Champ Car vs IRL 2008

Discussion in 'Automotive' started by the cup, Jan 5, 2008.

  1. Flyin Ryan

    Flyin Ryan Member

    May 13, 2004
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If ChampCar had it right why did they go bankrupt twice from lack of interest?

    I remember an answer Robin Miller gave to a fan regarding why CART/ChampCar was having so much trouble after Long Beach declared a record weekend attendance a few years ago, and his answer was pretty much, "Because people go to the circus and have fun, but don't care where the circus came from or where it goes to next."

    Ultimately, the goal for any racing series is to provide a good at track experience for the fan, good racing, good access to league content (like I know what channel the race is on next week and a functioning website), and a rooting interest for the person to want to watch the next week. That can happen on ovals and road courses.
     
  2. DSC05

    DSC05 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jun 25, 2002
    Detroit, MI
    Club:
    --other--
    Honestly I was being cheeky, I don't think Champ Car had it right.
     
  3. Flyin Ryan

    Flyin Ryan Member

    May 13, 2004
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    In the out of left field department, E.J. Viso has contracted the mumps, a highly contagious disease, and everyone is being warned in the IRL garage that had contact with him. Viso and his team HVM Racing have withdrawn from this weekend's race at Nashville. Apparently it takes 17 days for symptoms to show up.
     
  4. CRASH 4 ARSENAL

    Jan 26, 2006
    Chicago
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Paul Tracy in a Vision car for Edmonton. I wonder if he will get any more rides this year.
     
  5. DSC05

    DSC05 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jun 25, 2002
    Detroit, MI
    Club:
    --other--
    I guess it would depend if Walker could find more funding. A good result in Edmonton would help.
     
  6. Flyin Ryan

    Flyin Ryan Member

    May 13, 2004
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    For some reason I have this sneaking suspicion Tracy will crash on lap 1.

    Also in the sponsorship department, Sarah Fisher Racing got Dollar General to come on board and sponsor her for Kentucky and Chicagoland.
     
  7. the cup

    the cup Member

    Jul 10, 2002
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Pretty cool helmet I must say that Graham Rahal wore at Mid-Ohio, a tribute to Paul Newman.

    [​IMG]
     
  8. CRASH 4 ARSENAL

    Jan 26, 2006
    Chicago
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Word is...PT and Walker are working, with others, on a deal that would have PT running 3 of the last 4 races. He would not be at Kentucky but would be at Infieon, Detroit, and Chicago.
     
  9. Flyin Ryan

    Flyin Ryan Member

    May 13, 2004
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Robin Miller exclusive:

    -Tony Kanaan to Chip Ganassi next year. Dan Wheldon getting pushed out.

    Wheldon currently makes $3 million per year. The only other teams that can afford that are Penske, who's set, and Andretti Green, who Wheldon left on not too good terms.

    Think Wheldon's regretting his "Cheap Ganassi" comments?
     
  10. Pack87Man

    Pack87Man BigSoccer Supporter

    Sep 1, 2001
    Quad Cities
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'll believe that when I see it. Robin Miller has a bad habit of talking out his ass.
     
  11. Flyin Ryan

    Flyin Ryan Member

    May 13, 2004
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Here's the link: http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/exclusive-kanaan-poised-to-join-ganassi/

    Also, TV deal for 2009 is 5 races on ABC (including Indy) and the remaining 13 races on Versus per the Indy Star. So no more ESPN/ESPN2. Opinion from fans so far on whether this is good or bad is split.

    http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080807/SPORTS0107/808070411
     
  12. DSC05

    DSC05 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jun 25, 2002
    Detroit, MI
    Club:
    --other--
    I don't like it. Just when it seems like Open Wheel's future was looking brighter, they get shifted to Versus, a network I often forget even exists. Of course I'll still be on the lookout for the races, but I'm sure the casual fan won't be bothered. I do like the idea of pre-race and post-race shows with greater coverage overall, but this seems like a step back to me. Why not go for SpeedTV? (or what ever the channel is called now) That seemed like a more logical fit. At least from the way I read it, ESPN will still produce all the races? Depending on people's point of view that could be a good thing, or a bad one :p.

    Kanaan to TCG is interesting, I just hope Scheckter is back full time next season. And I really dislike Robin Miller, I can't stand to read his mailbag.
     
  13. the cup

    the cup Member

    Jul 10, 2002
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    I think this is the beginning of the end.

    With 13 races on VS you can count on it making it harder to find sponsors, not easier. And a lot of the smaller teams are already light on sponsors so things are only get harder for them. Give it a year and I think we are going to loose some teams, once that happens we will soon be back to where we were last year (low car count) but this time there won't be a Champ Car for Tony to poach teams from.
     
