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Champ Cars drop Laguna and Road America

Discussion in 'Other Racing' started by Gary(SF), Oct 28, 2004.

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  1. Gary(SF)

    Gary(SF) F1 Rookie

    Oct 13, 2003
    3,637
    Los Altos Hills, CA
    Full Name:
    Gary B.
    #1 Gary(SF), Oct 28, 2004
    Amazingly, only 5000 tickets were sold at Laguna this year. There is going to be a new event on the streets of San Jose. Isn't that the same market?

    Gary

    Champ Car Changes
    Written by: Robin Miller
    Indianapolis, Ind. – 10/27/2004 Sebastien Bourdais at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California. (Photo: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

    Road America and Laguna Seca, two of Champ Car's mainstays for over 20 years, are no longer in play and they'll be replaced by street shows in new countries while Edmonton is going to take Vancouver's place.

    Those are the major changes expected to be revealed when Champ Car announces its 2005 schedule Thursday in Indianapolis.

    With attendance dwindling to pathetic numbers at Elkhart Lake, Wis. and Monterey, Calif., the owners of Open Wheel Racing Series are dumping American tradition for international interest. CART began racing at Elkhart Lake in 1982 and a year later at Laguna and both used to be big draws until the past few years (an estimated 5,000 people attended last month).

    The season will open in Buenos Aires, Argentina in March and travel to Seoul, Korea next October. A street race in San Jose, Calif. has also been added.

    But the changes in Canada appear most interesting. For the past several months it appeared that Calgary would join Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal on the '05 docket before Edmonton entered the battle of Alberta.

    Now, SPEED has learned that not only has Edmonton won over Calgary, it's also going to take Vancouver's place and be the July date right after Toronto.

    Champ Car's lone night race will be on the oval at Las Vegas, as Milwaukee and Cleveland will go back to daytime events because of the high cost of lighting those tracks.

    March 20 -- Buenos Aires, Argentina (new, street);
    April 10 -- Long Beach (street)
    May 1 -- Puerto Rico (70/30 it won't happen);
    May 22 -- Monterrey, Mexico (road course);
    June 4 -- Milwaukee (oval, daytime show);
    June 19 -- Portland (road course);
    June 25 -- Cleveland (daytime);
    July 10 -- Toronto (street);
    July 17 -- Edmonton (new, street);
    July 31 -- San Jose (new, street);
    Aug. 14 -- Denver (street);
    Aug. 28 -- Montreal (road course);
    Sept. 24 -- Las Vegas (oval);
    Sept. 4 -- TBA;
    Oct. 16 -- Seoul, Korea (new, permanent road course?);
    Oct. 23 -- Australia (street);
    Nov. 6 -- Mexico City (road course).
     
  2. fluque

    fluque Formula 3

    Jul 30, 2004
    1,759
    Above 2240m
    Full Name:
    Fernando
    #2 fluque, Oct 28, 2004
    Not having Laguna Seca due to lack of attendance is certainly not good.

    I don't quite understand Cart's strategy. It's still a US series with very few US drivers and now they are going to even more international venues. Hopefully '05 will be a better year for Cart.
     
  3. Mule

    Mule F1 Rookie
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 25, 2003
    3,758
    Alaska
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    Mule
    #3 Mule, Oct 28, 2004
    Too bad, I was going to buy tickets for the 2005 Laguna Seca race. After watching the Historics, I really like the track (and the area).
     
  4. 2000YELLOW360

    2000YELLOW360 F1 World Champ

    Jun 5, 2001
    19,800
    Full Name:
    Art
    #4 2000YELLOW360, Oct 28, 2004
    If Tony George adds a road course to the IRL, what the Champ Car series disappear.
     
  5. F1Ace

    F1Ace F1 Rookie

    Mar 15, 2004
    2,980
    Full Name:
    Wes
    #5 F1Ace, Oct 28, 2004
    Well Edmonton, that's interesting, I heard about it this morning. Fantastic!

    I have driven there several times and they have some interesting streets, but of course it depends on which they choose. They have some downtown that could give you a real Monaco type race. But it's hard to believe they'll do that 'cause it's hard to follow on camera.

    Let's just be glad the series is still running. If they have to go international then so be it. I think Paul Gentillozi (I shouldn't even try to spell that name) knows the right things to do. Build on the massive crowds street races get. And if there aren't enough American drivers to cheer on, it perhaps has to go international. I guess that's the risk you americans run when you call everything a "World Series". It may actually have to be opened up to the world!?!

    Go Paul Go!!!

    Wes
     
  6. DMC

    DMC Formula 3

    Nov 15, 2002
    2,385
    WI/IL
    Full Name:
    Dean
    #6 DMC, Oct 29, 2004
    Don't panic, they are still in negotiations with both RA and Laguna Seca. Probability is still high that they will be at both.

    Don't believe everything Robin Miller says, since the buyout he really isn't an "insider" any more.

    Art, IRL did add a road course this year, Watkins Glen. They are going to attempt to run a street course at St. Pete's this spring as well.

    Tony George has run out of ideas, and is continuing in his quest to buy success. Unfortunately for him, attendance and TV ratings keep dropping.

    Also, given that they are going to run the full course at the Glen without any major safety upgrades, I would not want to be an IRL driver next year. There's still way too much Armco at that track for it to be safe for top level open wheel cars.

    I'd bet that Chevrolet will be out of IRL next year, and Toyota and Honda will not stick around after 2006. Goodbye IRL.
     
  7. F1Ace

    F1Ace F1 Rookie

    Mar 15, 2004
    2,980
    Full Name:
    Wes
    #7 F1Ace, Oct 29, 2004
    Boy do I hope you're right!
    On that day I will open a HUGE bottle of Champagne!!!
    That league is a total waste of time. Die already!!!

    Wes
     
  8. DMC

    DMC Formula 3

    Nov 15, 2002
    2,385
    WI/IL
    Full Name:
    Dean
    #8 DMC, Oct 29, 2004
    Amen, brother. I'll drive the champagne up north and toast with you. ;)
     
  9. Gilles27

    Gilles27 F1 World Champ

    Mar 16, 2002
    13,337
    Ex-Urbia
    Full Name:
    Jack
    #9 Gilles27, Oct 30, 2004
    Tony needs to open those smug, sleepy eyes of his and accept the fact that there are TWO ships sinking. The only difference is one is being shown on network TV, the other on Spike. By being the better person and taking the extra steps to unify CART and IRL, he could become an enormous figure in racing--something he so obviously covets. The fact that he won't do this, and would rather pursue his "Death to CART at any expense" agenda shows that he just really doesn't get it.
     

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