Bruton Smith voices concern about indycar's future

[Wade91]

http://www.indystar.com/article/2009...rim+oval+races

maybe he wants more IRL races at his tracks?

[Chris R]

I am not sure what his angle is - it is not like SMI is chomping at the bit for more IRL races....

Also, CART did not go broke because of "parking lot races" - Champcar did - CART went broke as a direct result of "the split" .... it was doing quite nicely before that...

That being said - I favor more permanent tracks over temporary tracks in general......

[drewdawg727]

Actually, Champ Car went broke with using their new car too fast.

[Lousada]

I am not sure what his angle is - it is not like SMI is chomping at the bit for more IRL races....

I thought they were, with New Hampshire and Las Vegas being turned down by the IRL.

[Jag_Warrior]

I'm with Chris. I don't quite understand where Smith is coming from either. Several years ago, Smith blamed the IRL for falling quarterly earnings at SMI. And if I'm not mistaken, he booted the IRL out of Atlanta and Charlotte. I don't know what happened with Vegas. But yeah, unless he's lobbying to get more IRL races, what's his problem?

[MDS]

I think this is a product of the discussion last year when they were talking about adding Las Vegas and New Hampshire to the schedule only to have New Hampshire turned down two years running and Las Vegas falling through because the IRL wanted to race at the track's club-level road course.

[vintage]

That article is totally self serving for SMI. Since they don't own any road courses, and want the IRL to accept whatever crappy deal they proffer, then why not bash the series?

I'm sure if Bruton opens his wallet, the IRL will show up. It's all about the Benjamins!

[call_me_andrew]

SMI owns Sears Point.

[Chamoo]

SMI owns Sears Point.

That is a poor excuse for a road course these days.

[Wade91]

That is a poor excuse for a road course these days.

its a pretty cool track with all the hills and stuff