Originally Posted by flagboy55:
So,we ***** about drivers having to pay to get an Indy car ride, and now we ***** about sprint car driver's getting paid! Can someone please help me understand this? We want to say our racing is the best on the planet, but you can't make a living doing it? No wonder guys are going to the wings!
I don't think what Ooley said is wrong and he would know about anything to do with this sport.
Motors barring catastrophic damage are refresh-able multiple times, Those like Chassis are a investment, Granted they will never pay for themselves, But a couple USAC or bigger show wins could pay the refreshes. Tires, You could go through 1500 a night in tires easy on some tracks, Even cut that in half and put it on a 45 race season, 34k. Allowing teams to choose their own brand, hardness etc would and can help to reduce that significantly both in initial tire cost and being able to reuse most of them. sometimes several times. This has changed significantly. I remember Sprint Racing where guys would get half a season on a tire.
As for driver being a factor in cost. Well they take half the returns, Even if the owner paid for the whole team to get in etc. Of course they should be paid, It's their life on the line. But its a huge factor in the cost of racing. Your driver also has a ton to do with the cars running cost. Does he junk a chassis every couple weeks? Does he burn the tires off down slick straights and also over rev the motor?
Granted everyone has a learning curve, some never get it, and some are just plain standouts and wear and replacing stuff is at a minimum while still finishing up front.
Not knocking anyone, Just plain facts The $$$ on these cars has become almost unfathomable for a sport where a few guys or a family used to say, Lets put a car together and be able to race it a full season without breaking the bank. The bank can get broken in just a few races anymore.