A Silverstone wish by Wheldon

**Placid** · 18th April 2009, 00:49

If a wish could come true, it would be for Dan
Wheldon. Canada and Japan are on their list.
But something was missing and that is Europe.
Wheldon admitted that he wanted an IRL race
at Silverstone.

With the absence of F1, Wheldon love to see
and have the IRL fill the void. Hopefully it
can happen as well for the GV Circuit at
Montreal.

Report:
http://www.crash.net/indycar/News/14...lverstone.html

**F1boat** · 18th April 2009, 06:42

Yes... IRL on Silverstone will be AMAZING!

**Dr. Krogshöj** · 18th April 2009, 08:40

If they go to the UK it should be Rockingham Motor Speedway. If IndyCar wants to be big in Europe, it has to offer something different, something that differentiates it from other European series like F1. And that thing would be oval racing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3r6-ELiSy0

**acescribe** · 18th April 2009, 12:35

Originally Posted by Dr. Krogshöj

If they go to the UK it should be Rockingham Motor Speedway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3r6-ELiSy0

Agreed.

And the British public will have some idea of what an Indy Car is, but had no idea of what a "Champ Car" was, hence very few went to watch and the race failed.

Sadly though I cant see the IRL making a move outside of the Americas any time soon.

**F1boat** · 18th April 2009, 13:06

Originally Posted by Dr. Krogshöj

If they go to the UK it should be Rockingham Motor Speedway. If IndyCar wants to be big in Europe, it has to offer something different, something that differentiates it from other European series like F1. And that thing would be oval racing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3r6-ELiSy0

Honestly, I disagree. Silverstone is a legendary track and I think that it can help Indycar better than Rockingham.

**MDS** · 18th April 2009, 14:12

I've always thought if we're going to go back to Europe we have to do something different, but I think night racing is the answer.

Rockingham and Lautiz could both be lighted without a huge amount of work on their part, and that gets around the Time differential. Starting at 5:30 p.m. Saturday starts at 11:30 a.m. Eastern. in Rockingham and 10:30 at Lautiz. The races there were both successful and by doing a night race you would be offering something the European public hasn't really seen before at a live timeslot that would be palitable to the American public.

**elis** · 18th April 2009, 14:33

Dr. Krogshöj

If they go to the UK it should be Rockingham Motor Speedway

Originally Posted by acescribe

agreed

And the British public will have some idea of what an Indy Car is, but had no idea of what a "Champ Car" was, hence very few went to watch and the race failed.

The race 'failed' as you put it because as usual for AOWR it had p!ss poor advertising so joe public didn't even know there was an event going on (yes the circuit takes some blame for sure also)... that coupled with shockingly poor & unreliable TV coverage of the series assured that the only folks who would be there were the die hards.. & they were. They showed up at Rocks & Lausitz from around Europe.

The place was no where near to capacity & attributing reasoning to lack of promo is a fair assumption.. Heck if you take away the one off 'casual spectators' at places like the Silvo F1, even the Indy 500, without doubt you'd lose a high percentage of your gate numbers. (Rockingham has a higher seating capacity than Silvo).

I went to both Rocks races (& BH), & had a fab time. Despite the initial probs with the drainage delays at the 1st Corby meet, (for which Rockingham generously reimbursed all fans who had paid for race day tickets, regardless that the race was actually run).

If Indy car comes in the future & it doesn't clash with something else, then I'll go watch, where ever they race.. but if they want to fill the grandstands, then advertise the freakin event widely & do it hard or else indycar will also fail, as you put it! *There has been past talk of Rocks being demolished & replaced with housing, not sure of the present situ on that though*

**Sonic** · 18th April 2009, 14:40

From a race fan point of view IRL should go to Rocks - its such a waste that that track only really gets use as at oval/infield hybrid.

From a promotion POV Silverstone is a more recognised name and may attract more of the average Joe's.

So why not do both???

If the cars are flown all the way over here stay for a back to back weekend. Silverstone first to generate interest and then some sort of 2 for 1 offer to get Rockingham full - then the average British spectator could get a chace to see a REAL race.

Ah dreams.

**MDS** · 18th April 2009, 14:46

It was a major hassle for the teams go on the road with everything needed for both an oval and road course when CART went to Brands and Lausitiz in 2003.

**Scheckterfan54** · 18th April 2009, 15:16

Maybe the "powers that be" in ICS office should concentrate on making their current format perfect before expanding into an audience that is not as inclined to watch the races every week. Trying to expand before having a firm foundation is foolish for any business.