Indycar schedule in trouble
 

Seems like Indycar is having problems filling their race schedule. I'm not sure how many races they need to have to fulfill their contract with IZOD, but presently they don't have enough.

I heard they are down to only three ovals for 2012! How sad is that.

I have a suggestion. How about putting the Silver Crown cars and races back on the schedule toward the championship, just like the Glory Days of Championship racing.

I'm sure everyone on this board would gladly pay to see Helio, Kanaan, Dixon & others run Terre Haute, Eldora, Springfield and the other tracks against the likes of Darland, Stanbrough and all of our USAC heroes.

I don't want to hear it's impossible to do either. Plenty of Big Cars sitting out there idle right now. They could be rented or bought for far less than what it costs to replace one of the currents cars sidepods or tubs when they crash.

Time for Randy Bernard to step up to the plate and restore dirt back to the Championship Trail.

Re: Indycar schedule in trouble
 

They need 16 races to fulfill the contract obligation to IZod.

If they want to be successful in America, then they need to stop trying to cram their vision or racing down America's throat and focus on giving good competitive, side by side racing with more home grown drivers. Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan, etc, while they may be good people who have worked very hard to get where they are, do not entice me to want to attend races or watch on TV, but the prospect of having someone like Bryan Clauson race gets me excited enough to start opening my wallet and start buying tickets.

I've only been to 1 IndyCar race in my life, and it was the single most enjoyable professional race I had ever been to, but they need to focus on producing the best possible side-by-side racing (ie. get off the dang street courses and narrow road courses.)

Re: Indycar schedule in trouble
 

I think they would run more ovals, but ISC refuses to run them anymore. Phoenix, Kansas City, Chicagoland, all were great tracks, but I think the NASCAR folks that owned them were afraid to show a better product to the fans.

Re: Indycar schedule in trouble
 

People want to watch who they know. Go to a Nascrap race, Stenhouse, Leffler, Whitt, Dakoda Armstrong, Stewart , Newman, and so many more. You watch who you know. Also there is a chance to see these guys run local also. Leffler and Newman in Champ Dirt cars, Armstrong and Stewart in midgets , Stewart in WoO, and the list goes on.

Indycar, who runs more than just Indy cars? Nobody who runs the local stuff, and the local stuff draws your fan base.

The Indycar series will never outdraw Nascrap, until the field has more local ( American) butts in their cockpits. Guys like Clauson are the boost they need, not some name you can't pronounce, with deep pockets and little experiance.

When the most famous names from USAC's past have IndyCar teams and hire foreign drivers, what hope can we possibly have?

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When the IRL first started, it was on the right track! All ovals and a ton of Sprint Car and Midget Drivers, and a majority of the field of was American for a change!
Now we have more and more road/street courses, and more foreign drivers, looks too much like the old CART!

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Re: Indycar schedule in trouble
 

Road racing died in this country after the Vanderbilt cup in the 30's, for Champ Cars. The interest in road racing for Champ cars didn't have a resurgance until the rear engined revolution, roadsters don't turn right very well.

As for side by side racing, Milwaukee, Indy , Phoenix all had it before the split.

As for high speed ovals, run them, you just need racers that know how to do it. Most goes in Indycar are now road racers, and they only pass when they pass somebody making a pit stop. They aren't known for passing on the track.

A perfect example was when Clauson went three wide at Indy, a great move and done cleanly. Unfortunately he passed two road racers, and scared the crap out of them. They need to learn what the oval track guys know, it's called racing for a reason, it isn't follow the leader until someone falls out, then I'll get a position.

Re: Indycar schedule in trouble
 

IndyCar needs to find talented drivers that we've all seen come up through the ranks. We've all witnessed Bryan Clauson race for at least nine years or more and progress to where he is one of the very best. We've followed Kyle Larsen, Chris Windom, Jacob Wilson, Coleman Gulick... for the past few seasons.

And it doesn't have to be limited to midget and sprint car drivers. Bring Star Mazda and Atlantics to Salem, Winchester and IRP to be part of a USAC or MustSee show. Maybe we could take a liking to these drivers as well if they come to our neck of the woods. Maybe this exchange will give IndyCar better oval drivers.

