With maybe the exception of Terre Haute and Eldora, the Champ Car tracks (miles) have been virtually the same for the past 25 years.
Nice during hots, so so for quals, and hard slick rubber in the groove for the most of the race. Big deal. It is what it is....for 100 miles.
So, the way I see it, other than the current debacle over the change in the fuel issue, the big reason you're seeing less cars is because the owners (longtime guys, and gals) have grown tired of putting out the expense of running these cars for the same purses, or less, than they did 10-15 years ago. For christ's sake everything has gone up from parts to travel expense to motors to tires, etc except the prize money. Kinda like bein at work. After a few years without a raise, most people are gonna get bitter and either find a new job or retire.
Hard to believe to me that such a unique faction of our sport can only muster $9000-$10000 winners share in 2012. But it takes marketing, fans in the stands, and owners willing to race for the love of the sport to pull it off.
I'm betting that if more owners felt they were getting a fair shake, there would be plenty of cars, and we know there are plenty of great drivers who wanna run these Champ Cars.
And then there are guys like me who don't wanna see em just become hot rods for sale on Ebay.......
I'll have another beer now