Demonstrating why Indy matters

[Z28]

And the series needs so much work.

Watching the sports on WLS TV, ABC Chicago Jim Rose had a story with video of the pace car announcement and on the FOX 32 news at 9 on the crawl at the bottom of the screen was Jean Alesi former F-1 driver entering the 500.


With all the Lotus dropping teams, Dragon lawsuit, BHA, D&RR being absorbed by Panther, Jay Howard, Turbogate I saw nothing reported on but things directly related to the 500, even off the track things of minor consequence, they get noticed. There was a two sentence mention in the Tribune about Chevy pulling their engines and the ten spots. While here we see so much going on mostly that interest in Indycar doesn't extend beyond Indianapolis and the existing fans.

For people NOT in Indianapolis it would be interesting to find out how much of the goings on, controversy etc. drew any notice from your local media, current race market or not.

[ACCP]

Well, none of that has gotten any play here in Boston. But the major caveat is that it never does and never has. And not just for the 500 or IndyCar, but even for NASCAR and motorsports in general, unless of course the race is the Indy 500, is at NHMS ("...and finally, X driver won the NASCAR event in Loudon today.") or someone dies. It's just the way it is. I'm sure, positive, it's the same way for the Boston Marathon outside of our market. It gets a month of history features, video packages, and human interest stories here in Boston, but the winners get just a passing mention on other sportscasts outside of New England.

[Doc Austin]

For people NOT in Indianapolis it would be interesting to find out how much of the goings on, controversy etc. drew any notice from your local media, current race market or not.

Are you kidding? In Nascar country? From now until the race, if I see two promos on ABC that would be a lot.

However, I do remember the times I was in Indy during May that the whole place as all about the race, all the time. I really enjoyed that.

[ramberg]

In the past two days, I have talked to my neighbor and a friend and a friend of a friend. I told them all I was getting ready to attend my 40th Indy 500. All three basically said, "Oh yeah, a LOT of people really get into NASCAR" or "Yeah, NASACR puts on a pretty good show". One said to bring photos back for his gallery my work is in because "There's a lot of NASCAR fans up here in Montana".

Over the past 20 years, racing has become synonymous with NASCAR. Where did we go so wrong? If you asked a person on the street in 1990 to explain IndyCar versus NASCAR, I think they could do it. Not any more. It really is sad...

So, to say that the Indy 500 is all that IndyCar gets any more for publicity is a bit of a misnomer.


To almost everybody out there, the Indy 500 means NASCAR.

[buzz]

it is amazing how many of our friends think we are going to a nascar race later this month.

In the 60s I moved to Chicago. There was a horse at Arlington park named "Speedy Scott" that was making big news. Every day I would pick up the the Tribune and get excited thinking they were writing about Jim Clark. BUT NO!

[buzz]

In the past two days, I have talked to my neighbor and a friend and a friend of a friend. I told them all I was getting ready to attend my 40th Indy 500. All three basically said, "Oh yeah, a LOT of people really get into NASCAR" or "Yeah, NASACR puts on a pretty good show". One said to bring photos back for his gallery my work is in because "There's a lot of NASCAR fans up here in Montana".

Over the past 20 years, racing has become synonymous with NASCAR. Where did we go so wrong? If you asked a person on the street in 1990 to explain IndyCar versus NASCAR, I think they could do it. Not any more. It really is sad...

So, to say that the Indy 500 is all that IndyCar gets any more for publicity is a bit of a misnomer.


To almost everybody out there, the Indy 500 means NASCAR.

Where did we go wrong? Walk through a Wal-Mart and see how many products carry a NASCAR brand. Every thing from shirts to baby bottles. Then see how many Indy brands you see. Let me rephrase that. See if you can find any. Maybe in Indianapolis you will find some, but not anywhere else in the country. Where did we go wrong indeed!


Exposure and promotion is the key. I became a Chicago Cub fan because I watched them on TV every day.

When you count the Nationwide series (most people can't tell the difference between that series and Sprint) you get about 70 races on TV every year.

[slompappy]

I live right in the middle of one of Nascar country

Its absolutely huge here in Tennessee

People here do know the difference but 90% don't really care about Indianapolis

We used to get pretty good coverage when we had our race but we get nothing now

But honestly I think NASCAR is in trouble...I can't tell you how many times a week I hear "I can't watch it anymore...its boring "which translated reads "they don't crash enough anymore"

Thing for me is im over worrying about stuff like this anymore...I know im gonna be at the track and im going to enjoy it....ratings and promotion and attendance do not affect me one bit anymore...do not care

[Mikemat5150]

The series can only do so much to make Indy relevant again to the mainstream media. I've had people say everything from, "I'm not a big fan of NASCAR" to "Why would you want to watch cars go around in a circle for hours" (They don't watch auto racing so there is no bias in that).

The split killed Indycar along with NASCAR rise to prominence. An entire generation was never introduced to it and the old generation, for the most part, stopped caring when we ran ourselves into the ground and into obscurity.