  14. Flyin Ryan

    Flyin Ryan Member

    May 13, 2004
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Poaching?

    Now that's some serious rewriting of history.

    How is it poaching when the guy that owned the other series was one of the first ones to come over?


    I have mixed opinions on it. I can see the argument for the upside and the downside. They're still on ABC for 5 races which is what they are now just about.
     
  15. Flyin Ryan

    Flyin Ryan Member

    May 13, 2004
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Anyone else feel sorry for Castroneves Saturday night?
     
  16. Pack87Man

    Pack87Man BigSoccer Supporter

    Sep 1, 2001
    Quad Cities
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I did. Man, if that race was a quarter mile shorter. And now, there is not a chance Dixon isn't winning the title.

    Speaking as a fan, this illustrated my opinion of the whole oval vs. road thing. Both have their good races, and both have their stinkers. I just tend to think that more ovals tend to be exciting than the road/street courses. (I also tend to prefer road over street, but all can have their good and bad, a la St. Pete vs. Edmonton.)
     
  17. DSC05

    DSC05 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jun 25, 2002
    Detroit, MI
    Club:
    --other--
    I felt bad for him too, but that didn't stop me from getting excited about Dixon's increasing his point lead over him :D.
     
  18. the cup

    the cup Member

    Jul 10, 2002
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Well, what does everyone think? It's pretty exciting that everything has come down to the final race. I was glad to see Wilson and NHL get the win this past weekend.

    I'm pulling for Helio, it would be a great story if he could take the championship with coming up from behind.
     
  19. DSC05

    DSC05 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jun 25, 2002
    Detroit, MI
    Club:
    --other--
    Ganassi owns 1.5 mile ovals, unless Dixon crashes or has a mechanical failure, the title is his. It will be interesting to see Dario in the other car next year, he should be able to keep up with his Scott, but so far nobody has. I'm happy to see Wheldon go to Panther, but I still can't see them winning a race. Poor Vitor, I hope he finds a seat for next year. Oh and I really hope Scheckter finds something permanent too, hopefully with Luczo-Dragon, who I would love to see run a full season.
     
  20. Pack87Man

    Pack87Man BigSoccer Supporter

    Sep 1, 2001
    Quad Cities
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm going to be at the race, as part of my bachelor party, and I am looking forward to it like you wouldn't believe. I'm hoping Vitor gets to keep the 4 and that they put Wheldon in the second car. I've got to believe Rahal Letterman wants another car as well. I think Luczo Dragon is going to run a full season, but just one car with Scheckter.
     
  21. Flyin Ryan

    Flyin Ryan Member

    May 13, 2004
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #10 Chip Ganassi - from Dan Wheldon to Dario Franchitti
    #4 Panther - from Vitor Meira to Dan Wheldon (and Vitor is mad about it)
    #14 A.J. Foyt - from Darren Manning to Vitor Meira

    #12 Luczo Dragon - from Tomas Scheckter to Rafael Matos (2007 Atlantics champ and 2008 Indy Lights champ), Luczo going full-time in 2009. Luczo not rehiring Scheckter because they say his driving technique broke 4 driveshafts in 6 races.

    #98 CURB/Agajanian/Beck (now going to be called 3G Racing) will run full-time next year with current Nationwide Series driver Stanton Barrett
     
  22. DSC05

    DSC05 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jun 25, 2002
    Detroit, MI
    Club:
    --other--
    Vitor should be mad about it, they told him they were going in another direction via email. Sadly I fear Scheckter is done in IRL. Barrett's going to have a tougher time than he suspects. And I keep reading Marty Roth is done as well.
     
  23. Flyin Ryan

    Flyin Ryan Member

    May 13, 2004
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think Barrett knows he'll have a tough time. He's been racing for the last 10 years in junk, so he knows already what struggling in inferior equipment is like.

    Roth put all his equipment up for sale per Curt Cavin.

    I'd love to see Scheckter back in the IRL that can provide the thrill. He's a "crash or win" type like Danny Ongais used to be. Unfortunately, that hurts owners' checkbooks.

    Also, the Surfers Paradise entry list got released today. Castroneves was allowed by his judge to travel to Australia.

    2-Foyt
    3-Castroneves
    4-Wheldon
    5-Servia
    6-Briscoe
    7-Patrick
    8-Power
    9-Dixon
    10-Franchitti
    11-Kanaan
    14-Meira
    15-Rice
    17-Hunter-Reay
    18-Junqueira
    19-Moraes
    20-Carpenter
    23-Bell
    26-Andretti
    27-Mutoh
    33-Viso
    34-Camara
    36-Tagliani
    02-Wilson
    06-Rahal
     
  24. Flyin Ryan

    Flyin Ryan Member

    May 13, 2004
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

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