I, for one, have a tough time getting to know drivers that show up and suddenly has a ride at Indy to get on-the-job training.

Re: Indycar schedule in trouble
 

Chris.....it's called "overtaking", not "passing".....LMAO

Re: Indycar schedule in trouble
 

taking your time is not always a bad thing.

Re: Indycar schedule in trouble
 

I like what you say here. I'm all for USAC guys getting a fair shot at IndyCar. But i get a little tired of people complaining that there are "too many foreigners" in IndyCar. The argument should be "there are too many underqualified foreign drivers with deep pockets" in IndyCar. The likes of Franchitti, Kanaan, Scheckter, and Power add to the sport. Viso, Mutoh, and Savvedra do not. It would be fantastic if these guys could be replaced by the Bryan Clausons and Kyle Larsons of the world.

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Speaking as a Foreigner, I have to agree with most of what has been said on this thread.

There should be more of the many talented young drivers in the USA driving in Indy car. I don't see anything wrong in having some of the top Europeans or South Americans in the series but there are far too many average foreign drivers.

I think they should look at some of the tracks they race at, some of them are just not up to it.That applies to some ovals as well as road courses where races are nothing more than a high speed procession. I think it was Jack Hewitt ( Please correct me if I am wrong) who said something like "Passing should not be easy, but it should not be impossible"

It could be a great series, but needs the right tracks and drivers to make it succeed.

Re: Indycar schedule in trouble
 

Colin, you put it perfectly.

Re: Indycar schedule in trouble
 

I'm sad also about the lack of ovals on the schedule. Can you say IndycarT?

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I agree that Indy Car needs more ovals and American drivers. Indy no matter what is still the greatest race in the world. Indy is and always will be Indy car. I've attended every race since 1959. It doesn't get any better than that with all the built up on raceday. The Kentucky Derby could have the horses ranked 400th. in the world but it's still The Kentucky Derby. I for one can't afford to go to any other Indy car races. Just happen that I believe Indiana has the best dirt tracks with non-wing races every week during the raacing season. With the price of tickets and travel I can attend ALL OF SPRINT WEEK, for the price of one good reserved seat to a NBA GAME, SUPER BOWL, KENTUCKY DERBY WORLD SERIES AND THE LIST CAN GO ON AND ON. I'am so greatfull for the great and thrilling racing we have in Indiana

Re: Indycar schedule in trouble
 

No matter what happens in Indy car people will still get on here and complain. Dan Weldon gets killed and Indy car is taking a very hard look at all of the ovals. They have decided not to run some until they can figure out the new car. Yet people still complain about the schedule. No matter where they run, I will be supporting them. You want local drivers running the series, you better get teaching them how to turn right. There are not many teams out there that just want to run ovals. The competitve teams run every single race.

Re: Indycar schedule in trouble
 

I was one of the 13,000 or so people that showed up for the Milwaukee race this year. The race was spectacular. We the fans made a big stink about losing Milwaukee in 2010... Randy Bernard managed to arrange a race at Milwaukee for us... Then nobody showed up, the new Milwaukee promoter lost a ton of money and IndyCar probably wont be back.... maybe not ever. Glad I got to see a race at The Mile....

Went to Kentucky this year. The race was again spectacular with Ed Carpenter finally winning at the track where he has finished 2nd twice, but again the crowds were nowhere to be seen.

In the end, the promoter is taking a risk that he will be able to sell enough tickets and sponsorships to offset the $1.3-1.5 million sanctioning fee that they have to pay to IndyCar. Apparently many oval promoters have looked at this value proposition and found IndyCar’s offering to be lacking. New Hampshire, Kentucky & Milwaukee will not be back for 2012. This joins Chicago & Homestead that bailed after 2010 and Kansas that bailed after 2009.

Sad….

Re: Indycar schedule in trouble
 

Sounds like the Illinois track promoters who are reluctant to run real Sprints and/or Midgets......With the exception of Little Belleville or Granite City, hard to show a profit if the fans don't show.....