The official reason is that the promoter at Milwaukee hasn't fulfilled his business obligations from this season. Also Texas Motor Speedway already has a NASCAR truck race on their schedule and it could continue to be a good support race to the IndyCar Series. But isn't the real reason that the IndyCar Series’ 2010 schedule was adjusted this past week was to please Eddie Gossage, the venerable promoter at that track?
Gossage wasn't too happy when what had become the "modern era" tradition of heading to Texas after Indianapolis was replaced in recent years with the old-time tradition of heading up the highway to Milwaukee. His disappointment was understood; the momentum of the Indy 500 and its national attention is a track promoter's dream to increase ticket sales. His advertisements in Texas incorporated Indy 500 action to stimulate last-minute sales. A week off between Indy and Texas would only serve to inhibit that momentum.
So the IndyCar Series agreed this week to move the Texas race for June 2010 to the week immediately following Memorial Day--an open spot left by Milwaukee's demise.
Gossage unabashedly promoted TMS as the track that helped build the IndyCar Series on billboards in Indianapolis this past May. He's right. Look at the list of closest finishes and you'll see TMS noted several times. That sort of excitement has been promoted by the league so they couldn’t deny the facts. It was the other card Gossage had up his sleeve to get what he wanted.
Those in the Midwest having spent a month at IMS, if possible, need a rest--for themselves and their pocketbook. Taking the series to another part of the U.S. and riding the momentum of the series' biggest race is simply logical for the league, as well as TMS. Ticket revenue and the fan base have the potential to increase for both entities. Texas weather a week earlier also provides for cooler days for fans and teams.
Texas Motor Speedway is one of the finest facilities on the circuit and that should not be ignored. Losing the second race there after several seasons was a slap to the league. But TMS made more money with NASCAR events, a fact that could not be successfully defended by the IRL.
However, if the IndyCar Series pleases Gossage with this schedule change, perhaps returning that second race to the Texas schedule can be the trade-off. Afterall, it provides some of the best racing on the circuit at a facility where every seat is a good one. It would simply be one hand continuing to wash the other--and then counting the money. (For oval track fans, another such race would be welcomed, too.)
8.29.2009
Gates Open at IMS
The gates are open at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend. However, a local television station reported that finding Hoosier fans on the grounds for the second MotoGP was almost impossible. On the other hand, the reporter found people from around the nation and the world.
Are Hoosier fans only interested in racing on four wheels? Or has the traditional concentration at IMS, and therefore the local media, on open-wheel and stock car racing prevented Midwesterners from following motorcycle racing? That concentration is understood following the debacle of the original motorcycle racing at the Speedway—before bricks and paving was applied to the legendary racetrack.
Are Hoosier fans only interested in racing on four wheels? Or has the traditional concentration at IMS, and therefore the local media, on open-wheel and stock car racing prevented Midwesterners from following motorcycle racing? That concentration is understood following the debacle of the original motorcycle racing at the Speedway—before bricks and paving was applied to the legendary racetrack.
8.28.2009
8.26.2009
8.24.2009
Season Winding Down; Excitement Winding Up
Sarah's pink car at Homestead
Danica & AGR
Hunter-Reay
Sonoma
IMS Radio Network
Danica & AGR
Hunter-Reay
Sonoma
IMS Radio Network
8.18.2009
IMS Survey of Race Fans
Humpy Wheeler's consulting group?
specific to BY
yellow shirts, parking, concessions
specific to BY
yellow shirts, parking, concessions
8.13.2009
8.08.2009
Season Winding Up
Summer is coming to an end and the IndyCar racing season is winding up for a finish in Homestead, FL. Today Curt Cavin of the Indianapolis Star provides an overview of the part-time rides and team plans as the season ends. Read it for yourself at:
http://www.indystar.com/article/20090808/SPORTS0107/908080426/1052/SPORTS01?source=nletter-sports
A note he makes, that wasn’t made in yesterday’s post, is that Doornbos ran with HVM Racing in the Champ Car World Series. Hopefully, his run with Newman/Haas/Lanigan wasn’t simply to provide time for HVM to find sponsorship for a second car. If Doornbos had been guaranteed the HVM ride, undoubtedly his past successes with HVM and this past season with N/H/L were used to support that sales pitch.
Silly season—the musical chair routine of drivers at season-end—seems to have been going on all season. How many different teams has Paul Tracy driven for this season? Jacque Lazier has popped up in a ride from time to time, as has Stanton Barrett. The constant changes must play havoc with teams trying to determine setups and personal driving styles, let alone the switches from short to long ovals and road courses.
Hopefully, what silly season will give fans and teams is a list of solid rides before 2010. Seeing Sarah Fisher obtain sponsorship for a full season, as well as full-time rides for Tracy, Lazier and Will Power, would be a positive.
http://www.indystar.com/article/20090808/SPORTS0107/908080426/1052/SPORTS01?source=nletter-sports
A note he makes, that wasn’t made in yesterday’s post, is that Doornbos ran with HVM Racing in the Champ Car World Series. Hopefully, his run with Newman/Haas/Lanigan wasn’t simply to provide time for HVM to find sponsorship for a second car. If Doornbos had been guaranteed the HVM ride, undoubtedly his past successes with HVM and this past season with N/H/L were used to support that sales pitch.
Silly season—the musical chair routine of drivers at season-end—seems to have been going on all season. How many different teams has Paul Tracy driven for this season? Jacque Lazier has popped up in a ride from time to time, as has Stanton Barrett. The constant changes must play havoc with teams trying to determine setups and personal driving styles, let alone the switches from short to long ovals and road courses.
Hopefully, what silly season will give fans and teams is a list of solid rides before 2010. Seeing Sarah Fisher obtain sponsorship for a full season, as well as full-time rides for Tracy, Lazier and Will Power, would be a positive.
8.06.2009
What Happened to Doornbos?
The Indianapolis Star has reported that Robert Doornbos, the Dutch driver, will move to HVM Racing this weekend at the IndyCar race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Oriol Servia, who has driven with the team in the past, will assume the ride.
At first, the story seemed to be a simple exchange of drivers for a road course race, which often happens. However, the article indicated that Doornbos will be driving for another team. The HVM Website announced that Doornbos will be their second driver through the 2010 season.
What happened? Doornbos’ record of three top 10 finishes in 12 races seems good for a rookie driver. Granted he had had his mishaps; all rookie drivers do. At Indianapolis, Arie Luyendyk was serving as his driver coach. Had that continued?
Servia, on the other hand, would like to have a deal for more than one race, the Star article adds. Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing seems to have some big decisions to make in the next few weeks.
http://www.indystar.com/article/20090806/SPORTS0107/908060397/1052/SPORTS01?source=nletter-sports
www.newman-haas.com
www.hvm-racing.com
At first, the story seemed to be a simple exchange of drivers for a road course race, which often happens. However, the article indicated that Doornbos will be driving for another team. The HVM Website announced that Doornbos will be their second driver through the 2010 season.
What happened? Doornbos’ record of three top 10 finishes in 12 races seems good for a rookie driver. Granted he had had his mishaps; all rookie drivers do. At Indianapolis, Arie Luyendyk was serving as his driver coach. Had that continued?
Servia, on the other hand, would like to have a deal for more than one race, the Star article adds. Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing seems to have some big decisions to make in the next few weeks.
http://www.indystar.com/article/20090806/SPORTS0107/908060397/1052/SPORTS01?source=nletter-sports
www.newman-haas.com
www.hvm-racing.com
8.01.2009
TK Afire--Literally
TK has suffered yet another accident during this dismal year for the AGR team. The patriachial member of the four-car stable...
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