Barnhart's State of the IRL: Positive

[Turn13]

http://irl.racing-live.com/indy/en/index.html?http://irl.racing-live.com/indy/en/headlines/news/detail/060306022946.shtml

The article states that the IRL is looking to add venues for 2007, and maybe return to some lost ones.

“We have our challenges, as well. One of our goals is building value and 2005 was a watershed season for us - laying the foundation for more value,” said Barnhart before giving the exact numbers. “Television ratings were up 53% on ABC Sports...33% on ESPN...50% on ESPN2. Event attendance increased by 9% the entire season. At track merchandise sales increased by 75%. Sponsor exposure, according to Joyce Julius & Associates, grew by 57%.”

[Frank Capua]

I don't see anything on how much they want for the Speedway.

[Chris Paff]

Here are the track i think they could add..

Iowa *
San Antonio *
Mid Ohio
Las Vegas
Fontana
Phoenix

* Are done deals i believe

[irlracingfan]

Here are the track i think they could add..

Iowa *
San Antonio *
Mid Ohio
Las Vegas
Fontana
Phoenix

* Are done deals i believe

Iowa in the summer and San Antonio in the spring (so I can go). Fontana and Las Vegas anytime... as these are a couple hundred miles driving distance...

As to the positive 'feel' of his comments, I agree entirely. This season is looking to be excellent, and with next year's costs being reduced and the specs remaining the same. I expect next season to be an outstanding year. I even suspect some OWRS teams may switch. as they will have to buy a chassis, no matter which series in which they compete...

[mbhey101]

As to the positive 'feel' of his comments...

well like-what else is he suppose to say- his paycheck depends on so called positive "spins".

[SportscarBruce]

Here are the track i think they could add..

Iowa *
San Antonio *
Mid Ohio
Las Vegas
Fontana
Phoenix

* Are done deals i believe

San Antonio is still pending negotiations, based on the sports friendly community and City Hall it can be categorized as probable but not a lock.

I hope it happens, beyond the street race if an oval is built as was proposed then that would be even better. Howabout two dates in SA, the street course and the oval?

Iowa in the summer and San Antonio in the spring (so I can go).

Early spring would be best due to the heat of summer.

[stockblock]

Every year he has given a positive spin since IRl started. Spin it just what it is. One year he applauded Honda and Toyota joining showed growth. Then when Toyota bails its still good. One year he talked about growing fields with bumping at every track. Then in other year said quality before quantity. Every business puts a good spin on what the future brings.

[indyracefan]

...as far as adding venues for the 2007 season I'll say again what I said in a similar thread over in Splitsville. I'm all for adding more venues as long as they're ovals such as Fontana, Phoenix or Vegas, etc. or a road-course such as Road America, Portland etc. I don't care to see more 'street' venues added such as Long Beach, etc.

[Powercat]

I think this year is different. Even someone like me who is fairly optimistic about the IRL felt like 2006 was going to be a lean year with the schedule, sponsorship issues with Panther & Cheever, and to some degree Toyota leaving. Plus 2005 ended on a sour note with the finish at California, and the news that Pikes Peak was being demolished. But since 2006 started the news has been very positive. I think the Honda thing is going to work out well. I'd love to have multiple manufacturers but for now I think things are better off with everybody having a Honda vs. having both Honda and Toyota with Toyota likely phoning in their IRL program for their final year. Plus we would still have AGR as the Honda factory team. The Simmons & Abramson annoucement has looked great initially, as has the changes to the broadcasts. Wheldon did not leave to F1, and now we have a potential star in Marco taking his place at AGR. Not only have Panther, Cheever, D&R, and Hemelgarn come back, but they came back with fan favorites like Meira, Cheever, Lazier, and Chesson. The Pro Series is in the best shape it has been in since its inception. I have no doubt we will see 10 more cars to make a full field at Indy. I think next year could be good if Iowa & San Antonio come on board, plus a few others (particularly in the West) to build the schedule. I feel really good about things this year. I think it will be a good one.

[Chris Paff]

Every year he has given a positive spin since IRl started. Spin it just what it is. One year he applauded Honda and Toyota joining showed growth. Then when Toyota bails its still good. One year he talked about growing fields with bumping at every track. Then in other year said quality before quantity. Every business puts a good spin on what the future brings.

Thats right the IRL can have good news without someone doubting it or disreguarding it.. Kinda like the 2005 IRL TV ratings and attendance..


Not only have Panther, Cheever, D&R, and Hemelgarn come back, but they came back with fan favorites like Meira, Cheever, Lazier, and Chesson.

Powercat.. Is Meira a fan favorite? I dont think so.. But overall very good post

[indyracefan]

...also, I'm still not real hip on the season ending in the middle of September....but if they at least get back to 16 races with races at 'least' every other week-end from the end of March to September I can accept it.

The biggest things I'd like to see from the IRL in 2007 are;

1. As stated above I'd like the IRL schedule to have no less than 16 races. And with these 16 races (outside of Indy of course), absolutely without question a race every-other week-end at the longest. And try to have as many as possible every week-end for a couple of reasons. One, that's the only way to gain the interest and sustain it for new and/or casual fans. Two, it gives teams a chance to keep the momentum going (if they have it) and stay 'sharp'.

