Schedule To Stay At 15 Races

[Grinder-Tank]

Some are seeminly so forgetful on how the 2011 season ended. It had a impact on the schedule being released. In the end, all I see is ONE race with an issue. All races are in place except for China, and it goes that way for anyone that races or tries to race there.

With people at Track Forum, You'd think 6 races were called off.

cool

[cpthornman]

Some are seeminly so forgetful on how the 2011 season ended. It had a impact on the schedule being released. In the end, all I see is ONE race with an issue. All races are in place except for China, and it goes that way for anyone that races or tries to race there.

With people at Track Forum, You'd think 6 races were called off.

cool

Now come on. This is the internet. Freaking out is a requirement.
Thank God the internet wasn't around when talks fell through with track owners on a regular basis.

[Captain Spyro]

Now come on. This is the internet. Freaking out is a requirement.
Thank God the internet wasn't around when talks fell through with track owners on a regular basis.

Man oh man, think of the reactions during the USAC/CART split.

[cpthornman]

Man oh man, think of the reactions during the USAC/CART split.

The U.S. government would have needed to issue DEFCON 1 for that.

[Neshaminy]

Man oh man, think of the reactions during the USAC/CART split.

Oh bring up an old wound, why not pour lemon juice on it, eh?

[Parnelli64]

Well see that's the kicker. They know and we don't. Obviously the risk was too great and they decided to not go forward with it. Say what you want about RB and his decision making in terms of the racing and stuff but he's good with money and would have been financially feasible we would've seen at 16th race at RA. Unless we get to see the particulars all the pissing and moaning isn't going any bit of good.

you know this because? China was the magic bullet that was going to make this year break-even or maybe even turn a profit and that's gone...so where's Randy's goldfinger??

[Parnelli64]

Please explain how announcing that you have a Plan B involving a 16th race and then not having a 16th race is good for IndyCar long term?

I am guessing you will say that IndyCar will avoid losing more money with a 16th race, which could be a disaster as it would have to be put together in only two months. To that I would say that RA has a good weekend in place which IndyCar could have fairly easily joined if it didn't demand a ridiculous sanction fee at this point in time. I don't know the particulars of the costs that IndyCar would have to cover, but I can't imagine how they would lose too much money on such a venture. And not having a 16th race this year (and the unprofessional manner in which it was handled) has upset a lot of constituencies which I would argue will have a greater deleterious effect on the long-term prospects of IndyCar than the potential loss incurred from having a 16th race.

exactly...why blow smoke with the "Plan B" crap if you never had one?

[Parnelli64]

Man oh man, think of the reactions during the USAC/CART split.

funny stuff, but there's only ONE series now, if the rats jump this ship....there's no other ship to swim to.......

[mesquite]

Some are seeminly so forgetful on how the 2011 season ended. It had a impact on the schedule being released. In the end, all I see is ONE race with an issue. All races are in place except for China, and it goes that way for anyone that races or tries to race there.

Actually, Randy paid for LVMS this year too. So, that's two race cancellations for the year. And he took the sanction fee hit for Milwaukee (presumably Baltimore too). That's a total of 3 or 4 races that instead of producing profits for the series actually produced negative income. YEEEE-HAAAAWWWWW!!!!

[mesquite]

Piss Poor Planning

[Captain Spyro]

Actually, Randy paid for LVMS this year too. So, that's two race cancellations for the year. And he took the sanction fee hit for Milwaukee (presumably Baltimore too). That's a total of 3 or 4 races that instead of producing profits for the series actually produced negative income. YEEEE-HAAAAWWWWW!!!!

Overboard, any?

Unless we now the details of the financial committments, we really can't say how much was lost, and that goes with China too.

[doitagain]

Actually, Randy paid for LVMS this year too. So, that's two race cancellations for the year. And he took the sanction fee hit for Milwaukee (presumably Baltimore too). That's a total of 3 or 4 races that instead of producing profits for the series actually produced negative income. YEEEE-HAAAAWWWWW!!!!

How many threads do you guys need for this crap??

[doitagain]

Piss Poor Planning

How do you know? Could have been worse

[Grinder-Tank]

Actually, Randy paid for LVMS this year too. So, that's two race cancellations for the year. And he took the sanction fee hit for Milwaukee (presumably Baltimore too). That's a total of 3 or 4 races that instead of producing profits for the series actually produced negative income. YEEEE-HAAAAWWWWW!!!!

