibility the sport of AOWR has left.....

Take those two factors (among many others) and throw in the complete failure of Champcar to do much of anything right this year and I think what is next is - well nothing....

I would also like to add that if KK and GF want to salvage any of thier investment this is a good time to sell off their good races. Another season of one debacle after another from Champcar is only going to erode the value of events such as Long Beach, Toronto, Cleveland, and Surfers.....

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Originally Posted by garyshell

Lets get a few things straight. Jimispeed has hardly been one of the kool aide drinkers here. And yes a lot of folks have left, many because of self sanctimonious comments like: "We are the sum total of the handful of people left who still care about this once great series." Since when do the few self proclaimed "insiders" here have some sort of monopoly on caring about Champ Car?

Gary

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That's what I hear from CC fans about this forum.

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Originally Posted by Chris R

I would also like to add that if KK and GF want to salvage any of thier investment this is a good time to sell off their good races.

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They have more assets than just good races. The schedule can be fixed, let other series try to be successful on their own.

This is what is up on Autoracing1.com today under the news item about The Queensland government’s positive relationship with IMG in the face of negative rumors:

“[Editor's Note: It's interesting that the press release never made mention of Champ Car, just that the event would continue. Hmmm......given all the rumors of Champ Car's collapse one would have thought they would have gone out of their way to mention Champ Car at least once. The event is called the 'Indy' 300 so we suppose they could easily bring in the IRL IndyCar series and continue like nothing happened.]”

This appeared yesterday and supports what I am hearing from someone I know who is close to the situation:

“Champ Car to lose key sponsor UPDATE #6 We continue to hear that with CDW gone after this year, the RuSPORT Champ Car team will also fold unless a replacement sponsor can be found fast.”

Beyond those issues and based upon what I am hearing, my guess is that “what happens next” will involve news about the following:

1) China not happening
2) Vegas not happening
3) Another team going away
4) Another 2007 event (or two) not happening in 2008 due to financial concerns

I don’t make this stuff up and it all comes from credible sources. It also does not make me happy but I have come to accept that the only real news I can expect these days about Champ Car in 2008 will probably be bad news.

I'll wait for the schedule and the 60 days. ;)

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Originally Posted by sanguin

I'll wait for the schedule and the 60 days. ;)

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Sounds like it might not take 60 days after all

"The schedule can be fixed?"

How? With what? It's gone the wrong direction from Day #1.

I am a long time fan who has given OWRS the benefit of the doubt from Day 1. I thought they could do it, I beleived they could do it. Perhaps, most importantly, I thought they were the better choice for AOWR to move forward.

They have lost all credibility with me. Since I started out pretty much as close to a diehard fans as you get without it affecting my social acceptability to the general populace, I would argue that when they lose credibility with people like me - all hope is lost....

My point is, what can they fix? Who is left to support them? They have lost all credibility in terms of scheduling. They have lost sponsor credibility. They have lost drivers.

as a small business owner (way smaller than can do anything to support Champcar) I have to ask the question - "Would I enter into a business agreement with these guys?" The answer is an emphatic "NO!" I could not afford to tie myself to something that is perpetually not working right nad I could not afford to tie my livlihood an the livlihood of my employees to it.

That being said - I see no practical way they can fix the schedule short of shelling out hundreds of millions of their own dollars to make things right.... If these guys are really decent businessmen - they would not do that.

The events this year were well attended and the remaining 2 will be also.Over 300k at Surfers. There are solid venues and events already secured. I'm optimistic about LS now and LB should be as successful as always. These forums are a small fraction of the paying fan base.

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Originally Posted by sanguin

I'll wait for the schedule and the 60 days. ;)

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Me too mate! I can't wait to read how you spin it when it comes out. From what I am hearing it will require the world's greatest illusionists to make Champ Car look legit in the face what races are left when your cherished 2008 mini schedule is announced.

But, as you well know, there may still be some Eurosucker out there who doesn't read the motorsports news so you gotta keep the Farce Shields up in the hope this poor soul will fall for the blustering egobable that passes as Champ Car's five year plan.

The Champ Car G5 Airfarce is also a nice tool in sucking in the unsuspecting so I imagine that is what you and your pals are up to as we speak. Airfarce 1 is probably spooling up as we speak for one last desperate flight around the globe in search of the elusive promoter willing to lose millions (name your currency) just to keep the Amigos in the game and FerrariF1's and Sanguin's arguments alive.

My guess is that someone with a big ego and a lot of money (who doesn't speak English) is the next "mark" in the ever-shifting con game that the CCWS has become.

How did it all come to this? Why is there anyone still left who still believes in the unbelievable? The answer, my friends, exists somewhere between a place in our hearts called hope and a place called fear. I would put my money on the latter.

Perhaps the following will help those who are still in denial:

In her 1969 book, On Death and Dying, Swiss-born psychiatrist Elizabeth Kubler-Ross outlined the five stages of grief of someone who is dying:

1) Denial and isolation: "This is not happening to me."

2) Anger: "How dare God do this to me."

3) Bargaining: "Just let me live to see my son graduate."

4) Depression: "I can't bear to face going through this, putting my family through this."

5) Acceptance: "I'm ready, I don't want to struggle anymore.

So, which stage are you at when it comes to Champ Car? I have progressed to stage 5 after experiencing the full agony of the prior four stages. My guess is that some we know and love will forever be stuck at stage 1.