Now that Verizon is IndyCar's title sponsor...

[skypigeon]

Been a long time since I've done a 'Pidge Poll, so for you noobs, disclaimers:

* Pick the answer that is closest to your own opinion.
* If none of them are closest to your own opinion, pick the "engines in front" option. That's what it's for. It has a unique history of its own I'll explain if interested, but not now.
* If you pick the engines-in-front option, have the decency to post what IS closest to your own opinion. Fear not the snarking that follows. Most of us mean it with a smile; those that don't mean it with a smile, aren't worth worrying about. Discussion is good.

Me? Put me in the "mild to high optimism" camp. It's early and there's a full season of racing just days away, but at least on the surface this looks like the best thing to happen in a long, long time. Verizon ain't exactly a new fad, or on the verge of bankruptcy, or a "niche" product. Nor do they market like one. This company WILL activate its sponsorship, and if the videos posted here so far are any indication, they will do it with style, panache, and--something IZOD never quite understood, unfortunately--accessibility.

Will they turn around things quick? No. Attendance will still not be what we'd like. Ratings this season will still suck--save for maybe the 500, I'm feeling a good vibe there. And because it won't all turn around instantly, the usual suspects, you know who they are, will harp and carp and try to drag us down into their Puddles Pity Parties (Google it, all I'm gonna say) as they always have done and will do.

Screw 'em. We've got something good going, and no good reason to stop it. Quoth the legendary Railbird, "Drop the flag."

[Z28]

I'm here in wait and see mode. The same people just home from the store with their brand new RayBans probably should have just saved the ones they bought the day IZOD signed on as title sponsor and used them. I liken this week to buying a Mega Millions ticket, if you feel so good about it that you go out and start spending money like there's no tomorrow, BEFORE the drawing to see if you win, then you probably think Indycar has just become mainstream.

We'll find out what Verizon has in mind but anyone who thinks they're going to incorporate INDYCAR into more than a small portion of the advertising they do is Indycar intoxicated. I'll be pleasantly surprised if they really do much on TV that's not during the broadcasts. My hope is still that Verizon signed on only after INDYCAR agreed to some fundamental changes to the way they do things, including scheduling, after the supposed transitional 2014. Verizon has a successful track record in business and I would rather trust and be willing to follow their outlook on the future rather than the BCG course INDYCAR chose.

[racefanindy]

I'm a little more optimistic. I wondered at the time how a clothing company like IZOD could really promote a sport like auto racing. Aside from that, I've seen close racing the last couple of years with the DW12. The series and the Speedway are trying different things to bring attention & get some new fans involved. Even though I work for a different phone company, I'm excited about the Verizon announcement.

It's a long term deal which is good for both parties. Right now, competition is fierce between the cell phone carriers. I believe Verizon will put the activation part of the deal to good use. We'll be seeing TV commercials & signage where ever Verizon services are sold. As I've read in other threads, this is a no brainer for a cell phone carrier to use the SPEED comparisons when using Indy Cars in their ads.

Someday, I hope to be able to compare this to PPG's series sponsorship back in the 80's. It was also a long term deal and, PPG put it to good use. Bringing customers to the tracks, giving pace car rides, the huge hospitality tent and all their print advertising.

Let the season begin!!

[gofaster]

I'm highly optimistic. Izod was a decent partner overall, but I feel Verizon can give Indycar the tools to take the series to the next level. I think it's a win-win situation for Verizon and Indycar.

[sweaty]

Good news.
Now lets watch the "dome" sayers trash it.

[goner]

Mild to high. It's certainly a huge positive but the "damage is done" choice I had to ponder a quick moment.
My pessimism about all racing is the even with the best and smartest management the interest in autos and racing them is waning.

Good news for the series. Hoping it pulls people in to take a look.

[ramberg]

I hope that Verizon takes on Sprint and makes a battle out of it. Go for it Verizon.

[dot350]

I don't see the sponsorship itself single-handed saving IndyCar, but what it does do is give IndyCar time to make the choices and changes it needs to survive for many years.

I'm not sure what to vote, because I believe that this is a lifeline for IndyCar and the future is very bright, but only if IndyCar can capitalize. The ball is now, for probably the first time since before the split, in IndyCar's court to determine their own destiny.

Hopefully Verizon can become the next PPG/Winston, and actively sponsor IndyCar for a long time.

[irlracingfan]

I hope that Verizon takes on Sprint and makes a battle out of it. Go for it Verizon.

I hope this is true, too, Ramberg. IndyCar's on track product is superior in a multitude of ways, and now we have the superior title sponsor as well. I hope Verizon makes a battle of it.

Like Verizon's coverage superiority over Sprint, when the on-track products are analyzed in a side-by-side comparison, IndyCar's superiority is hard to miss; IndyCar is faster, more technologically advanced, more competitive, and requires a notably more diverse set of skills from its drivers. If Verizon contributes to IndyCar's media and public awareness, and makes these issues public knowledge, it can do nothing but aid both entities; Verizon AND IndyCar!

[BizzyV]

Waiting for the Verizon commercial making the Indycar vs NASCAR speed vs Verizon vs Sprint 4g speed analogy.

[Scuff]

As for Indycar's future I'm in the wait and see camp. Last I checked, Verizon was into telecommunications and cell phones, not crystal balls. 6 million annually is a good thing. A series sponsor that is a household name is a great thing.

[Sybil D. Sobydianz]

...IndyCar's superiority is hard to miss; IndyCar is faster, more technologically advanced, more competitive, and requires a notably more diverse set of skills from its drivers. ...

While those points are debatable, you might lose a couple of those debates. At any rate, we don't need to be comparing one series to another in this forum. Some fans fund that to be a turn-off, for one, and for another, we don't want those fans coming in here to engage the debate. BTDT. Thanks.

[lkchris]

There appear an endless number of "framily" commercials for Sprint, but I cannot recall any ads from them that mention NASCAR but their ads for sure appear in all kinds of programming.

Do recall some nice Verizon ads featuring Power and maybe others but I think mostly just during race broadcasts.

Ads during race broadcasts don't really reach anybody new but I'd question whether race connection will now occur in ads during other programming. Since Sprint doesn't do it and Americans have heard of their series.

And it's certain there are no "household names" in Indycar primed to bring the message to a new audience and it's also likely Verizon won't see its mission as bringing awareness of Saavedra, Conway, etc. to Americans.

Hard to see this as anything big. Willing to be surprised.

[Jim Wilke]

While those points are debatable, you might lose a couple of those debates. At any rate, we don't need to be comparing one series to another in this forum. Some fans fund that to be a turn-off, for one, and for another, we don't want those fans coming in here to engage the debate. BTDT. Thanks.

[Darth Airbox]

While those points are debatable, you might lose a couple of those debates. At any rate, we don't need to be comparing one series to another in this forum. Some fans fund that to be a turn-off, for one, and for another, we don't want those fans coming in here to engage the debate. BTDT. Thanks.

Sadly it is pretty ingrained into minds of the western world population; Coke vs Pepsi, Ford v Chevy, Google v Apple. The whole free market concept that competition creates better product can get really flawed when the competition cannibalizes itself, which is what I see when motor sports gets into any sort of brand v brand competition.