[TimmyZ1]

In the past two days, I have talked to my neighbor and a friend and a friend of a friend. I told them all I was getting ready to attend my 40th Indy 500. All three basically said, "Oh yeah, a LOT of people really get into NASCAR" or "Yeah, NASACR puts on a pretty good show". One said to bring photos back for his gallery my work is in because "There's a lot of NASCAR fans up here in Montana".

Over the past 20 years, racing has become synonymous with NASCAR. Where did we go so wrong? If you asked a person on the street in 1990 to explain IndyCar versus NASCAR, I think they could do it. Not any more. It really is sad...

So, to say that the Indy 500 is all that IndyCar gets any more for publicity is a bit of a misnomer.


To almost everybody out there, the Indy 500 means NASCAR.

it is amazing how many of our friends think we are going to a nascar race later this month.

In the 60s I moved to Chicago. There was a horse at Arlington park named "Speedy Scott" that was making big news. Every day I would pick up the the Tribune and get excited thinking they were writing about Jim Clark. BUT NO!

Its scary but so true and also so bad. Unfortunately because people think NASCAR sucks they think all racing sucks. If I bring up in casual conversation that I'm a racing fan its amazing the looks of some people's faces I get. Like I'm some ignorant moron or something.

[LowRyter]

OK, a lot to overcome.

But the series is unified, we have new cars, new engines, a few more American drivers.

we're on the uptick, we just have a long ways to go.

No, I don't get much Indycar coverage down here and only spotty NASCAR stuff.

In today's paper there was a story Trey Robb. He won a Wing Sprint 360 Feature in town when he was 13 and a USAC feature when he was in High School. Since then mayor has demolished State Fairgrounds Speedway and Trey can't get sponsorship in this economy so he goes to Jr College and races Micro Sprints. At least racing got some press.

[ramberg]

The series can only do so much to make Indy relevant again to the mainstream media. I've had people say everything from, "I'm not a big fan of NASCAR" to "Why would you want to watch cars go around in a circle for hours" (They don't watch auto racing so there is no bias in that).

The split killed Indycar along with NASCAR rise to prominence. An entire generation was never introduced to it and the old generation, for the most part, stopped caring when we ran ourselves into the ground and into obscurity.

I do think that since the split, the new generation has had no exposure to IndyCar. The problem is, my neighbor who thought Indy was NASCAR is in his 50s...

[skypigeon]

I do think that since the split, the new generation has had no exposure to IndyCar. The problem is, my neighbor who thought Indy was NASCAR is in his 50s...

So he never really cared about auto racing of any kind, until NASCAR got so big he couldn't help but notice?

People tend to forget, before NASCAR ascended, the only auto race that nationally anyone cared about was the Indianapolis 500... and I remember seeing signs of people (outside of Indiana) burning out on the Indianapolis 500 as early as 1987. I hate to post that as much as many of you hate to read it, but it's just the truth.

[ramberg]

So he never really cared about auto racing of any kind, until NASCAR got so big he couldn't help but notice?

People tend to forget, before NASCAR ascended, the only auto race that nationally anyone cared about was the Indianapolis 500... and I remember seeing signs of people (outside of Indiana) burning out on the Indianapolis 500 as early as 1987. I hate to post that as much as many of you hate to read it, but it's just the truth.

This is basically my point. Indy meant indy cars and Mario and AJ and Al at one time. But the name Indy is no longer associated with indy cars. Indy means NASCAR and that upsets me...

[buzz]

it happened again today. My girlfriend's boss asked her if she is going to see NASCAR. She said "No, these cars go 230 mph".

I think the 500 is to auto racing as the Kentucky Derby is to horse racing. It's a big deal that day, then everybody forgets about it until next year.

[ramberg]

it happened again today. My girlfriend's boss asked her if she is going to see NASCAR. She said "No, these cars go 230 mph".

I think the 500 is to auto racing as the Kentucky Derby is to horse racing. It's a big deal that day, then everybody forgets about it until next year.

Its been this way for 20 years with no signs of changing. Thats what bothers me...

[TexManZero]

Its been this way for 20 years with no signs of changing. Thats what bothers me...

People are perplexed by this? Indy has its own rules and a full freaking month for the race. No wonder nobody cares about the rest of the series.

[pb]

Hmm. I don't buy the local fishwrapper and local TV sports acts as if motorsports doesn't exist for the most part. The headline story currently on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch racing section of the website is: Indianapolis 500 full of intrigue this year . It isn't much but the Cards suck all the air out of the room around here, anyway. Anecdotally, I'd say IICS is getting a bit more notice than in the recent past.

[uncommonsense52]

For people NOT in Indianapolis it would be interesting to find out how much of the goings on, controversy etc. drew any notice from your local media, current race market or not.

Here in St. Louis, IndyCar is a rumor... Every memorial day, there's a 30 second blurb ont he news about who won that one race. But that's it.

