Sun 5-Apr Streets of St. Petersburg Sun 19-Apr Streets of Long Beach Sun 26-Apr Kansas Speedway Sun 24-May Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sun 31-May The Milwaukee Mile Sat 6-Jun * Texas Motor Speedway Sun 21-Jun Iowa Speedway Sat 27-Jun * Richmond International Raceway Sun 5-Jul Watkins Glen International Sun 12-Jul Streets of Toronto Sun 26-Jul Edmonton City Centre Airport Sat 1-Aug * Kentucky Speedway Sun 9-Aug Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Sun 23-Aug Infineon Raceway Sat 29-Aug * Chicagoland Speedway Sun 6-Sep The Raceway at Belle Isle Park Sat 19-Sep Twin Ring Motegi Sun 11-Oct Homestead-Miami Speedway * - night race Thoughts, racing fans? I'm disappointed that Road America, Phoenix and Vegas didn't make the list. We'll see how Homestead draws as the closer, can't get much worse than as the opener! Motegi kills end of season momentum for the fans, except for the 3 that stay up to watch the race live on the internet. And what's the deal with Edmonton...not exactly what I would consider a key market, and the crowds haven't seemed particularly great, so what's the draw?
As an ALMS not Indy fan, I am hoping that the powers to be don't start tacking ALMS after most of the races on this schedule - should they do this, I'm afraid they'll loose a couple fans who will defect to all the LMS races instead. Unfortunately, the first two races will be joint (first race at St. Pete should be first LMS at Barcelona - yipee!!) - looking further at the sked, August 9 and September 6 most likely will be joint races - which will screw up the current ALMS calendar. Thank goodness the IRL isn't at Sebring, Lime Rock, Road America, Mosport or Road Atlanta - real race circuits. There needs to be a definite communication exchange between race track personnel and ALMS personnel if joint racing is going to be scheduled. ALMS fans were definitely treated crappy by Mid-Ohio personnel - ALMS is not a support series for IRL. Just my .02 on the subject. Carol PS - Total Spa 24 is this weekend - all you Ferrari fans cheer for AF Corsa #50 - Mika/Jaime/Gimmi/Toni - going to be a great race, off to Belgium this afternoon. www.fiagt.com
You are definetely correct, ALMS is not a support series to any other. It is the same level of any other major international series. I am wondering if having them both on the same weekend exposes a different kind of fan to another form of motor sports. In the past, IRL/Indy car fans were mostly from the midwest, not really "sporty car" types. And road racers are of anentirely different breed. Likely only about 30% are crossovers. Maybe this is good for both series.
I heard this years Edmonton race was a huge success with a record attendance of 52,000 race day and a weekend total of 104,000 over the 3 days.
Same here. I think that event has been voted on (in the Champ Car days) as being one of the best events of the series by the teams, drivers and crew.
Getting rid of Nashville is unacceptable. Ticket sales were always great there as was the racing. There is talk that 09 may be the last year for Texas too. High speeds and safety are the reasons(racing is dangerous remember). I know IndyCar did not go to Michigan International Speedway this year and again will not go in 09. That is a shame. That was always such a competitive race. There are rumors that IndyCar passed on racing at the New Hampshire Speedway and Las Vegas Speedway too. I think the switch to more and more road courses is going to be what kills off IndyCar. The road courses simply are not entertaining to watch in my opinion. If you can't tell I am not happy with the new schedule.
Maybe I'm one of the unique 30% crossover between IRL and ALMS, but I love the companion events. Also it keeps some pressure on the IRL when the P2 cars are just as fast I would actually like to see the IRL do a "support" race either the Friday or Sunday of Sebring 12 hours weekend. Carol, can you elaborate on "crappy" treatment of ALMS fans at Mid-Ohio, and how that is the IRL's fault vs. track personnel?
I would agree with you, I like them both, although I would prefer that IRL stay on the ovals. I like your idea about IRL as a support race during Sebring.
..and a proven event with years of CART and Champ Car as a proven market, left at the altar again! Houston, Texas.... R.I.P.
I am surprised by the Nashville move, but I wouldn't want to be promoting an event on a 1.5 mile track in the Southeast unless it was stock cars. Speculation here, but it is possible the move away from high-speed tracks (Texas, Michigan, Fontana, etc) could be in preparation for the new cars in 2011. Not going to Vegas is a disappointment, especially since Bruton Smith was gung-ho about it. Obviously, that means either lots of road courses or a return to short tracks-Phoenix, Nazareth, Loudon, Gateway, etc. Overall this schedule seems like an uncertain half-step by a league still (after 12+ years!) trying to define itself. As an open wheel fan I hope it works out.
STREET....Sun 5-Apr Streets of St. Petersburg STREET....Sun 19-Apr Streets of Long Beach OVAL.......Sun 26-Apr Kansas Speedway OVAL.......Sun 24-May Indianapolis Motor Speedway OVAL.......Sun 31-May The Milwaukee Mile OVAL.......Sat 6-Jun * Texas Motor Speedway OVAL.......Sun 21-Jun Iowa Speedway OVAL.......Sat 27-Jun * Richmond International Raceway ROAD.......Sun 5-Jul Watkins Glen International STREET....Sun 12-Jul Streets of Toronto STREET....Sun 26-Jul Edmonton City Centre Airport OVAL........Sat 1-Aug * Kentucky Speedway ROAD........Sun 9-Aug Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course ROAD........Sun 23-Aug Infineon Raceway OVAL........Sat 29-Aug * Chicagoland Speedway STREET.....Sun 6-Sep The Raceway at Belle Isle Park ROAD........Sat 19-Sep Twin Ring Motegi OVAL.........Sun 11-Oct Homestead-Miami Speedway 5 Street courses 4 Road courses 9 Oval courses Balanced 50/50 for oval and road/street courses. For OVALS: I would prefer they kill Richmond and NOT Nashville. I think Michigan is a must. For Road/Street: Should add both Road America and Road Atlanta. Also need to add a street course in Mexico City...then later BRAZIL!
I like the ALMS added to the ticket WITH IRL. It opens up new markets for the ALMS which is followed by the hardcore race fans. Understand your concenrns though. Still, anything to build up the markets for ALMS, F1, etc in the US, I support it. Example: The other weekend, IRL, F1, MotoGP and ALMS were all shown on the MAIN channels, not NASCAR. I was sooo excited.
I would love to see Road America and Laguna Seca added, not to mention Surfers, but this is good. What I REALLY want is a new car. The fact that an ALMS car can go slightly quicker is laughable. Not only are those cars slow, for what their supposed to be, they're also ugly as sin.
I agree with the Laguna Seca part. I miss open wheel racing there. Long Beach is not at all exciting to me, hard to enjoy only seeing a small section of the track. If it was F1, it would be worth it, but not this series. Infineon will be cool, that's a great track for viewing, just a bit longer drive for me. Jeff
