Mediocrity is its own reward. The aftermath only serves to tell only part of the story. May it continue to flounder until its demise.
I don't know if it will ever truly "die", but that's really where we are. It's a complete and utter failure, no one watches. If a series races at Indy, and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?
Good question. My thoughts......no it simply goes silent and only the sound of the past remains until we leave for good. The generations after us simply move on with their lives not knowing of its exsistance. With it.....those who made history are forgotten.
Aerokits seem to be the subject of the day. Chevrolet boss says they're "Very worthwhile": IndyCar aero kits were ?very worthwhile? says Chevrolet boss Penske, not so much: IndyCar needs to shed ?ridiculous? downforce, says Penske BHW
The same message I have been saying for years. Older equipment brings in teams. Thank you Roger Penske for stating the obvious!!! These twits need to get a life!!
Didn't see the Indy Car race at Phoenix last evening, evidently I didn't realize it was on. Anyway, reports are stating that the crowd as 10K. The promoter says that the crowd was more like 20K. Of course, we know what promoters are up to exaggerating spectator counts. From the images I've seen of the grandstand, it looks more like 5K. Can't wait to see the TV ratings and how Indy Car will crow about them (even if they count for 250K households nationwide). Reports also state that there was a complete lack of passing and Dixon's victory was down to Helio and Montoya's tire issues. BHW
When I was a kid growing up in Phoenix, the USAC and later Cart races would sell out the place TWICE a year! I went with my dad to see them. I saw Mario and Al Unser and all the legends of that era race there. People would actually sit in the cactus brush on the hills around the track to see it. And the promotion? Just some billboards around town. The track was a long, long way out of town back then. What I saw yesterday was pretty sad given Phoenix is like 50 times larger now than the 60/ 70s. Then again, scheduling the event at the same time as March Madness semi-final was "madness" to begin with. Why they didn't run on Sunday night seems nuts to me.
Compare to the past when a good driver would come from last on the grid to win, and in less laps than they ran this weekend. Mike Mosely, thanks for the memory...... Plus, the long way in when the river over ran the one road. We would drive in through the desert....Always a sell out, the hills overlooking too............
The finish was lame. They looked at a piece of debris for 20 laps then decided to throw the yellow with 2 to go.
Nothing brings them in like "spec" racing!!!! How soon before the fantail breaks off and the bow goes below the surface? I think Captain Smith has left the wheelhouse and is headed to his cabin before the end occurs.
It just occurred to me that Phoenix is an ISC controlled facility. And, as such, don't we usually see far more empty seats at Indy Car events at the ISC tracks such as Fontana? If the 24 Hours of Daytona, where they barely lift a finger to promote, is any indication why would the ISC promote an Indy Car event when all they really are out to do is drive traffic to NASCAR? BHW
That was always ISC / France / NASCAR's plan, wasnt it? Too bad everyone realized it EXCEPT that numbskull Tony George. Back in the day of Crapwagon.com, many folks - including myself - were sure this was the plan from the outset. At the time of the split, CART had ratings and a product that was a major threat to NASCAR expansion. George was naive and out maneuvered.
The old "divide and conquer" ploy egh? I always found it odd while working in CART at its height how distracted the team owners were by NASCAR at the time. BHW
For those interested in the Indy 500.....Road and Track for May has a wonderful article on the Indy 500 and innovation. If you truly love Indy you owe it to yourself to read the article. Long live innovation!
Found the race entertaining but the finish disgusting. Don't call it a rule if you don't enforce it. I guess it was just a mere suggestion. Dixion should have crossed the blend line at the first opportunity after leaving his box on his last pit stop and he would have had 300 yards on Pagenaud. Oh well the Indy Car organization bozos manage to strike again.
Agreed... Its a pity that the organizers of these series are constantly taking all of the fun out of watching these races. It seems to be getting to the point of NFL madness when a catch isn't a catch any more, this whole thing with Pagenaud going over the line was silly. Either it is a rule or it's not. BHW
I got an idea ... put a f***ing brick wall there!! Really; this is the same illogic as Rahal's no penalty win towards the end of last season. (Fontana, perhaps?). Clear violation merits only a warning, & the offender keeps the win. BTW: nothing at all against Simon P. I have visited w/ him several times at the Daytona 24, & he is a great guy; very affable, doesn't duck questions, etc. I was happy for his win, but ...
On the upside, the Long Beach race went caution free (the first time since like 1989) and that in itself is genuine progress. How many times do we have to suffer through these street races when half the field gets tangled up in a huge dust-up at Turn One? It speaks well about the quality of the driving on Sunday. But, without the any cautions, the drivers and teams were complaining that they then had to run on their fuel meters and are speaking up about extending the race another ten laps so it then becomes a three stop race. PS: The level of the commentary with Paul Tracy and Townsend Bell was excellent by the way. BHW
Standard "aerokits" for 2017? Why not just go back to a blank sheet of paper (or CFD) and start all over again? Love the Honda guy's comment, "It was never in our core that it was something we wanted to do - it was something we had to do". Per Autosport... IndyCar could switch to standard aero kit for 2017 season - IndyCar - Autosport BHW
from the article: $30mm on aero kits?!?!?!?!?!?! WTF people. that's insanity. personally I think they need to leave anything involving capex or development alone until the new chassis comes out (2020?), and give Honda some form of concession on engine tuning (higher rev limit or whatnot) to keep them interested.
