2013 schedule silly season thread

[Mikemat5150]

Gee, maybe we better not go to Indy, or Fontana, or Milwaukee, or Phoenix, or Laguna Seca, or Watkins Glen after what happened.

I think the reason a lot of people, including myself, don't want to go back to Vegas is that we fear the track is the dangerous part. The cars could get no spacing from how much grip there was on that track and were running three wide everywhere. Fontana we'll see, but the other tracks don't "breed" dangerous racing IMO. The fatal accidents have been bad luck per say. To me, a massive crash a Vegas was inevitable. You heard how terrified the drivers were during the race....

[mitchbr]

Gee, maybe we better not go to Indy, or Fontana, or Milwaukee, or Phoenix, or Laguna Seca, or Watkins Glen after what happened.

I agree with pdas actually. Until the series is sure that pack racing like what we saw won't happen, there shouldn't be any IndyCar racing there. That crash changed me, I used to see commercials for races and see something like Carl Edwards Talladega crash and think "Man that was crazy, awesome"; now I cringe whenever I see it.
Just thinking out loud, isn't the series still contracted to run Vegas next year? Or did they buy out of both years?

[uh_clem]

So the rumors that they won't be racing at Texas Motor Speedway after this year aren't true?

[TexManZero]

So the rumors that they won't be racing at Texas Motor Speedway after this year aren't true?

I think it was wishful thinking by a number of people on here, but then again IndyCar has been known to shoot itself in both feet.

[Captain Spyro]

I don't think that we'd return to Vegas after what happened.

Nor should we unless testing proves otherwise. However, unlike other tracks, I just can't see LVMS being suitable to hosting another AOW race at this point.

[uh_clem]

I think it was wishful thinking by a number of people on here, but then again IndyCar has been known to shoot itself in both feet.

My understanding was that the drivers didn't want to race there after Las Vegas 2011. They didn't want to race on the high banked ovals period.

[TexManZero]

My understanding was that the drivers didn't want to race there after Las Vegas 2011. They didn't want to race on the high banked ovals period.

I'm sure a lot of it was jerking of knees. That's another reason why there is a test this Monday at TMS.

[Aeron]

Just thinking out loud, isn't the series still contracted to run Vegas next year? Or did they buy out of both years?

They were contracted to run last year with an option for this year. Burton wanted the ICS back this year but Randy declined the option. I haven't seen the contract, but it was rumored that Las Vegas got a sweetheart deal that was pretty close to a track rental, and it caused other tracks to want a break on their sanctioning fees.

On a personal note I want the series to return to Vegas because racing has always been dangerous. NASCAR didn't stop racing at Daytona after Dale Earnhardt died, at Watkins Glen after J.D. McDuffie died. Indycar didn't stop racing at California after Greg Moore died or Indy after Tony Renna, Laguna Secca after Gonzalo Rodriguez died, or Toronto after Jeff Krosnoff. I just think a safe, victorious return to Las Vegas Motor Speedway would do the series a world of good.

[Racing Truth]

Scuttlebutt from my racing friends is that ICS wants to be at Cleveland and not Mid-Ohio, but the sticking point is Honda. They have a factory and a couple of offices in Columbus, which is an hour closer to Mid-Ohio than Cleveland. Supposedly the front office is softly trying to negotiate with Honda to move their support from Mid-Ohio to Cleveland.

I approve of this.

Sincerely,
Cleveland ICS fan #imissmyhomerace

That said, I've heard or read NOTHING indicating it's a possibility.

[raskav]

I swear some people on this forum are not Indycar fan but a fan of race scheduling!
Here we are, before the first Indy 500 practice, and people speculating about 2013?
Why not enjoy this season first? actual racing? which should be your primary attraction to the sport?
You don't see baseball forums talking about 2013 season already do you?
I can understand this if it's getting toward the end of the season but we have barely begun 2012!

I think it's time to add a separate forum so that these type of people can endlessly talk about the future schedule, driver signing, team entering etc.

[acfinn]

I approve of this.

Sincerely,
Cleveland ICS fan #imissmyhomerace

That said, I've heard or read NOTHING indicating it's a possibility.

And you can't drive to Mid-Ohio? Try being a fan in the pacific northwest!

[Z28]

I swear some people on this forum are not Indycar fan but a fan of race scheduling!
Here we are, before the first Indy 500 practice, and people speculating about 2013?
Why not enjoy this season first? actual racing? which should be your primary attraction to the sport?
You don't see baseball forums talking about 2013 season already do you?
I can understand this if it's getting toward the end of the season but we have barely begun 2012!

I think it's time to add a separate forum so that these type of people can endlessly talk about the future schedule, driver signing, team entering etc.

