IndyCar at Texas
 

Am i the only one who tunes in and watches the races from there? If i lived down there i would be there in a heartbeat. Breathtaking wheel to wheel action and dudes with solid skills. Hard to believe year in year out about 25% of the joint is being used. Whether you know them and can pronounce their names these guys put on one hell of a show at Texas. Bring on Indy!! FYI this will be #57, started in 65 the Jim Clark Lotus race. Sat in Tower Terrace.

Re: IndyCar at Texas
 

Always make a point to watch Texas. It’s totally crazy the speeds and how close they get. Yes the crowd always looks pathetic. I’d go see the Indy cars there long before I’d go to NASCAR race. There were times I was holding my breath just watching.

Once again TV rules the times for race times. 11am start of a race? Wonder what the estimated attendance was. Bigger crowds at Eldora. Everyone wants more ovals races, but clearly the fans don't support ovals. Too bad.....white knuckle racing makes your hair stand up.

Re: IndyCar at Texas
 

Really, Other than IMS, Where is it really supported? Road course crowds look sparse too.

BTW, IMS used to get heck of a crowd for pole day. Last one of those I went to, pick a seat, any seat. Oh, they'll show up about three for the concert.

I do not know the correct numbers. Has anybody thought more American drivers involved could save this problem. Anybody remember going to Milwaukee, Trenton, IMS, Phoenix, and many others. As a kid I remember my heros were Americans. And we would even rib each other on what States the drivers were from. Even mechanics like Watson, Bignotti, Beckley, Kuzma, Epply, Brawner, and so many others who had pride.Then the rear engine cars came and kicked the dirt cars out. Then the American drivers were less and less.
Lynn.

Re: IndyCar at Texas
 

Best race on the big screen in 2023. Leaders side by side, banging open wheels, 220 mph, turning into turn one. As good as Winchester & Salem USAC shows from the early 70's. Respect, big balls, big talent, checkers or wrecker is what we all clamor for at every race we attend. IndyCar @ Texas provides that every time out. PS. with this downforce package the 500 should be a slugfest to watch in May.

I love my fellow Americans but the series has changed so much. Now you have to have the dinero to go along with the talent and that keeps some on the sidelines. I am glad to see some of you respond and chime in on your viewership. I love the ovals and always will. Sadly no one goes and it’s a damn shame. Talking about tense and white knuckle TMS is all that and then some. Blows the “Cup Cars” out of the water. While we are on the subject a tip of the hat to Jimmy Johnson, dude had brass balls. If anyone tuned in last year and watched he wasn’t scared. Kudos

Re: IndyCar at Texas
 

We tuned in for the IndyCar race from Texas today and thought it was an excellent, entertaining race. My wife did see something somewhere this morning that they were moving the start time up (sorry, not sure how much, I THINK 30 minutes) because of incoming weather. I don’t know what if any impact the weather had on the crowd, but it certainly looked sparse on TV.

I truly don’t know what the solution is for oval racing and IndyCar. I think there were more people that showed up for practice @ St. Petersburg FL than for the race in Texas. Hopefully the turnout at Iowa and Gateway is better.

Re: IndyCar at Texas
 

Great race yesterday at Texas. Yes, the series really needs a connection to great open wheel talent. An up and coming guy like a, but not limited to, Buddy Kofoid would be good. Gateway, WWT always gets a good crowd at that oval

Re: IndyCar at Texas
 

I thought the racing was real good. Not a huge crowd by any count, but the place seats close to 200,000 I believe. Probably more there than it looked. Everyone says they want more ovals, but never go. IRL ran ovals at Kentucky, Chicagoland, Milwaukee and Nashville. All fairly close to the base of this board. I would bet very few on here who say they want more ovals bothered to attend.

I attended every IRL race there from 2000 - 2004 and they blew the doors off any NASCRAP event in that era.

Re: IndyCar at Texas
 

Originally Posted by oppweld:
I attended every IRL race there from 2000 - 2004 and they blew the doors off any NASCRAP event in that era.

Indy Cars don't make as good of a billboard as NASCAR. Same as winged sprints. I remember being at a Williams Grove USAC race in 1996. A couple of people asked me how I knew which car was which, without the wing.

I also started in 1965; this will be #59 for me. Did you skip any?

Re: IndyCar at Texas
 

Originally Posted by Pancho Stapp:
I love my fellow Americans but the series has changed so much. Now you have to have the dinero to go along with the talent and that keeps some on the sidelines. I am glad to see some of you respond and chime in on your viewership. I love the ovals and always will. Sadly no one goes and it’s a damn shame. Talking about tense and white knuckle TMS is all that and then some. Blows the “Cup Cars” out of the water. While we are on the subject a tip of the hat to Jimmy Johnson, dude had brass balls. If anyone tuned in last year and watched he wasn’t scared. Kudos

A number of the Indycar drivers these days have more dinero than talent.

Re: IndyCar at Texas
 

Originally Posted by openwheelfan1:
We tuned in for the IndyCar race from Texas today and thought it was an excellent, entertaining race. My wife did see something somewhere this morning that they were moving the start time up (sorry, not sure how much, I THINK 30 minutes) because of incoming weather. I don’t know what if any impact the weather had on the crowd, but it certainly looked sparse on TV.

I truly don’t know what the solution is for oval racing and IndyCar. I think there were more people that showed up for practice @ St. Petersburg FL than for the race in Texas. Hopefully the turnout at Iowa and Gateway is better.

The start time was moved up by 9 minutes.

Only missed the Covid year. Thought about coming down to 16th street and hanging out and listening and watching the jumbo-tron but i didn’t want to be tortured.

At its peak it was 200,000 but Texas is at around 100,000 or less seats now.

The WoO were in the same general area as Texas but as far as I know there was no cross promotion. You have to think at least older folks like both because of the open wheel connection. IndyCar is essentially just the skeleton of Cart and in most people’s opinion a minor league to both Nascar and F1.

Re: IndyCar at Texas
 

The race was mostly great, but there should be a little bit of changes to the aero so the leaders don't break away after 20 or so consecutive green flag laps.

Re: IndyCar at Texas
 

Originally Posted by BrentTFunk:
I thought the racing was real good. Not a huge crowd by any count, but the place seats close to 200,000 I believe. Probably more there than it looked. Everyone says they want more ovals, but never go. IRL ran ovals at Kentucky, Chicagoland, Milwaukee and Nashville. All fairly close to the base of this board. I would bet very few on here who say they want more ovals bothered to attend.

Made two trips to Chicagoland, 3 trips to Kentucky(Where Sam Hornish emerged), 1 trip to Milwaukee, 3 trips to Richmond (where they should add to 2024), 3 trips to Michigan. ALL of these tracks had great racing, super access to the garage, pit, and drivers, fun areas to explore, and a core of 25K fans. Unfortunately, NASCAR was at its height and IndyCar coming off the second split could not change the narrative and gain traction. Due to streaming, dirt LM & sprint/midgets are on the cusp of major breakout of viewers and spectators which will further hinder fans attending IndyCar.

Re: IndyCar at Texas
 

Having watched CART at MIS in the 90s, I could EASILY be talked into going back there for an IndyCar race.

But it is just going to happen

I thought the Texas race this past weekend was top shelf. It was racing. The fastest cars were pulling away and the rest were trying to catch up.