11-5: The 2012 schedule

[heliocastroneves#3]

There happen crashes on ovals very often, and 9 of the 10 times there are no injuries. I'm sure that at Vegas Dan Wheldon was just unlucky. I mean we saw the same happen to Conway at Indy, and Conway was lucky. As I always say; I love every type of IndyCar racing, but the racing on a 1,5 mile oval is just the best in my opinion. I just watched the 2010 Chicagoland race (the highlights), and it's simply amazing. Also the Vegas race, until the horrific crash was a great race. I'm happy Texas is on the schedule, and I think Chicagoland has a chance of returning, as Bernard had talks about a return in 2011. He didn't succeed, so for now a return is not likely, but with some good promotion this can become a very successful race.

That some people say that IndyCar shouldn't race on ovals is hypocritical bull****, because if it was really THAT unsafe, we would've had at least one fatal accident every year. If you want no more injuries or no more fatalities in racing, then you have to ban motorsport, because in a bad situation a multiple car pile up can also happen on a road/street course, which can be especially on a street course have a fatal accident as a result.

NASCAR can be funny to watch, but the reason for it's popularity is because it's a show. Why it's a show? Due the much accidents and the drivers' mentality. I think we will never see in IndyCar happening that a driver will knock someone out of the race as a revenge action. This is not racing, this is called amusement.. For the fans racing IS amusument, but NASCAR has a completely different form of amusement.That's why NASCAR is popular. Sometimes it's just frustrating people (and then I'm talking about people on another forum) don't wanna see 1,5 mile ovals anymore just because of one heavy accident. It is painful we lost Dan Wheldon, but that's not a reason to ban those ovals from the sport. If it really was that unsafe we would've had fatal accidents on them every year. Maybe Vegas wasn't suitable, but Kentucky, Texas, Chicagoland, Homestead-Miami, Twin Ring Motegi, Kansas, Nashville and maybe some others ARE suitable for IndyCar racing.

Sadly they're not a financial success hehe.

I have to agree for 100% that Meira's pass at the 2008 Indy 500 was the best move ever, and three-wide racing, side by side racing and passes like this are the reason I love IndyCar oval racing. Why do you think Danica made the move to NASCAR? She's more concerned about the race attendance then about her performance... She fears road/street races are boring, well, they aren't and it's not even her case to even care about it. Another reason she moved to NASCAR is because she can't control an IndyCar with a good setup on a fast oval. She never had the idea of making a move, she always played it safe. Just because she fears the high speeds. NASCAR is slower, and she can handle it better, but I doubt if she will try to overtake more. I still think she will play it safe there.

What do you guys think about the Detroit Belle Isle race anyway? I read somewhere that it might be a very successful event as already 80% of the business suites has been sold.

[nigelred5]

agree fiat, that pass miera made at indy in 08 on the front straight between dixon and carpentier is the best move I have seen in the 48 years I have watched racing.

Please don't misinterpret my comment as agreeing with that viewpoint, however it is the truth about many fans in a NASCAR crowd. Worst case scenario for a nascar fan is a caution free 500 mile race. They'd have a meltdown and demand NASCAR "fix the racing."

[DavePI2]

as i have mentioned once before I am very much looking forward to detroit. I love road racing and I haven't been to a street race since the days of the columbus 500. I purchased seats in grandstand 3 that would apppear to have a great view of the cars comming straight at me on the front straight as well as seeing the pits. Should be a great event. Now how to get away with taking a couple extra for the casinos.

[mike15]

It's no joke. Look how disappointed the NASCAR fans are when they resurface a track and there are fewer crashes. Dave Dispain covered those issues well on his program and he could not believe that what everyone was saying about NASCAR fans and crashes was apparently true based on the tone of conversations.
So deny it all you want but there are many fans of NASCAR that love to sit back in their seat at an oval, with their favorite beer, just waiting for the next crash. As was said above a Daytona 500 with out a crash would be most disappointing for many fans.
On the other hand, when Indycars raced at the 500 at MIS with the Hanaford device, people were on their feet lap after lap with the passes for the lead along with action in the pack of cars behind. There are cultural difference between an IndCar fan, a NASCAR fan and fans of road racing and how they view racing. We have not discussed road racing fans but many crave the low cost of camping on the grounds associated with a race weekend.

[FIAT1]

Watching video from Phoenix, track looks much better then before and they should start season there like in old days. Racing at Phoenix was very good and I will never forget Hiro and Jacques accident.Amazing .

[nigelred5]

Watching video from Phoenix, track looks much better then before and they should start season there like in old days. Racing at Phoenix was very good and I will never forget Hiro and Jacques accident.Amazing .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=gjs_hDkjen8

Looks smooth, unfortunately, it doesn't "look" and I doubt it drives like Phoenix anymore. Looks like just every other Nascar track now, but I'dlike to see them back there.

Just as everywhere else they have tried to start the season, NASCAR has very strategically locked up the early-season, warm weather oval tracks and markets. NASCAR is in phoenix March 4th and Nov 11th, Las Vegas March 11th and Fontana March 20th and so unless they somehow worked a double with the evil empire, I doubt you'll see them back at Phoenix or anywhere in the southwest other than Long Beach at time in the spring when the temps are bearable.

[heliocastroneves#3]

Well, I liked the old Phoenix.... But if the new Phoenix will bring us races like we have at Iowa Speedway, I'm glad they gave it a huge update... Would love it if they would return to PIR in 2013.

[FIAT1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=gjs_hDkjen8

Looks smooth, unfortunately, it doesn't "look" and I doubt it drives like Phoenix anymore. Looks like just every other Nascar track now, but I'dlike to see them back there.

Just as everywhere else they have tried to start the season, NASCAR has very strategically locked up the early-season, warm weather oval tracks and markets. NASCAR is in phoenix March 4th and Nov 11th, Las Vegas March 11th and Fontana March 20th and so unless they somehow worked a double with the evil empire, I doubt you'll see them back at Phoenix or anywhere in the southwest other than Long Beach at time in the spring when the temps are bearable.

Yeah, forgat obout nascar.