Wondering time: 2007 IRL schedule

[Z28]

But not more than that. There is the Brian Barnhart interview talking about adding new tracks and revisiting past venues. Knowing that some tracks don't want a NASCAR an IRL weekend too close together there's this from Jayski:

2007 Cup Sched changes? A new television package and concerns over attendance and TV ratings for some events could lead to a change in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series schedule, with changes coming as early as 2007, some in the sport believe. NASCAR typically doesn't begin the process of signing sanctioning agreements and putting its schedule together for the following year until it has visited tracks on the current schedule. However, with a new eight-year agreement that includes Fox, Speed, TNT and ABC/ESPN partners beginning in 2007, NASCAR may consider shuffling some dates to improve both ratings and attendance figures. "I haven't heard anything yet," car owner Richard Childress said March 4, "but I wouldn't be surprised. "I think with the new TV package, you better be prepared for what may have to happen. I think that [the TV package] will dictate not only the time of the race [on the schedule] but where we may even go as well." The season-opening Daytona 500, which was broadcast on NBC, pulled in 37.2 million viewers and a record 11.3 household rating according to the network, making it the highest-rated NASCAR event in the sport's history. The following week's race in Fontana, Calif., however, registered a 7.4 rating, down from a 7.9 rating the previous year. Attendance for the California race, as well, appeared to be down.(SceneDaily.com)(3-9-2006)

I would say don't expect a 2007 IRL schedule to come out in June, it will be difficult to get tracks to add or move dates before they know where their Cup dates will be. And it's hard to add an Iowa date not knowing where existing tracks might be shifting.

With Cup drivers winning every Busch race this year there's more talk about not allowing them to run so many BGN races. They would have to make a rule to keep them out but maybe splitting some of the races from the Cup races and I don't know paring them with the IndyCar series since they would both be on ESPN might be what previous rumors were about. Think about Phoenix with a two day ticket for a Busch/IRL weekend. There's another mention on Jayski that Bruton Smith would buy Darlington in order to move the date back to Labor day. Sure ISC would have to move their California date but that could open up California for the IRL on Labor day.

It's early but 2006 is when the 2007 plan has to be formed.

[Mack Too]

Of all the things Brian said, that's the one thing I know he won't live up to. IndyCar has NEVER posted their schedule until the NASCAR schedule was made public or was leaked to the media. While I expect they work with NASCAR and their joint effort tracks on schedule dates and know the final version long before the media, they won't post any ICS schedule that might give the public or media a hint to any NASCAR changes. That said, there are only so many warm weather sites for either series to use early in the season, Phoenix is one of those, and I expect (and hope) IndyCar will return there next year with a new and better promoted combined Copper World package. Then there is the accommodation/unification issue. If there is anything to that, neither series will want to "lame-duck" the rest of this years events. Here's my take, the last IndyCar date is Chicagoland on 9/10 unless there is some last minute deal cut for to be a support race for the CTS series at Las Vegas when they open the track with the new banking and racing surface later in September. LVMS will want to make big news of the first race, and what better way than the IndyCars at 220-mph. Anyway, I make the over/under date for the IndyCar schedule to be September 7th!

Just taking a guess at still making a run at Vegas, I rate it as very unlikely but never say never, the ISC runs at SMI venues, and if Bruton wants to make a big splash and cuts the right deal, it could happen, make it a less than 3% chance. When the CCWS first appeared at LVMS, the race was announced mid-season. While there isn't much chance for construction delays (they know how to get things done in Vegas), once they know the pavement is down and will "cure" in time, there will be a big promotional effort for the opener.

[Jim Wilke]

I wonder if NASCAR/ISC isn't going to rethink their second race at Fontana. Wouldn't it make sense to put that date someplace else - like Vegas in the fall - and then run a Busch/IRL race at Fontana in the spring?

[Mack Too]

Like mind's Jim? We were both writing the same thing at the same time. I included thoughts on Fontana as well, then deleted it.

[JoeBob]

I wonder if NASCAR/ISC isn't going to rethink their second race at Fontana. Wouldn't it make sense to put that date someplace else - like Vegas in the fall - and then run a Busch/IRL race at Fontana in the spring?

