At least this is a good thing. Can't hurt

http://www.indycar.com/news/show/55-...ck-on-directv/

I tried to watch it on the internet, but it was virtually unwatchable do to things such as:
1.Poor Director in the booth, many times showed empty track for extended time.
2.Director frequently missed what little action there was during the race.
3.Picture became pixilated when showing race action shots.
4.Sound kept cutting in and out.
5.Timing and scoring suspended after the Red Flag.
Need I say more ? USAC is not so bad after all.

I actually enjoyed the race. One of the better street designs I have seen along with Cleveland. If you were faster you could pass and not have to force the issue like many of them. I'm not a Danica hater, more of the "more power to her type," but it was nice not to see her covered for 70% of the race. Although I completely understand when they do, because she sells.

I hate it like everyone else that IndyCar does not give opportunities to sprint cars guys anymore. I hate it that IndyCar is not what it once was in the 60s thru 80s. But I get tired of hearing the same old complaints referring to this. I hear stories from my Dad just like many of you have referred to about how great it once was. I hate that I wasnt around to see that but....

Accept it for what it is. It is never going to be what it was. Many will always deem anything the series does a failure no matter what even when there are positive things. The second half of last years oval season was great after they made some changes. Yesterdays race was pretty good in my opinion.

Its like with General Motors, some will never ever say they are a successful organization again because they will never get back to the way they once were, even if if their new business model turns out to work, albeit on a smaller scale. You have to look at GM and the IRL in similar ways.....they have is a new business model and because it has been proven for some reason or another the old way does not work or is not feasible, changes are made.

Saying the IRL is a failure regardless of what happens good or bad just because they dont have 100,000 on pole day or 20 Americans in the lineup I don't think is a 100% valid argument anymore, it can be only part of the argument. Sure we want more Americans.

It just bothers me that many think the IRL is a failure TODAY (I'm noy saying they are a success either) because it is not what it was, and I understand that, but what IndyCar was back in the day is not going to happen anytime soon. One of the coolest memories I have was watching Brian Tyler at Winchester then a few days later, talking with him about that race at Winchester on pit road practicing at Indy, so I do get what it is people miss. Instead of a few "sprint car guys" to see race and chat with, it used to be multiple. Accept it for what it is, like it or not. Thats up to you.

I will always be pissed that there has been so much talent in sprint cars not get an opportunity at Indy.... but, it will not stop me from hoping a form of racing I like is successful in some form or another.

I miss guys like Kinser, Hewitt, and Tyler in the IRL also. But what the heck, we all know that isn't what the IRL is about any way. If you want to see open wheel guys in the big leagues, that's what NASCRAP is for.

yeah they needed to fix that pronto!!

Now they just need to fix 49 years of the after effect one horrible horrible decision has made to open wheel racing in this country.

If you are happy and enjoy IndyCar by all means continue too do so. For me Tony had a huge opportunity to shape Indy Car racing for the future. Instead, he gave us more of the same only to a lesser degree. I guess I'm still a little put off that I was duped for a short while but as the old rock song states "We won't get fooled again". I feel the best thing for me to do is to not support the product as it is. I spent over $180 to go to Indy every year to watch something that is really not to my likeing anymore. I would enjoy the KISS race at the 'burg the evening before then the next day, outside of the pomp and ceremony, the race becomes an anticlimax. Even the full time Andretti that races today pales in comparison to the Andrettis that raced before him.

Today that same $180 translates to about 10 short track races (USAC and local). The least of these ten races is exciting, I am supporting some very deserving drivers that I actually heard of and leave the track with a smile on my face each and every time. Now that's acceptance.

Long time lurker, first time poster. I've read this thread a couple of times and finally decided to post on it.

First, let me say that I'm a fan of sprint and midget racing, but I'm also a fan of IRL racing. We can all complain that we want 1996 back, but that isn't going to happen. What many of you fail to realize is that the business model simply wasn't working back then.

Tony G gave it a good try, but then did what he had to do to keep the doors open. If 1996 was so great, why were the stands so empty? Sure, we all supported it, but majority of America sports fans didn't come out and support Boat, Yeley, Stewart, etc. while in the IRL. I would argue that a larger percentage of today's general "motorsports" fans care much more about Tony Kanaan than they do Billy Boat.

What we need is a mix. That's what's made Indy so spectactular for nearly 100 years. Oval trackers vs. international superstars in the same race. Back then it was Foyt vs. Andretti. Today we need Hines vs. Kanaan. It should be about the best in the WORLD. Indianapolis 500 is an international event and should always be an international event. My argument has always been that no one ever had a problem rooting for or against Luyendyk, Mansell, Fittipaldi, etc., but now you suddenly have a problem with today's foreign drivers? What gives?

Just my opinion folks. Keep on racin!

Chasin Cars

I guess the what gives is the lack of american drivers. There are 4 or 5 this year, if I remember correctly(which I may not). Back before the majority of the field was buy a ride, it was fun to see the foreign born drivers. Indy was the place you got to put faces with the names you saw in print. Hill, Stewart , Rindt, and Brabham to name a few.

Once american drivers were getting pushed out by deep pocketed foriegners, the tide started changing.I don't want to here the story about rear engined experiance either, some guy named Stewart proved the was bull$h#t.

The public wants faces and names they know, like the guys they see running sprint cars and midgets. Remember 20 years ago Nascrap was just a regional thing, I bet only a handful of guys on this website even watched nascrap. Once Stewart , Gordon, Schrader, and the like went there, it got our attention.

The IRL has a great product, but without a grass roots interest, it will become more the International Racing League, and less the Indy Racing League, and the american fanbase will keep withering away.

Your opinion, like everyone's is valid. However I disagree with your opinion. I too thought that Tony G gave it a good try, but since he has come out since then and admitted that he always wanted a series like CART, that kind of throws that good effort argument out the window.

As far as a majority of America (sic) sports fans not supporting the early IRL, I'll only agree that not enough of them did. But as big as nascar is, a majority of sports fans don't support it either. All racing and all sports are niches, some much bigger than others, but still niches. The big problem comes when a series or a sport tries to be bigger than it's niche will support. Table Tennis at a top level is very difficult, yet that sport has a small following, so you won't find many if any pro table tennis players. I would say that a large percentage of today's motorsports fans don't know who Billy Boat or Tony Kannan are.

No one had a problem with foreign drivers in the past? I don't know about that, but I didn't. However one BIG difference is almost all of those foreign drivers in the past including the ones you mentioned were known quantities. They had records, winning records. Some were world champions when they came to Indycars. Imagine that, F1 a feeder series for Indycars. The problem came when foreign drivers without winning resume's showed up and actually took the place of winning Indycar drivers who were still in or near their prime. So that's what gives.

And like you, that is just my opinion.