20-22 Races?

[Hitokiri]

From today's chat on Speedtv.com. I think Robin also mentioned this briefly in his mailbag...

robin miller: randy bernard wants 20-22 races and a start in late january early feb -- before daytona 500 sdo indy car isn't off the map for six months

What do you think about these ideas? An earlier jump to the beginning of the Indycar season. 20-22 races?

I know an early jump on the race season would be cool but late January or early February? Wow that's stink'n early! I think the only place that would be ready for a race that early would be in Brazil. Wouldn't that cause a major break between the first few races of the Indycar season?

Plus 20 race - that's okay. 22 races though is stretching it for me. We have teams that can barely push on and to add two more races well only add onto these problems. Plus I do believe that the drivers do enjoy their vacation time. Plus we had 17 races last season and the final race was held on the first week of October. If we added 3 races that would have meant the season would of ended possibly in November!? Add another 2 races and we're definitely talking at least the first week in November at the latest! Craziness

So what do you think of Randy's new Indycar schedule idea?

[sean26]

i think we should start the week after the super bowl and end around labor day

[Hitokiri]

Sorry for the poll questions...for some reason it didn't post up the other two options which were..

"20-22 races is fine but the starting the season in Jan/Feb is too early.."
"I want more races then this and I want an even earlier start date!"

[HAWKFAN5724]

I wouldnt mind as long as there is only going to be a race every other week. I like the idea of ending on labor day too, stay out of the way of football.

[ARROWZ46]

I love the concept of starting EARLIER, but until TV ratings come up sponsorship $$$ will NOT allow 20-22 races :nono:

[millrace]

i think we should start the week after the super bowl and end around labor day

Bingo. Continuity is a big key. And avoiding football. Although when you think about it, there might be some unique ratings opportunities this fall if the NFL doesn't get their act together. If they think people wont turn on them they can go ask David Stern, Tiger Woods and any hockey player. Might be the perfect year for the new car and Vegas excitement.

[richie]

From 1996-2000, the IRL season started at Disneyworld on the last weekend of January. That was a great way to kick off the season before NASCAR got to Daytona. IIRC, I believe those WDW races had some of the highest TV ratings outside of Indy.

[Z28]

I love the concept of starting EARLIER, but until TV ratings come up sponsorship $$$ will NOT allow 20-22 races :nono:

That and where are you going to race in January? Starting outside the USA is as good as not having a race when you're up against the NFL playoffs. They've written off Homestead as evil ISC, WDW Speedway doesn't seem to get mentioned, Phoenix would be great for January, maybe even California except, yeah ISC.

It's easy for Randy to toss out the numbers and the time frame but put some places to match isn't all that easy when he's cut off so many tracks owned by ISC.

[bduddy]

I'm not sure about before the D500... NFL playoffs are an absolute killer (right now), and there just aren't that many places to go. But they should be going, say, now, and there are too many off weekends. Just make sure that, unless the lockout seriously affects the NFL, you get out of the way before their season starts...

[indyracefan]

I'm all for the 20+ races. IMO, there are a variety of reasons why in the long run this will be beneficial to the teams and the series.

I like the season starting earlier too. How they end up pulling that off is another story.

[richie]

For the first race of the season, how about Sunday afternoon on the weekend between the AFC/NFC conference championships and the Super Bowl. That would put it before Daytona begins and still won't conflict with football.

[TimmyZ1]

You could do Brazil in January. Do it the Saturday before the Championship games, then fly the cars to Miami (RB has stated the ISC is not dead to them) for the next weekend (off weekend for the NFL) then give them the next weekend off then fly them to Ostraylia (Calvin & Hobbes Joke there). Fill the rest of the schedule in from there, Miami and Brazil are easy EST starts and we know the series needs to go to Australia due to the fans down there who love OW.

[Grizzlor]

I think it's inevitable with all of the talk of Houston, Quebec City, etc.

[Vic Mackey]

More races + getting a jump start on the US racing season sounds like two good ideas to me.

[ZUL8TR]

I say the more the merrier.

As Chance the Gardner said, "I like to watch."