USAC car counts are as good today as they ever where. The pavement races rarely had as big of car counts as the dirt, even when the same cars where run.
I'm not saying that I wouldn't like to see more pavement cars at the track, but they aren't that far off of the average car counts of the past.

The reason that the pavement racing was bigger in the late 80's early 90's had everything to do with T.V.

I believe the beginning of the end of USAC'S run at the top is more to do with short sided decision making, resting on their past and the lack of true direction and guidence. Incidents like Union County are a little more common than they should be and they litter USAC'S past no matter the regime.

I love the pavement cars because they produce great racing because they are purpose built.

Guy's it's like I keep saying, the cost of the car isn't the problem. There are enough used cars out there now that if it was just the cost of the car holding people back, they could get a used one and run well if they could drive and set up the car. I have seen nothing that tells me that a car that is 3-5 years old can't win races today.

The biggest problem with pavement racing is the cost of the tires. A first class pavement team will spend more on tires during the year then what their car cost(All three divisions).
For example: For the teams who ran the USAC race before the little 500 and used both the Little 5 practice and USAC practice to get ready and they practiced on new tires everytime(As you have to to stay fast), I estimate they spent around $3,000(Minimum) for the day. That is a crazy number, but I believe I am probably actually low by about $1,200-$2,400. None of this even includes private tests.

To me, the cost of the car is fine, but Hoosier and USAC should be better stewards of the sport and instead of working together to only fatten Hoosier's bottom line(I know,they give to the point fund. Actually I think the teams pay their own point fund), they should work together to help keep the costs in line as well.

Hoosier is a sacred cow in USAC. Unfortunately in this case, it is the cow that does the milking.