[racefan20]

Originally Posted by bigmojo5 You're right. IF it turns out to be not completely accurate, my bet is it is because Robin's story forced them to change positions. Jim Morrison

Wouldnt that be ironic

[767]

Originally Posted by Ovalmeister Yeah, we've been in Minnesota for about 3 years now. My job moves us around the country (and world sometimes) every 4-5 years at a time. I'm a native hoosier, born and raised 20 miles from Winchester. We always get back to Indy for the 500. In 1985 I was in Spain the day before the 500 and made it to the race. In 1989 I was in Munich, Germany the day before the 500 and made it to the race. I'm a huge fan of the 500. It was a big part of my childhood and it also serves as a family reunion of sorts every year. That's why I hate to see things like F1 muddy up the history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Didn't I read somewhere that 600 million dollars was spent to alter the facility for F1? (New garage paddock, road course, etc...only for the event to be a money loser every year). Geez, Tony George could have bought a LOT of Indy cars for that. And hired 20-30 sprint and midget drivers. Then the black eyes the Speedway received last year with the NASCAR tire fiasco, F1 tire fiasco a few years ago where only 6 cars started....These were international stories. I don't know, I just think it tarnishes the reputation of the track. I was the biggest fan Tony George ever had from 1996 to 2003 or so. I loved watching the sprint/midget guys prove to the world that they could drive Indy cars. Mixed in with the international racers, they put on the best, closest Indy car races I have ever seen. Usually at the white flag you still didn't know who was gonna win. I attended races literally from Phoenix to New Hampshire. Where are we now? We are CART renamed. Like I said earlier, this is the first IRL season that started with a road course event. Not one but TWO. Also we are STREET racing again. Which brings me to ask myself a question....Did Tony George really want to help sprint/midget racers? Or did he just want total control of Indy car racing? Think about it. Where are the sprint/midget racers now? How many street/road races are there now? Isn't this CART rebadged? Just a few thoughts and humble opinions. Gotta go, we're off to the Twins/Red Sox game tonight. Love watchin' Big Poppy strike out! David.

you have good points, but nascar is the biggest thing in the US. they need to run at the speedway. Its a 1 week thing that brings in nothing but cash. Now on to F1 and bikes. i will say that i have been to 3 f1 races. was the racing good........no, but have i seen 3 bad 500's....yes. I got to say the fans at this race are insane. If you are a true 500 fan you would know what i mean. I think they are just like us. They are pationate about there sport and do anything to make the race. I really think the track at indy needs to be used.as someone said i would love to watch a 12 or 24 hour race there! The IRL starting out on street courses, guys they are never going away, those tracks were packed. lets see now, do i run a street race in cities where fans will pour in or do i run at texas with 1/4 of the stands filled. until this year I hated the street races. now i like them because i can tell they are profietable events. Just can't wait for this new car

[767]

on the miller posts, say what you want, but he is really there only media source. I'm confident, this hole thing has been set up to keep the attention on the speedway. Show me 1 other reporter that is on national TV on a weekly basis talking about the IRL. Just 1 more way to keep the spot light on the IRL for a few more days. Humpy is loved by most nascar fans. Just one more way to get the IRL some more attention. I will have to agree with Miller on one thing, Humpy can do no worse than Simmons!

[Ovalmeister]

Originally Posted by Seadog 767, I'll vouch for Ovalmeister (not that he needs me to vouch for him). I've known him for 30 years. I understand David's frustration with the way things are.

Seadog has forgotten more than I'll ever know. This was his 50th Indy 500! Now if that isn't an excuse for a party then I've never heard one!

Also, frustration is the perfect word to describe my feelings. I would love to buy a Cole Whitt, Jerry Coons, Robert Ballou or Damion Gardner Indy car shirt or hat. Wouldn't that be sweet? I still dig the 500 though! I would just dig it more if there were some Saturday night heros' in the lineup.
David.

ps...Big Poppy did not disappoint.

One final thought from Jim Morrison -- now naming an 18 year old girl as owner of Vision Racing makes just a little more sense. If Dad's going to be running the IRL, owning a team in the IRL would probably be a conflict of interest.

Lauren George, Tony's daughter, becomes owner of Vision Racing after she turns 18. That's, of course, sometime in the future. Actually, it's before the end of this month.

[Seadog]

Originally Posted by Ovalmeister Seadog has forgotten more than I'll ever know...

Hold on there! You're giving me too much credit David. I've forgotten most of what I knew and that wasn't much to begin with.

Next thing you know, you'll be telling them that I met Gary B. in person!

[richie]

Originally Posted by bigmojo5 One final thought from Jim Morrison -- now naming an 18 year old girl as owner of Vision Racing makes just a little more sense. If Dad's going to be running the IRL, owning a team in the IRL would probably be a conflict of interest. Lauren George, Tony's daughter, becomes owner of Vision Racing after she turns 18. That's, of course, sometime in the future. Actually, it's before the end of this month.

She's already 18, as of May 7, and she was named owner of Vision Racing's Indy Lights team. The Indy Car team is still owned by Tony George and will be handed to Ed Carpenter someday.

And 767, are full stands at St. Petersburg where they seat about 20,000 better than 40% filled grandstands at Texas where 90,000 regularly attend? Also, Michigan was a miserable failure because they could only get 25,000 to attend at a track that holds nearly 140,000. It does look worse if one were to lower the standards. Maybe if Michigan only had 30,000 seats like they had in the early 1980s, the attendance would look great.

Is it just a perception of empty stands that is the issue or is attendance at oval tracks set to a different standard?

[slide22]

Originally Posted by Fisher79 Huh? I think you've had one too many Fosters, my friend. Have you watched a NASCAR race lately? Don't confuse your hardon for IndyCar with NASCAR having a good racing product. Tell you what: buy a plane ticket, come to Kokomo on a Sunday night, and let that marinate. Then go watch an IndyCar oval race and a NASCAR oval race, back to back. Afterwards, you tell me which one most closely resembles what you saw at Kokomo. NASCAR is to racing what pantyhose is to finger f****ing.

The past couple seasons Indy Car Racing has been awful. The 500's besides 06 have all been boring with no passing, the only reason I watch is because its the 500. Right now NASCAR has a more appealing product with more passing, better presentation, and a wider fanbase.

And how would an IndyCar oval race resemble a sprint car race at Kokomo?

[BrentTFunk]

Originally Posted by slide22 The past couple seasons Indy Car Racing has been awful. The 500's besides 06 have all been boring with no passing, the only reason I watch is because its the 500. Right now NASCAR has a more appealing product with more passing, better presentation, and a wider fanbase. And how would an IndyCar oval race resemble a sprint car race at Kokomo?

I went to the indy car race at Chicagoland. I would say there was more passing in that race than all the Nascar races combined at that track.

[SprintManDave]

Miller says he had a good source for this, but I doubt it.He has had a vendetta against Tony and the IRL since the split,so it is my opinion that he was his own source.I take every thing he says or writes with a grain of salt.