Schedule

[oldtimer]

The IRL has made some huge advances this year, and I'm delighted with the overall package. But we've got to do something about this weak schedule. Everyone else is still racing and we're sitting here with our thumbs in our fannys. Everyone else has their favorite racing till November, and we shot our wad over two weeks ago.

[dog-ring]

The last race for next year will be Texas II on the 12th of October.
Patience racefan

[oldtimer]

Originally posted by dog-ring:
<STRONG>The last race for next year will be Texas II on the 12th of October.
Patience racefan </STRONG>

So now we get more weeks in between races. It doesn't matter how long they postpone the last race if there are big gaps in the regular season schedule. If IRL is going to be first class, then we need a stronger schedule with longer races.

At a minimum, we need to start running 400 milers with a triple crown of 500 milers, and more races on the schedule.

Lets run twice at Michigan - a 400 and a 500 miler, like Daytona.

[WhirlinGraphics]

I say let's give the state of Michigan a chance to catch up on what they've missed. Let the IRL build the one race that MIS has before you think of adding another. Right now Texas is the only one that can handle 2 races in the same season. There are many other ovals that don't have a race that we could concentrate on and build a following in their cities.

[WhirlinGraphics]

Also, I've said it before and I'll say it again. Don't expect to see any other 500 mile races on the schedule. It is possible that we could have a gaggle of 450 milers, but we'll only have one 500. This isn't NASCAR. The IRL doesn't throw around 500 mile races like they are candy mints!

[slinger]

I'd sure like to see a triple crown of 500 milers.If we can't have a lot more events,at least have a few more really big ones.I'd like to see a schedule of about 20 races.I've said so all along.That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

[SamC]

Race length: no argument. Clearly the IRL must develop multiple 500 mile events in the future.

Schedule length: Yes NASCAR is still racing, and even it loses 25% of its rating, and the Busch series loses FAR more than that. CART has no ratings numbers to lose.

The simple fact is that once the footballs start flying, there is no room on broadcast TV for this series. ESPN has commitments to college football on Saturday days and nights. ABC is committed to college football Saturday days, and first run entertainment Saturday nights. Then you have to figure in baseball playoffs. And running on Sunday afternoons, against NASCAR and 2 (in most markets) NFL games will yeild zero ratings and make the sport look bad.

For the forseeable future, the sport is right on to end just where it does.

[Defender]

Never, ever, should there be more than two weeks between races during the season, except in May.

[step33T]

Wait just a second.

We Pissed and Moaned for years here that the season should start in the Spring and be done before Football gets going.

Now people want to go back to racing year round.

ARGGHHHH!!!!

This years schedule was GOOD. The offseason is too long for ME, but in reality it's a good thing.

I think we are going too late into the fall with next years schedule already.

[oldtimer]

Originally posted by WhirlinGraphics:
<STRONG>Also, I've said it before and I'll say it again. Don't expect to see any other 500 mile races on the schedule. It is possible that we could have a gaggle of 450 milers, but we'll only have one 500. This isn't NASCAR. The IRL doesn't throw around 500 mile races like they are candy mints!</STRONG>

And they don't draw the fans like NASCAR, either.

[oldtimer]

Originally posted by step33T:
<STRONG>Wait just a second.

We Pissed and Moaned for years here that the season should start in the Spring and be done before Football gets going.

</STRONG>

We? You sound like Roosevelt. Or do you have a mouse in your pocket? We? Not me, brother.

[slinger]

The Triple Crown was a great show in the 70s.Indy,Pocono and Ontario,I loved it.When CART added Indy to Pocono and Michigan,that was a great show too.Having two more 500 milers will do nothing to diminish the status of Indianapolis.It didn't in the past and it wouldn't in the future.There is only one Indianapolis 500.It's still the big enchilada.It always will be.

[Racewriter]

Originally posted by dog-ring:
<STRONG>The last race for next year will be Texas II on the 12th of October.
Patience racefan </STRONG>

Why did they move it? In 2000, it was the second weekend in October - my anniversary, and the wife and I celebrated in Texas. 2001 was scheduled for mid-September, and postponed due to 9/11. Again this year was mid-September. Why did they change in 01, anyway?

[happyscrappy]

I don't see a problem wrapping it up in September. Sometimes seasons can drag on until many just want it to be over. More races before May would be nice, for me.

And didn't moving Califoria to the fall push Texas back so it would still be the finale??

[Racewriter]

Originally posted by happyscrappy:
<STRONG>I don't see a problem wrapping it up in September. Sometimes seasons can drag on until many just want it to be over. More races before May would be nice, for me.

And didn't moving Califoria to the fall push Texas back so it would still be the finale??</STRONG>

What I meant was, why did they move it to September from October?