Understandably not discussed, but what about that crowd?

[lutesk]

Looked real good on tv to me.

[IndyJim1]

I thought the same thing, seemed like the grandstand was jammed.

[R_Mears_Fan]

They packed them in certain sections. There were others that were completely bare.

Par for the course.

[OldSchoolIRL]

Nice improvement over past years!

[lutesk]

They packed them in certain sections. There were others that were completely bare.

Par for the course.

Duh.

I didn't say the place was full. I said the crowd looked good.

[hfoto]

They don't sell all the sections at Homestead. We've been there every year since it was an IRL race. Attendance has, by my eyeball estimate, increased noticeably each year until 2005, and this year was about the same as last year. The sections they were selling were probably 85-90% full. Large numbers of Brazilian soccer shirts and flags and lots of F1 regalia on display. Seems like a good IRL market to me.

[Indycarjunkie]

Large numbers of Brazilian soccer shirts and flags ...... Seems like a good IRL market to me.

I bet the place would have been rocking of Helio had held off Dan for the win. I'd like to go sometime...but as long as Homestead will be the season opener, it would be hard to skip the season opener party at the Brickyard Crossing to fly to south florida.

[Chris Paff]

Well TSO states most people in the press thought the crowd was larger then last year.. I cant wait to see what the overnights are..

[Frank Capua]

There appeared to be more than last year...

[optimusprime05]

Reid said there was 65,000 this year. I am probably wrong about this, but I thought last year was only around 30 - 40,000.

[Chris Paff]

Reid said the track seats 65,000

[Scott]

No Reid engaged in the classic OW attendance deception perfected by Champ Car and recently adopted by the IRL. He said that there was a good crowd at the 65,000 maximum capacity venue. He did say it in such a way that it would be easy to assume that he was reporting a raceday crowd of 65,000. This is very similar to Champ Car boasting about a crowd of 200,000 people and then adding the disclaimer "over the weekend" as they are fading in the music or in an almost subliminal manner hoping that the majority of viewers will not notice the truth.

[optimusprime05]

I distinctely (spelling) remember him saying that all 65,000 people in attendance were on their feet, toward the end of the race.

[TUBORG-fan]

65000 sounds like alot too me.....

[hfoto]

I bet the place would have been rocking of Helio had held off Dan for the win

The contingent of Brazilians around us erupted in ecstasy at the finish, not realizing Dan had won at the line until we pointed to the scoring pylon. They seemed to think it was a mistake until finally accepting the result a few minutes later, and I have no doubt they went home thinking something was fishy about it. Then again, they celebrated wildly every time Helio put Cheever or PJ another lap down.