yeah, I gotta say, I'm really liking what I'm hearing from them recently. I just hope it all lays out to high viewer numbers.
Huh, I seem to have lost a post. Let's try again... I need to apologize for my post about the lucky dog being out. They are reconsidering it. NASCAR is in Indy meeting about the Brickyard. They don't want to be copied. Fans have been very vocal to IndyCar that they do not want it. Only folks that do want it are the owners. It gives them a chance to get back in the race if their driver or crew make a mistake. OK, so I'm staying optimistic that this "addition" will go away before it starts. I'm sending RB an email telling him my thoughts.
NSACAR is reporting an increase in numbers viewing and attending. That's got to be good for motorsports in general. Now we need to get those cross-over fans.
So are they counting all those empty seats as well! Being a lap or two down never bothered RP. Big Al won from 2 laps down.
There is obviously some stick between Indy and the ISC as all Indy Car races that took place at ISC tracks are now off the schedule. But, the Brickyard 400 at Indy is still on the NASCAR schedule. Dosent make much sense. BHW
OK, I asked someone for RB's email and actually got it. Sent him polite email telling him what I thought about my thoughts on the league. Competitiveness is important. How aero options, tire options, engine options, etc are important to the fans. Let the teams put together all the variables and let is play out on the race track. I conceded that 2 wide restarts will be interesting. I did say that the lucky dog is a bad idea. I stated that US open wheel racing has been around longer than stock car racing. That open wheel must stand on its own and not copy NASCAR. RB responded that there is currently no decision on the lucky dog. Owners want it. Owners wanted 2-wide restarts for competitive reasons and they got it. Best suggestion I have at this point. If you have an issue with the lucky dog, you better speak your mind to the people making decisions and not to a bunch of other fans on a forum. With all that said, I am impressed he read and responded. Kudos to RB.
wow, that's impressive. of course it could have been one of his interns, but still. I wouldn't have expected any response at all. indycar has given people laps back the last few years, no? how is that different than the lucky dog (other than the silly name)? maybe they were only giving them laps back if they got caught by the pace car?
There are better ways to get back on the lead lap . like strategy ! Geez ! Even when I was in the lowly IMSA Firehawk series , we knew simple things like wait for the wave around ( On road courses the pace car just came out , then all behind it got a wave around until they had the actual leader) Being we had a Touring car , we were certain to be down to the leader in a Gran Sport's car. But is same deal , Penske has won many races by various strategy and thats cool , buta "lucky dog" is just an unearned give away. Want to make Indy guys more popular ? Mandate they do at least 10 races in other cars , from sprint's ,dirt late models and other's so people that go to races on Saturday night's actually learn whom they are ! A huge number of people go to local tracks every sat night and probably never turn an Indycar race on TV ,since they have no clue whom those people are. Some series are just clueless , just how many people were in attendance at the Homestead Gran Am race ? Even local short tracks get 3 - 10,000 people , and thats to watch people whom are more like thier own nieghbors !
Two wide re-starts aren't so concerning as they will add to the drama. Haven't paid much attention to it in NASCAR but haven't heard of the two wide re-starts being a safety issue. I was at Homestead last seemed for my first GrandAM race. Crowd was sparse at best and I'd guess that most were there with comped tickets courtesy of teams or sponsors. Thanks to Alex Graas and Jason Workman and their CT Series team for the passes BTW. A stand alone GrandAM event is bound to draw less interest than sharing the bill with IndyCar. So, it's curious why the ISC has booted IndyCar off it's tracks other than to save face for the fact that IndyCars are that much faster than NASCAR. We certainly can't have anyone showing up those 4000+lb bricks on their own circuits. BHW
Don't these buffoons get it? Doing what the owners want is what screwed CART / CC. It's amazing how LAME the IRL is. Copying NASCAR isn't the way to go.
You have to admit that 2 or 3 wide into a turn in an open wheel car is MUCH different than in a stock car. The stock cars don't tangle up if they brush one another. When that happens in in open wheel car, bad things happen. So for me, it will be thrilling to watch the side-by-side in an open wheel car, as long as no one gets hurt. Please tell me you have sent that message to IndyCar. Speak up to the powers that be. Just like voting. Those that don't vote forgo the right to complain.
I was told it was his direct email. Certainly looks it by the address. I was told he wants direct access to the people, drivers, owners, sponsors and fans. I think he's really listening, based off some of what we are seeing. I also think he's trying to make-up a few things as he goes along. Its up to us, the fans, to give feedback on what we would like to see. You have to admit that we are starting to see some positive changes happen. That comes from someone listening to what the fans want.
Bourdais is testing with Coyne to see if he will run all the road courses this year, and Mario Andretti wants to run the Vegas $5MM race. http://www.girlracer.co.uk/motorsport/james-foreman/8954-mario-andretti-and-sebastien-bourdais-looking-at-indycar-returns.html
PT gets Indy 500 ride thanks to WIX and D&R Racing. They are now working to see if they can increase the number of races this season. PT is hoping to be at Barber, Have to wait and see.
Not us, but were there when Andretti took 1-2-3. They were all doing donuts in front of us. Marco won the Indy Lights race that year. Fun time. The sis-n-law will be there this year.
Lucky Dog out for 2011. CONFIRMED this time. Announced Monday by Randy Bernard and reported by Curt Cavin. Bottom of the page: http://www.indystar.com/article/20110322/SPORTS0107/103220313/1052/SPORTS01/Tracy-Kanaan-return-driver-lineup
Interesting take on TK by Marco. http://www.racer.com/marco-andrettis-blog-making-a-fresh-start/article/198828/ Kind of makes you wonder what was really going on at AA.
Wow, seriously slow thread, I'm quoting myself... TK responds to Marco. http://www.racer.com/kanaan-responds-to-andretti/article/198988/ I don't see any denial from TK...interesting....