Who's Bright Idea To Schedule Indy Lights Race and IndyCar Autographs At Same Time?

[Back On Track]

Who had the bright idea for the Honda Indy Toronto to schedule the drop of the green flag for Indy Lights on Saturday at the exact same time the green flag waves for the Firestone Indy Lights Race? ARGGGGH! People can't do both at once. Someone dropped the ball big-time on this one.

[thehairpin]

My guess is they were either thinking

autograph session = casual fans (vast majority)
Indy Lights race = few diehards

or

Nobody, not even the diehards, watch the Indy Lights

Either way, their logic was faulty to the point of FUBAR.

[mitchbr]

Well, usually the Lights race starts the same time as the Lights race

Don't know why they'd do that. Big D'oh moment I'm sure.

[GrafixMatt]

Well, usually the Lights race starts the same time as the Lights race

Don't know why they'd do that. Big D'oh moment I'm sure.

Lights race and autograph session at the same time.

I haven't been to the autograph session the last two years, but this year my friend wants to go, and my 5 year old nephew wants me to get him something from "The Green Car Driver" (what he calls Hinch, His Green GoDaddy die cast).

[Z28]

It was that way in Milwaukee and is usually that way there

There aren't any positives to doing it that way. Why siphon off the most diehard of Indycar fans who come out on a Friday or Saturday from the already small crowd to watch the Lights race? Don't you want the Lights drivers to get better known since they are one step from the top of the ladder? It makes for a terrible looking crowd for the Lights TV broadcast, especially if on an overhead shot they show a huge line of people in the infield and it looks like something going on at the track was better to see than the race. That doesn't present a good image for Lights teams and drivers seeking sponsors when they're telling a company they have a TV package but nobody is in the stands. Many times in the past the Lights drivers have been paired with the IICS drivers at autograph sessions and that does three things. Spreads out the number of lines and makes the lines shorter and people get to see the Lights drivers.

Part of why this is done is to placate those loud few fans who want on track action every minute of the day to enjoy their day. Things happening in the paddock and off the track for one series have to be scheduled when someone else is on the track.

[Back On Track]

What's happening with Hinch 1:18? Although totally off topic does anyone know what shirts and jerseys IndyCar is bringing to Toronto? It's usually extremely limited because they get dinged every time they cross the border with fees.

[GrafixMatt]

It was that way in Milwaukee and is usually that way there

There aren't any positives to doing it that way. Why siphon off the most diehard of Indycar fans who come out on a Friday or Saturday from the already small crowd to watch the Lights race? Don't you want the Lights drivers to get better known since they are one step from the top of the ladder? It makes for a terrible looking crowd for the Lights TV broadcast, especially if on an overhead shot they show a huge line of people in the infield and it looks like something going on at the track was better to see than the race. That doesn't present a good image for Lights teams and drivers seeking sponsors when they're telling a company they have a TV package but nobody is in the stands. Many times in the past the Lights drivers have been paired with the IICS drivers at autograph sessions and that does three things. Spreads out the number of lines and makes the lines shorter and people get to see the Lights drivers.

Part of why this is done is to placate those loud few fans who want on track action every minute of the day to enjoy their day. Things happening in the paddock and off the track for one series have to be scheduled when someone else is on the track.

They should have either kept the Lights race right before the Indycars on Sunday or moved it to it's old time slot, mid afternoon and Saturday late afternoon was lesser races that people didn't mind missing for autograph sessions and other off track events.

[GrafixMatt]

What's happening with Hinch 1:18? Although totally off topic does anyone know what shirts and jerseys IndyCar is bringing to Toronto? It's usually extremely limited because they get dinged every time they cross the border with fees.

Hinch stuff, I know Dereks's got a lot, since Toronto Motorsports is officially Hinchtown, and Lids assured me they will have their full booth, the Lids pairing is the best thing for the series in Canada, since Lids has a Canadian arm, the getting merch across the border is fairly easy.

[HAWKFAN5724]

I blame Barnhart.

[Unzerdog]

I have the real mind- bender for you all then. Anybody standing in that autograph line take notice... Notice all the video monitors placed all over the autograph session. Next, Notice the Indy Lights race happening live all around you, Next look at the video monitors again, and ask yourself this......." Why T F are they showing the same exact 10 yr old crappy 2 minute highlight reel of the past 10 years AND NOT the live race action that is taking place in that exact same location.?" IndyCar is THAT out of touch.
Somedays, I just can't feel sorry them.

I missed the fast 6 in order to meet Rubens. IndyCar is just at the ass end of technology.