OT: Grand-Am test at IMS

Brolzy · 9/4/09, 10:34 AM

Did any of you go to the Grand-Am test at IMS yesterday? If so, what did you think? This is the series I cover now, so obviously I'm super-psyched about it. There were quite a few spectators there.

terrehautian · 9/4/09, 10:35 AM

Is it coming to Indy?

Brolzy · 9/4/09, 10:45 AM

The test was yesterday, and there will probably be a race there in 2010 or 2011 (I'd say 75% chance). There were a lot of spectators at the test...

terrehautian · 9/4/09, 10:48 AM

That is one form of racing I have wanted to see and I actually can watch somewhat on tv. Be neat to have a 24 hour race here.

9/4/09, 12:37 PM

I was there - I like the series and have announced several of their races. I'm all for it. However, as an official told me "there are more people here today than are at some of our races" That's the problem - an initial race will draw well but it will not be sustained - so the key issue is how many specatators are needed to make it viable. The recent Moto GP did make money according to an official I talked to - and that does not surprise me. So it depends on what the threshold to break even is -- I hope it flys.

openwheelKT · 9/4/09, 2:52 PM

There's talk that they want to put something together for '11 as a part of Centennial Celebration. I don't think they are looking for something to do every year. I don't think the crowd would support a race every season. A one-time 6 or 12 hour race would draw a large crowd and would be a money maker in '11....especially if they could work it out where the IRL and Nascar (they own Grand Am) are off that week. A LOT of drivers would like to take part in that race if it happened. I'd be there for sure to check it out.

Hubie · 9/5/09, 12:16 PM

When will the Speedway figure out they need less racing to make money?

Sports Cars, yeah, that it fix it

9/5/09, 12:28 PM

They made money on Moto GP - depends on the arrangements

9/4/09, 10:34 AM	#1 OT: Grand-Am test at IMS
Brolzy Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 143	Did any of you go to the Grand-Am test at IMS yesterday? If so, what did you think? This is the series I cover now, so obviously I'm super-psyched about it. There were quite a few spectators there.

9/4/09, 10:35 AM	#2 Re: OT: Grand-Am test at IMS
terrehautian Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,519	Is it coming to Indy?

9/4/09, 10:45 AM	#3 Re: OT: Grand-Am test at IMS
Brolzy Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 143	The test was yesterday, and there will probably be a race there in 2010 or 2011 (I'd say 75% chance). There were a lot of spectators at the test...

9/4/09, 10:48 AM	#4 Re: OT: Grand-Am test at IMS
terrehautian Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,519	That is one form of racing I have wanted to see and I actually can watch somewhat on tv. Be neat to have a 24 hour race here.

9/4/09, 12:37 PM	#5 Re: OT: Grand-Am test at IMS
psullivan Posts: n/a	I was there - I like the series and have announced several of their races. I'm all for it. However, as an official told me "there are more people here today than are at some of our races" That's the problem - an initial race will draw well but it will not be sustained - so the key issue is how many specatators are needed to make it viable. The recent Moto GP did make money according to an official I talked to - and that does not surprise me. So it depends on what the threshold to break even is -- I hope it flys.

9/4/09, 2:52 PM	#6 Re: OT: Grand-Am test at IMS
openwheelKT Senior Member Race Count Last Year: 73 Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 742	There's talk that they want to put something together for '11 as a part of Centennial Celebration. I don't think they are looking for something to do every year. I don't think the crowd would support a race every season. A one-time 6 or 12 hour race would draw a large crowd and would be a money maker in '11....especially if they could work it out where the IRL and Nascar (they own Grand Am) are off that week. A LOT of drivers would like to take part in that race if it happened. I'd be there for sure to check it out.

9/5/09, 12:16 PM	#7 Re: OT: Grand-Am test at IMS
Hubie Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 541	When will the Speedway figure out they need less racing to make money? Sports Cars, yeah, that it fix it

9/5/09, 12:28 PM	#8 Re: OT: Grand-Am test at IMS
psullivan Posts: n/a	They made money on Moto GP - depends on the arrangements