Per Jenna Fryer
She says possible alternatives are a race at Pocono or a second TMS race on October 7th.
Should make a lot people happy around here if the China race is replaced with an oval.
Oops, maybe I was a tad bit late to the party with this thread. Delete if necessary.
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A race at Pocono would bound to be rushed and ill-prepared. A second Texas race is probably the better choice for safety sake. Heck, maybe someone will show up the second time.
They had 70k at that race? I have to say that is at least 'someone'. But yes, it would be a good choice. Also a good way to mend things with Eddie.Originally Posted by millrace
Get your head out of your past!!!
So it's what...3 for 3 on AOWR races cancelled in the continental far east?
... edited
Those two are a bit of a surprise. 2nd race at Texas would be a nice way to build on the race just completed and maybe cement improve relations between the Series and TMS. Pie in the sky I suppose.
Pocono would be great next year, unless some behind the scenes prep has been going on I don't see how they could do it this year.
Yes, China being replaced with an oval makes me happy. I realize the China race was supposed to be desired by Izod as they wanted to expand their business there.
I also realize the 8 mil or whatever the China race was supposed to pay would've been good for the series, but these street festivals (especially the international ones) seem like a venus fly trap of political ramifications more often than not.
43 -- Joe Gosek -- ALTA Team Scandia -- Lola/Ford
Pocono or another race at Texas. I guess from a business standpoint Texas would probably be the more solid choice but I'm not sure if Texans are willing to buy more tickets since in the fall there is also the Austin GP coming which should draw the same crowd IMO. There's not enough time to promote at Pocono though from a race fan perspective a venue at Pocono would be awesome.
I hope that Indycar never goes to China. F1 isn't doing too well over there and even if Indycar went over there I don't think this race well be sustainable for the long term future which Indycar needs to focus on.
"The only good horsepower is usable horsepower.."
Any race after Fontana may anger ISC and Auto Club Speedway. I really can't imagine Eddie wants a 2nd race 1 month before this NASCAR date. Pocono in late September, you're getting perilous weather wise. Not for the race, but any practices could be too cold in the morning. It's doable I guess. 4 tickets would be sold to me though, because I can actually drive people to that place. Also, IndyCar would have to do a two day test at Pocono prior to make sure it's okay and safe. That would have to happen nearly immediately.
PS: Cavin reported this morning "Plan Bs are Road America, Laguna Seca and Pocono."
Wanker!
My vote is for Pocono, even if it means that ticket sales this year aren't great, as long as it is part of a multi-year deal and this year's sanctioning fee reflects the realities of the situation. The racing at Indy was as good as, if not better than, Texas, and they would be stupid not to run the same package at Pocono. You're also within driving distance of the largest metro area in the country, but not so close to Baltimore to affect attendance there.
Don't get me wrong, Texas was a great race. The bigger issue for me is that I don't see the value of visiting any track more than once per season. NASCAR seems to get away with it, but I don't think IndyCar is in that position.
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RB said he had a back-up plan, I'm willing to wait to see what it is. Hopefully another oval. How about Vegas?
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If they run at Texas in October, I'll try my damnedest to be there
I love this series with all my heart, but this is the stuff that people laugh at when I talk about it. Complete joke...
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When's the last time you had the crowd up on their feet?
The Indianapolis 500. Where Milk doesn't just taste like Milk. It tastes like Immortality.
You know, I don't remember them ever saying they would never go to Vegas again, just that it (understandably) not on the schedule this year after what happened last year. Now that Texas has demonstrated that IndyCar can race on the high-banked ovals, perhaps some of the burden of Vegas has been lifted.
It's a huge loss of sanctioning fee, and may kill off several events next year like Texas, Milwaukee, etc., which the series can no longer afford to do at low sanction.
Yeah, but Texas NEVER raced like Vegas did.
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If anyone outside hardcore fans was aware of a China race, I'd be relatively shocked.
For me, Road America, Kentucky, Pocono, Texas...doesn't matter, I'm down for going wherever.
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Kentucky.
My first Indy 500 was 1973, haven't missed one since 1981. To date I have attended 35 Indy 500's, and probably 100 or so other IndyCar races (CART & IRL).
Let's not forget any oval race is going to get killed by the NFL on whatever weekend its on.
Yes! That opens a date for South Korea!
Post Fontana, I would think only Phoenix and Laguna would work
Indy, Cleveland, Mid-Ohio, Pocono, Michigan, Long Beach, Watkins Glen, Kentucky, IRP - 49
I kinda like the idea of doing Saturday oval races.....like Texas, Milwaukee and Iowa are this year. They don't have to be at night to work either.
Chicago or KY would be perfect.. you have the majority of open wheel fans close to these tracks, coming off texas we know they can put on a good show and the fact they have lights opens up more schedule options (saturday or Sunday)
I'm gonna wiggle it at 'em, you cheap b@st@rd. Be prepared, because when I yank it out, everybody in that audience except my wife is gonna be runnin' for the exits.
I would like Watkins Glen, Pocono, Texas #2, or Road America. Laguna Seca would also be cool.
Kentucky would be awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!If anyone outside hardcore fans was aware of a China race, I'd be relatively shocked.
For me, Road America, Kentucky, Pocono, Texas...doesn't matter, I'm down for going wherever.
The reality is the numbers are dropping yet you call the deal 'ahead of its time'. The only end result that can be drerived from that is the series will be broke 'ahead of its time'.
Which is why I think the replacement race needs to take the August date and why Pocono makes sense to me.
That's about 2 weeks after the 2nd Cup date.
No man can cause more grief than that one clinging blindly to the vices of his ancestors. - William Faulker
Pocono would be:
a) a delightful surprise
b) a true test of the new car
c) sparsely attended because less than two months is not enough time to adequately promote a race.
In short, it's dreaming. But I could be wrong.
As long as it's not 40 degrees in Kentucky again.
Saturday of Kentucky weekend last year made the 1992 Indy 500 seem balmy.
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hour of the day, and when I sleep, too. Everything I
ever wanted in my life, I found inside the walls of
the Indianapolis Motor Speedway."
- Eddie Sachs.
I hope it's NOT Pocono.Pocono would be:
a) a delightful surprise
b) a true test of the new car
c) sparsely attended because less than two months is not enough time to adequately promote a race.
In short, it's dreaming. But I could be wrong.
I'd love to see Pocono on the 2013 schedule with a fair shot at promoting it, but as a thrown-together last-resort race I think the chances of success would be less.
I would think, if it's going to be after Auto Club, it would have to be an ISC track to keep them happy. Maybe if they give Phoenix or Chicagoland a test run, and draw more than Auto Club......gives hope of getting one of those back.
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