You probably don't see any talk of scheduling on baseball forums because unless a team changes divisions or leagues, maybe one per 25 years, they have the same opponents of the schedule year to year. Maybe you missed a couple of months ago the NFL announced their schedule 5-6 months before the season starts to both sell tickets and get some press.

The 2013 IICS schedule needs to be worked on by INDYCAR now because tracks are in the process of setting their NASCAR schedules and any other series needs to work around where that is for any track. So discussing it now is appropriate since it will likely be finalized in September. The future business of racing doesn't stop when the season starts. If there's any possibility that say Ford or Dodge/Fiat/VW wants to come in as an engine supplier, they aren't waiting to see how 2012 plays out before they start making plans.


But since it's coming up. When it comes to scheduling most Indycar fans seem to ignore common sense, geography, traditional track dates for NASCAR and other series when they think INDYCAR will put some place on the schedule.

I don't see INDYCAR having any desire to drop Mid-Ohio in favor of Cleveland because it may well put Savoree/Green in jeopardy of losing a lot of business and that could cost them the Toronto race. Consider that Lanigan had the rights to promote a Houston race since the last one run but until Roger Penske's sponsor stepped up for it he was unable to get it going again. I'm sure Lanigan would be willing to go back to Cleveland but who is he waiting for to drop a title sponsor in his lap for it?

By population it would seem to make sense to have 3 California races but the California sports fan is typically not the most diehard about supporting sports, especially racing. Yes big crowd for the TGPLB, Auto Club Speedway is down to one poorly attended Cup race. I don't honestly see Milwaukee and Road America splitting the attendance pool. If they are separated by enough time, and neither conflicts with NASCAR races at either Chicagoland, MIS or Iowa, which they've done the last few years both had an OW race, I think they could both draw if they both have sponsors.

And the title sponsor issue is an INDYCAR issue. They seem to be working hard, or at least say they are, towards finding one for the new Baltimore promoters. So why haven't they spoken out about trying to find title sponsors for Milwaukee, Road America, Pocono, MIS, Phoenix, New Hampshire. Because from what I see, even if it's limited, a $2 million title sponsor would only put a dent in the expected losses for Baltimore but would probably put any of those other tracks over the top into the black since they came close in the past.


What I wish would happen would be that Michael Andretti would get a foothold this year at Milwaukee as the promoter then approach NASCAR to bring back the Truck, Nationwide weekend. If he could cross promote the two of them it would help the Indycar race.

[raskav]

You probably don't see any talk of scheduling on baseball forums because unless a team changes divisions or leagues, maybe one per 25 years, they have the same opponents of the schedule year to year. Maybe you missed a couple of months ago the NFL announced their schedule 5-6 months before the season starts to both sell tickets and get some press.

The 2013 IICS schedule needs to be worked on by INDYCAR now because tracks are in the process of setting their NASCAR schedules and any other series needs to work around where that is for any track. So discussing it now is appropriate since it will likely be finalized in September. The future business of racing doesn't stop when the season starts. If there's any possibility that say Ford or Dodge/Fiat/VW wants to come in as an engine supplier, they aren't waiting to see how 2012 plays out before they start making plans.


But since it's coming up. When it comes to scheduling most Indycar fans seem to ignore common sense, geography, traditional track dates for NASCAR and other series when they think INDYCAR will put some place on the schedule.

I don't see INDYCAR having any desire to drop Mid-Ohio in favor of Cleveland because it may well put Savoree/Green in jeopardy of losing a lot of business and that could cost them the Toronto race. Consider that Lanigan had the rights to promote a Houston race since the last one run but until Roger Penske's sponsor stepped up for it he was unable to get it going again. I'm sure Lanigan would be willing to go back to Cleveland but who is he waiting for to drop a title sponsor in his lap for it?

By population it would seem to make sense to have 3 California races but the California sports fan is typically not the most diehard about supporting sports, especially racing. Yes big crowd for the TGPLB, Auto Club Speedway is down to one poorly attended Cup race. I don't honestly see Milwaukee and Road America splitting the attendance pool. If they are separated by enough time, and neither conflicts with NASCAR races at either Chicagoland, MIS or Iowa, which they've done the last few years both had an OW race, I think they could both draw if they both have sponsors.

And the title sponsor issue is an INDYCAR issue. They seem to be working hard, or at least say they are, towards finding one for the new Baltimore promoters. So why haven't they spoken out about trying to find title sponsors for Milwaukee, Road America, Pocono, MIS, Phoenix, New Hampshire. Because from what I see, even if it's limited, a $2 million title sponsor would only put a dent in the expected losses for Baltimore but would probably put any of those other tracks over the top into the black since they came close in the past.


What I wish would happen would be that Michael Andretti would get a foothold this year at Milwaukee as the promoter then approach NASCAR to bring back the Truck, Nationwide weekend. If he could cross promote the two of them it would help the Indycar race.