Taking a Nextel Cup race from an ISC facility and giving it to SMI?

I don't think so.

[Jim Wilke]

I understand the SMI issue but Vegas could really use a second date and would likely be willing to pay far more for it than, say, Kentucky and I doubt a second date at one of the few ISC tracks that doesn't have a second race - Kansas, Chicago - would make as much money.

[Mack Too]

I was there before the race last Wednesday and Thursday, and have also read many things Bruton Smith has said, there is tremendous pressure from both the political and casino sides to get a 2nd date for LVMS, and Smith will do everything possible to make it happen. It could come at SEMA time, but at that time there might not be enough hotel rooms even for a big bedroom city like Vegas. I'm not sure even NASCAR is opposed to giving Bruton a 2nd date there, but the first hurts Fontana already, the 2nd would be really bad news for California Speedway. Bruton put a $200 million value on a Vegas race, and that may be understated.

Some people like to point out that racing gets better by the year as the LVMS pavement ages, while that could be the case, I think it is more a matter of the teams getting more sophisticated in building more downforce and better suspension geometry into the car with every succeeding year they return and every year the get more test data.

[Cosworth]

Why doesn't the IRL race at tracks like Bristol? They would put on a exciting race there, same as Winchester or any other high banked mile or half mile track.

I'd much rather watch a IRL race at Bristol than Kansas or Chicagoland.

IMO the IRL would draw well at Bristol or Winchester and the racing would be exciting?

[tbyars]

Why doesn't the IRL race at tracks like Bristol? They would put on a exciting race there, same as Winchester or any other high banked mile or half mile track.

I'd much rather watch a IRL race at Bristol than Kansas or Chicagoland.

IMO the IRL would draw well at Bristol or Winchester and the racing would be exciting?

Some guy with a name pretty much like yours was just on here over the weekend talking about crash damage, and how it has to be minimized.

Want to see crash damage? Put the IndyCars on a track like Bristol.

[Cygni]

Crash damage at Bristol wouldnt be even close to the type you are going to see at Chicagoland. Crash damage at bristol is new attenuators and front nose cones... crashes at Chicagoland are "well, strip it to the tub and build it back up" affairs.

[Cosworth]

Some guy with a name pretty much like yours was just on here over the weekend talking about crash damage, and how it has to be minimized.

Want to see crash damage? Put the IndyCars on a track like Bristol.

Tbyars you indicated that crash damage was of no consequence to the IRL.

IMO putting some skill back into the racing, by having to apply brake each corner IMO would help oval racing, instead of the 100% throttle all the time at 1.5 mile or bigger tracks.

You don't think that a IRL race at Bristol would be exciting? Bristol was a example but there are many other half-mile-mile tracks that would put on exciting racing. Martinsville would be another, however flat the racing would encompass the whole track and you would be in traffic the entire race. The 1.5 mile tracks have a pack that rarely involves traffic like the smaller tracks would.

Why has the IRL abandoned the short tracks of America? Tracks that OW cars produce the most exciting shows. 18 cars on 1.5 mile tracks is like a ghost town, the same 18 on a short track will produce racing around the entire track for the duration of the race. Not a pack coming by every 30 sec.

[Jim Wilke]

If there are crashes at Chicago, they can be nasty but there is a reasonable chance there won't be any. At last year's race, there were three accidents, fairly minor. At Kentucky there was one and at Kansas there was one. Go to Bristol and there will be a dozen or more - just check the results of the last Dover race.

[99moore]

no kidding.....cosworth is all over the place.

[tbyars]

Tbyars you indicated that crash damage was of no consequence to the IRL.

Post that link, please, or retract.

[tbyars]

Crash damage at Bristol wouldnt be even close to the type you are going to see at Chicagoland. Crash damage at bristol is new attenuators and front nose cones... crashes at Chicagoland are "well, strip it to the tub and build it back up" affairs.

Come on, Cygni, you know better. You are going to tell me that an IRL car at 140 mph at Bristol hitting the wall (or being t-boned by other cars) is guaranteed to have minor damage?

Jim is right. The possibility of a crash goes WAY up at a half mile track like Bristol.