MASTER: Agenda Twist,,,, Your technique is magnificent!!!!!

[Helen Kuntz]

1. As I said before, from my knowledge the aero kits are till a go for 2013. Until Randy or someone respectful in Indycar states that it's not I don't know where people are getting the idea that it's not happening in 2013.

2. There's no doubt that Randy played a part in it but how much - that's a good question. As I mentioned in other places on this forum I remember reading an article stating that PVH the owner of IZOD was a big backer of a Chinese race. PVH had recently released their IZOD brand clothes in China a few years back and wanted the IZOD Indycar Series to race their to promote their brand. Plus Indycar needs money. The money was there, the plans were there, but like many other motorsport leaders they were duped by the Chinese system of politics. So Randy may have had a hand in it but he absolutely had nothing to do with the result of it.

3. Agreed but even before Dan' incident it was still hard to gain any leverage anywhere because the poor leadership of American open wheel before.

4. Listen to yourself. You're saying that Randy reached his goal is increasing the popularity of the series but yet bring it out as bad news? WHAT? Randy is digging up Indycar from the grave and a 20% increase is a lot better then a 0% increase or a negative percentage increase which it was doing under the IRL and Champ Car banners. The fact that you put down Randy on something he promised and delivered on tells me there's nothing that well make you happy as long as Randy is involved.

5. The fact that he's at 15 races is not his fault. I noticed you didn't argue with the fact that Indycar being screwed over in their China race wasn't Randy's fault (point 2). The fact that many owners have been saying that they want Indycar back is amazing to me. Five years ago I never heard this much buzz from track owners wanting American open wheel back. If you told fans five years ago that the owners of Phoenix an Michigan International Speedway have said they wanted AOW back, they said you were crazy. NOw we're actually hearing these sediments being said out loud in public and that's a HUGE change IMO.

For the third time regarding TV ratings, Randy stated 20% ratings increases. They have been flat or decreasing since he joined as CEO. THAT IS NOT A GOOD THING.

[Disciple]

But, relative to the vast majority of other sports (and even general entertainment) programming available from hundreds of sources and channels (not major stick n' ball-type sports which have always rated higher than IndyCar fare), just how NOT GOOD are they, really? Can that be quantified in some way?

-The Spots N Dots Disciple of INDYCAR

[Ajax]

But, relative to the vast majority of other sports (and even general entertainment) programming available from hundreds of sources and channels (not major stick n' ball-type sports which have always rated higher than IndyCar fare), just how NOT GOOD are they, really? Can that be quantified in some way?

-The Spots N Dots Disciple of INDYCAR

But - but - but...

RB wants a 20% increase.

If ratings were as un-important as you often claim - then why would he say that?

[Disciple]

But - but - but...RB wants a 20% increase.

Well of course he does. Duh. And in some target demos he's close. That, of course, irritates the zap2it zealots, but it's all about selling the spots.

If ratings were as un-important as you often claim - then why would he say that?

Who in their right mind would not claim to want that? Ratings are not unimportant. 12+ overnight estimates, however, are.

Why do you ALWAYS have some sort of excuse?

One man's perception of what constitutes an excuse is often another man's futile attempt at intelligent discourse.

-The Waxing Philosophical Disciple of INDYCAR

[Z28]

Other sports that start out with noticeable ratings can make the pitch to advertisers that everybody is down some but we still reach this many million viewers. INDYCAR starts so low that when they lose some it puts them in junk bond territory. A .2 drop is huge from .7 where down .2 from 3.5 isn't 30% of the audience. When it comes to selling the spots. The broadcasts are filled with the official marketing partners, who if they weren't in the series, wouldn't be buying commercial time. IZOD, Firestone, Chevrolet, Honda, Go Daddy, Geico. What would be a sign of those supposedly growing demos would be advertisers not involved with the series but seeing the value in buying time on the races.

[indyracefan]

How many threads do you guys need for this crap??

Well you guys created the demons by creating all these forums, letting them stay, letting them continually post this kind of stuff. That's why more & more of us only drop by every now & again these days.

[skypigeon]

Thanks, IRF. This was starting to turn into yet another ratings thread...