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--To the extent that CC buys the time slots for its races and has jumped from network to networks to networks trying for ratings, plus the irregularity of its international TV where sometimes countries like all of 'em in Europe, Mexico, Australia and even Canada don't have them from time to time, it IS responsible.
--Both Nazareth and Pikes Peak had other races besides the IRL. Poor IRL attendance didn't break 'em. Pikes Peak was poorly financed and was for sale almost before it was completed. Nazareth was overbudgeted and when Penske built the facility, it hit rocks at a very shallow depth, so growth of permanent grandstands, etc., would be costly. ISC grounded Nazareth to sell the land because of its status. ISC grounded Pikes Peak and cannibalized the seating for some of its other tracks.
--Bob Bahre and the IRL mutually agreed Loudon wasn't a good market for them. They agreed it didn't work. Buddy Jobe was the first to step up for IRL when it was formed and the IRL ran there loyally throughout its ownership. ISC bought the track from Buddy Jobe, IRL attendance stayed constant for awhile and started dropping when the ISC management screwed up both the Copper World Classic and the IRL weekends, started to focus on a second NASCAR race and finally went away. The decision was not met well within the Phoenix racing community and Phoenix has talked to the IRL since about trying it again and trying to figure out a date that's not too close to the NASCAR dates.
--You are incorrect about both Fontana and Michigan on both crowds and reasons.
--I don't know where you got your list of hospitalized drivers but it's mandatory that they check into the track medical facility after a crash and if there's any question, they send 'em in. At a cursory glance, a good portion of those injuries were minimal enough that the drivers went in, got checked out and were released or just looked at overnight to be safe. The ESPN link was back when Oreo and the then-Gang of Four and Mark C. were playing safety cards at random and embellishing them.
--Pole Day no longer has milestones to be reached like 150, 200, etc. However, the move of Carb Day from Thursday to Friday with a concert has been a HUGE increase.
--Yes, Wheldon has said he wanted to try NASCAR. As I said, how long did Franchitti and Hornish drive Indy cars and Hornish has expressed a desire to continue running at Indy. From the interviews of both Dario and Ashley and Dario's two '07 flips, I gather he's down there to try to finish his career there. It isn't like Indy-car drivers haven't tried it down there in the past -- notably, Tom Sneva, Johnny Rutherford and Pancho Carter all spent a season or so down there. Similarly, Cale Yarborough, Donnie and Bobby Allison and Lee Roy Yarbrough spent seasons or selected races in Indy cars. I have seen absolutely nothing anywhere to indicate Castroneves and/or Dixon have said or done anything anywhere close to serious consideration of a NASCAR career. This is the absolute first I have heard that anywhere.
--You want to call IRL management a failure. That's your privilege, your attitude and your expectations that form that opinion and I suggest you just keep on truckin' with your pals at CW....they've been down a little lately and The Dark Side needs some perkin' up.
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