Even in racing you don't see this much obsession over future scheduling.

Do F1, Nascar, ALMS or MotoGP fans obsess to this degree about which race to add?
and yet, their schedule changes as much as Indycar's

[GregBaffle]

July 7 Honda Grand Prix of Toronto *

*Contractually obligated

Is the date of this race set in stone, or are they merely contractually obligated to hold a race at a date TBD? If Watkins Glen returns, wouldn't this be the date?

[Deutsch]

Is the date of this race set in stone, or are they merely contractually obligated to hold a race at a date TBD? If Watkins Glen returns, wouldn't this be the date?

I guess the event is contractually obligated, but not the date on which it will be held.

[LarryJr]

Even in racing you don't see this much obsession over future scheduling.

Do F1, Nascar, ALMS or MotoGP fans obsess to this degree about which race to add?
and yet, their schedule changes as much as Indycar's

LOL, F1 and NASCAR doesn't change their schedules as much as IICS does. That's why the fans are so paranoid about the schedule, one year you can have 10 ovals and 7 SC/RC races, the next you might get 6 ovals and 11 RC/SC races. Most of the tracks just come and go, one year there's an event at track x, the next year it's gone, but after 2-3 years it returns again and then goes again. Years go by and the only track which stays is Indy. We need more consistency.

[TUBORG-fan]

LOL, F1 and NASCAR doesn't change their schedules as much as IICS does. That's why the fans are so paranoid about the schedule, one year you can have 10 ovals and 7 SC/RC races, the next you might get 6 ovals and 11 RC/SC races. Most of the tracks just come and go, one year there's an event at track x, the next year it's gone, but after 2-3 years it returns again and then goes again. Years go by and the only track which stays is Indy. We need more consistency.

Yes we do.

[Aeron]

I haven't found out if Race On/Andretti took over the five year contract or are just doing it on a provisional basis, but it increases Baltimore's chances of coming back in 2013

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bre...,3862083.story

[Aeron]

Honda and Toronto have signed a contract extension for the Honda Grand Prix of Toronto through 2014.

The IZOD IndyCar Series is set to race in Toronto through at least 2014, it was announced at a news conference in the Canadian city on Monday. The conference announced that contract renewals have been signed with the City of Toronto, Honda Canada, Exhibition Place, Tourism Toronto and IndyCar.

http://www.racer.com/toronto-indycar...rticle/241114/

[KevinOneel]

As long as Barber is on the schedule, you can forget about Road Atlanta. Territorial rights.

[Mikemat5150]

As long as Barber is on the schedule, you can forget about Road Atlanta. Territorial rights.

Though Road Atlanta would be great to have, they would need to do some serious updates on the safety of the track. I don't think they have much in the way of catch fencing.

[raskav]

Though Road Atlanta would be great to have, they would need to do some serious updates on the safety of the track. I don't think they have much in the way of catch fencing.

Audi and Peugeot prototypes run at Road Atlanta without any problems.
And I'm pretty sure those prototypes go faster than DW12.

[Captain Spyro]

Audi and Peugeot prototypes run at Road Atlanta without any problems.
And I'm pretty sure those prototypes go faster than DW12.

Not so sure on that. They've slowed down prototypes in recent years, and I think there was some speed comparisons done a few years ago. I think comparing qualifying speeds, an Audi R10 or Porsche RS Spyder would qualify mid-packs in an IndyCar field of then-spec Dallaras. I can't help but feel it won't be any different now.

[Mikemat5150]

Audi and Peugeot prototypes run at Road Atlanta without any problems.
And I'm pretty sure those prototypes go faster than DW12.

An open wheel car and a prototype are completely different animals.

No way does a driver walk away from this in an open-wheel car. I know all the prototypes aren't closed tops but the extra structure around the wheels helps a lot.

[Aeron]

I'd look for Mid-Ohio to be back next year. Honda just re-upped their support of the track.

http://www.racer.com/honda-and-mid-o...rticle/241631/

[piercey]

I'd look for Mid-Ohio to be back next year. Honda just re-upped their support of the track.

http://www.racer.com/honda-and-mid-o...rticle/241631/

Awesome!

[Parnelli64]

we should return to Vegas, it's a discredit to the racers to not go back.

I'll never understand the love affair some have with the Cleveland race....

[Mikemat5150]

we should return to Vegas, it's a discredit to the racers to not go back.

I'll never understand the love affair some have with the Cleveland race....

[piercey]

I'll never understand the love affair some have with the Cleveland race....

Along with the video Mike posted, it was a road course with the sightlines of an oval. There aren't too many road courses out there in which a grandstand ticket gets you 90% of the track minimum.

[aaron5572]

Cleveland 1995 was the real sheezy. one of the best road races in history.



Mid-Ohio can kiss Cleveland's you know what