So... 30 seconds in 365 days. That's how often the St. Louis media talks about IndyCar.

Edit:

Hmm. I don't buy the local fishwrapper and local TV sports acts as if motorsports doesn't exist for the most part. The headline story currently on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch racing section of the website is: Indianapolis 500 full of intrigue this year . It isn't much but the Cards suck all the air out of the room around here, anyway. Anecdotally, I'd say IICS is getting a bit more notice than in the recent past.

I don't get the Post :P

[pb]

Here in St. Louis, IndyCar is a rumor... Every memorial day, there's a 30 second blurb ont he news about who won that one race. But that's it.

So... 30 seconds in 365 days. That's how often the St. Louis media talks about IndyCar.

Edit:



I don't get the Post :P

I don't get the Post, either. I do use stltoday.com some though. To their credit, they do run some AP racing pieces there that would never even see the middle of the PD's sorry excuse for a sports section.

[TooMuchStagger]

Here in Kansas City, the media doesn't even know you all have a race. The few that do don't know where it is. I've litterally had people ask me where it was held when I told them I was going to the Indy 500.. and of course on my last day of work before I leave for the 500 they all wish me a great time at the "races"..

[buzz]

on my last day of work before I leave for the 500 they all wish me a great time at the "races"..

I grew up in Indianapolis and everybody always called it "the races". I was told it was a throwback to 1909-10.

[slompappy]

I grew up in Indianapolis and everybody always called it "the races". I was told it was a throwback to 1909-10.

I've heard that a bunch as well

[00steven]

I would say other than Indiana we have the most Indy fans up here in Michigan. Although it's dwindled through the years of course.

I really wish they would come back to MIS.

[thehairpin]

As I have said before (different threads), most people I know who are non-race fans think NASCAR or "nascaring" is the term for the activity of racing automobiles.

Truly sad.

[peternut]

In the Netherlands broadcaster RTL has a separate entity for their racing coverage called RTLGP, they are running most stories that are on racer.com or speed. All in Dutch and maybe focused a bit more on the larger stories like the Lotus ones and Alesi.

In Turkey where I am now, the Alesi deal was in a national paper yesterday, however I don't understand the language at all so can't really say whats been said.

I guess it all revolves around recognizable names for the European news market. News unfortunately has become a commercial product instead of an informative one.

[skypigeon]

Here in Kansas City, the media doesn't even know you all have a race. The few that do don't know where it is. I've litterally had people ask me where it was held when I told them I was going to the Indy 500.. and of course on my last day of work before I leave for the 500 they all wish me a great time at the "races"..

I monitor service calls at my work. One lady asking a rep about his business trip asked him "Did you have a good time in Indianapolis... if it's possible to have a good time in Indianapolis?"

I thought of the 500, and the Super Bowl, and about 5,000 other things Indy has or has had that KC does not nor has not, and thought "Lady, you've got to be kidding."

[Bottleguy]

A couple of years ago I was in the Indianapolis airport and went into the Brickyard shop there. There was an entire rack of 1/64 scale Indy cars for sale and the computer generated sign obviously made by a worker in the shop there read:

1/64 NASCAR's
$4.99

I almost fell over. Took a picture with my camera phone and e-mailed it to the track. Never heard anything about it though. Pretty bad right in IndyCar's own backyard this kind of stuff happens.

[Bottleguy]

Another rant: In 2010, one of the local newspapers did a story on my love for the 500. My office is full of Indy memorabilia and a photographer took a few pictures to include in the article. I had to correct the reporter several times that I didn't follow the "NASCAR 500", she couldn't get it through her head. I asked if I could proof the article before it was in the paper and she said it would be ok. Well, what she sent me still said the Indy NASCAR 500 and I loved the race. I e-mailed back to her and she finally got it corrected.

[ramberg]

Another rant: In 2010, one of the local newspapers did a story on my love for the 500. My office is full of Indy memorabilia and a photographer took a few pictures to include in the article. I had to correct the reporter several times that I didn't follow the "NASCAR 500", she couldn't get it through her head. I asked if I could proof the article before it was in the paper and she said it would be ok. Well, what she sent me still said the Indy NASCAR 500 and I loved the race. I e-mailed back to her and she finally got it corrected.

That is pathetic - but common. The airport story of the "NASCARs" 1/64th model cars is too. How did we get here???

[SAVATS]

Where did we go wrong? Walk through a Wal-Mart and see how many products carry a NASCAR brand. Every thing from shirts to baby bottles. Then see how many Indy brands you see. Let me rephrase that. See if you can find any. Maybe in Indianapolis you will find some, but not anywhere else in the country. Where did we go wrong indeed!


Exposure and promotion is the key. I became a Chicago Cub fan because I watched them on TV every day.

When you count the Nationwide series (most people can't tell the difference between that series and Sprint) you get about 70 races on TV every year.

Where did we go wrong? When Tony George was born. That's where we went wrong.