Road racing in addition to, not in place of, ovals

[Ren Butler]

I'm not a huge fan of road and street courses, but it appears to me that the IRL is looking to run a few non-oval races in addition to the oval schedule, not in place of other ovals.

If I have a choice between 18 oval events or 18 ovals plus 4 road courses, I'll choose the one with more racing any day, as long as the oval races aren't compromised.

I'm saddened that some race "fans" are angry about more racing.

[MicroRacer]

Re: Road racing in addition to, not in place of, ovals

Originally posted by Ren Butler

I'm saddened that some race "fans" are angry about more racing.

It's because we know the road to Indy is a lie.

The only link to the short tracks right now is Sarah Fisher. You add 4 road races to the IRL and that door will be forever slammed shut to the short tracker.

At least that's my opinion.

[$noopy]

Re: Re: Road racing in addition to, not in place of, ovals

Originally posted by MicroRacer
It's because we know the road to Indy is a lie.

The only link to the short tracks right now is Sarah Fisher. You add 4 road races to the IRL and that door will be forever slammed shut to the short tracker.

At least that's my opinion.

Excatly. And since "most of the driver and owners are in favor of road courses" how long will it be "only four RR's". :mad: Ovals Only!

[Racewriter]

We've seen this movie before, Ren.

The faces have changed, but the acting technique and plot line is the same.

[don7031]

Before you get all worked up over the IRL adding road/street courses to their schedule. Try answering the following while dealing in reality. Why will these proposed road/street courses become profitable under IRL sanctioning when they aren't under CART?

[MicroRacer]

Originally posted by don7031
Before you get all worked up over the IRL adding road/street courses to their schedule. Try answering the following while dealing in reality. Why will these proposed road/street courses become profitable under IRL sanctioning when they aren't under CART?

To be quite honest, I do believe that CART makes money at their race venues. It's just that CART is loosing money supporting their race teams since their race teams can't support themselves through sponsorship.

[BlueStang]

Re: Re: Road racing in addition to, not in place of, ovals

Originally posted by MicroRacer
It's because we know the road to Indy is a lie.

The only link to the short tracks right now is Sarah Fisher. You add 4 road races to the IRL and that door will be forever slammed shut to the short tracker.

At least that's my opinion.

Yes, just like it was in NASCAR. They added road races, and now those USAC guys... you know, the ones the all-oval IRL aren't keeping "at home" now... just can't get a ride over there.

[ramdacf]

Re: Re: Re: Road racing in addition to, not in place of, ovals

Originally posted by BlueStang
Yes, just like it was in NASCAR. They added road races, and now those USAC guys... you know, the ones the all-oval IRL aren't keeping "at home" now... just can't get a ride over there.

In fact, if I'm not mistaken, the guys with the USAC background seem to do pretty well on the NASCAR RRs

[MicroRacer]

Re: Re: Re: Road racing in addition to, not in place of, ovals

Originally posted by BlueStang
Yes, just like it was in NASCAR. They added road races, and now those USAC guys... you know, the ones the all-oval IRL aren't keeping "at home" now... just can't get a ride over there.

NASCAR owners look to USAC for the next Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, but he IRL owners look everywhere but USAC to fill their seats.

[AdamM]

We've seen this movie before, Ren.

The faces have changed, but the acting technique and plot line is the same.

Yep, RW it’s like a Twilight Zone episode.

If I told you back a few years ago that the leader of an open wheel series was complaining about having to go road & street racing because there aren’t enough oval tracks to run on and that same series featured factory sealed engines, big dollar leasing programs and fewer and fewer US drivers, you’d swear I was talking about CART circa 1994 & 95.

[indymotors]

Short tracker, long tracker, left and right tracker. Get over it, either the driver has talent and ability or he doesn't.
Bottom line....... nobody "deserves a ride"

[Ydawg]

Re: Road racing in addition to, not in place of, ovals

[
I'm saddened that some race "fans" are angry about more racing. [/B]

That is fine - you can be sad. I will
be very mad. The IRL has one tenet
of its original philosophy left - an
ALL OVAL RACING SERIES. When
that goes, this fan goes. Period.


Seriously folks, there are several of us
hoping that the Panther team adds a
second car and that one of those drivers
will be the likes of Dave Steele. When you
start adding RCs - even just 2 or 3 out
of an 18 - 19 race schedule, then you
can kiss ANY chance of a driver like
that ever getting another opportunity in
the IRL. Then we are exactly back where
we were when Jeff Gordon couldn't get
a ride. We are almost there again now.
Yeley will be off to the NASCAR ranks
next year (via the his FORD contract).
Who is next. As long as NASCAR keeps
getting the best American talent, you can
kiss the long-term growth of the IRL
goodbye, no matter how good the on
track performance is.

[Ren Butler]

There's the "all oval" myth again. The IRL was formed to preserve the heritage of oval racing, and there's no doubt that has been accomplished.

There's no reason the USAC guys can't run the ovals only (including the BIG oval), and either tread water on the road courses or actually learn how to turn left a couple times per season.

You doomsayers sound no different than the people who predicted a quick demise for the IRL in 1996...

[slinger]

“Typically, the road racing fan is different from the oval racing fan," said Bruggentheis. "Road America really enjoys a tremendous base of road racing fans because we have so much history. I haven’t thought about it. I’m not in negotiations with the IRL, and I don’t think the IRL is going road racing next year. Everything I’ve read says ’05 – they have a bit more development work to do on their gearbox. Certainly, if they become a major open-wheel road racing series, we’ll consider it. Whatever the fans want."


The word from the head of Road America. Note the "if they become a major open-wheel road racing series". Two or even four road races won't make the IRL a major road racing series. All it will do is insure that the IRL never sees another short tracker and pizz off a lot of fans without gaining any.

[grogg]

Re: Road racing in addition to, not in place of, ovals

Originally posted by Ren Butler
I'm saddened that some race "fans" are angry about more racing.

If the venue is Toronto, Detroit or Long beach then we aren't adding more racing.