2. A) I'd also like to see the car-count increase to a minimum of 24 cars, preferably through the addition of new teams. I hate to act like NASCAR to Jack Roush, but I'd rather have teams with 1-to-2 cars as opposed to having 3 or 4 teams for several reasons. One, I think that although it takes more work (most of the time) for the team in many categories as in preparing cars and getting them to track and all the personnel that requires but also in finding sponors, drivers and 'paying' them. At the same time I think it also provides alot of pay-offs especially over 1 or 2 car teams in testing, feedback, etc.

2. B) And hopefull if new teams could be added to the IRL, the IPS could/should gain more teams themselves. I would really like to see a concerted effort made by the 2+ car teams to field their own IPS team and/or groom young talent (preferably American drivers....no offense to our friends North, South and across the pond). Or at the very least start making an honest effort to promote the 'future-star' IPS drivers to the Indycar ranks.

3. Some hard-core promotion in virtually every medium to start 'making' people to pay attention and increase the general populations awareness of Indycar Racing. I also think the sponsor's name needs to get worked into the promotion alot more and with the driver, especially on television during a race. As much as I dislike NASCAR these days and absolutely hate using them for 'any' example, I will give credit where credit's due, it makes one really think at how successsful that series is with sponsorships and that's got to be one of several reasons NASCAR is so successful. ("The Tide car is in the pits." "the Interstate Batteries car just got into the wall." "so-in-so driver and the Dupont car win the race." etc.).

4.A) I think that perhaps too the IRL should give serious thought into the 'manufacture-badging' of engines....or in the other words, throw that rule out. This past off-season is the perfect example of why the mandantory badging of motors and the money that brings are good for the 'now' but dangerous and even possibly deadly for the future. The departure of 2 of it's 3 engine manufacturer's (with one of them not evening honoring their contract in full.....hint, it wasn't an American engine. ) and could've been serious-to- 'near-death trouble for the IRL if not for Honda.

The IRL from enception to now has had a total of 6 engine manufacturer's (Ford, Oldsmobile, Infiniti, Chevrolet, Toyota, Honda...and 'technically they've had 9, as in 1996 Davey Jones had a Mercedes and there was also the Menard-Buick V6)), and 5 of those 6 have all bolted the series, with 3 of them citing the "too espensive, too little in return" reasoning in leaving.

4.B) Open up the rules where 'anyone' who wants to build a motor can do so with obviously certain time parametrs on entry, and that they must also accomodate 'any' team that requests their motor....again obviously with certain time parameters. I think too that a 'spec' needs to be mandated for a life longer than 3 years....5 at the minimum. In the long run this will invite more 'builders' which will keep costs 'competitive' which has the trickle-down effect of creating more teams. I miss the 'creativity' of builders in Indycars, especially at Indy.

[NDGator]

Gee BB in another year you'll be about back to where you were before you became the Japanation Racing powered former CART players League.

This folly has cost or almost cost the league

Unser Jr, (500 Champ)
B Lazier, (500 Champ, IRL Champ)
Cheever (500 Champ)
Ray, (IRL Champ, 500 Pole)
Boat, (500 Pole, Race Winner)
Barron, (Race Winner)
Ward, (Race Winner)
Dare, (Race Winner)
J Lazier, (Race Winner)
Buhl, (Race Winner)
Giaffone (Race Winner)
McGehee,
Fisher, (Passed Eliseo, IRL teen doll)
and


Hemelgarn Racing (500 Champ, IRL Champ)
Cheever Racing (500 Champ)
Menard Racing, (500 Pole, IRL Champ)
AJ Foyt (2) Racing (IRL Champ)
Bradley Racing, (IRL Champ)
Panther Racing (IRL Champ)
Kelley Racing (500 Pole)
Treadway Racing, (500 Pole)
Kelley Racing (2)
Cheever Racing (2)
Sam Schmidt Racing
CAB Racing
Cahill Racing
Beck Racing
PDM Racing

Those above are not all Zali Racing, Hedeki Noda types. There is some meat in the potatos and you just said Thanks for the $7 Million. TV Ratings and Attendance numbers are relative gains due to the drop in all those numbers from this pre-Japanation era.

The IRL started out Bush League and it gave it character. Even in 1999 one wondered if it could continue to answer the bell. But the smoke started to clear to real gains from 2000-2002, then you sall the pin in the grenade and said what will this do...

In the future let Fred Nation do the talking

Now who should do the thinking...

The good news is that

Hemelgarn has struggled to their foot to answer the bell
B Lazier picked up a seat
Giaffone picked up a seat
Panther and Cheever are each going to answer the bell at Homestead

Just pick a direction and lock the sail, preferably with the wind at your back...

[sf-indy-fan]

Powercat.. Is Meira a fan favorite? I dont think so.. But overall very good post

Vitor's been an IRL driver every year since '02. That's the kind of consistency we've been looking for. Also, he's a super-nice guy, and that comes through on TV. He may not be one of your favorites, but he's a favorite of plenty of people here. Think about how happy most everyone was when the Panther announcement came out, and it wasn't just because we knew Panther was going to be on the grid. It was because they were going to be on the grid with a well-liked driver in the cockpit.

[MichaelG]

Things are positive for the IRL. Unfortunately, anytime a theoretical merger comes-up (every year at this time, suprise), many journalists look past the good news to recycle stories about the split, nasty quotes, etc...because "conflict is interesting."

This year's 500 promises to be one of the best in years. I'm really looking forward to it.