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Originally Posted by fazzaz
Two words: Indy 500.
The Indy 500, however you may wish to devalue it, is an immensely important race, and an immensely profitable race. It has the highest one-day attendance of any race outside NASCAR; its two-week totals are great, and all paid too. In terms of the Hulman family holdings, the Indy 500 more than supports the IRL, and that ignores the Brickyard 400 and now Moto GP.
On the other hand, Kevin Kalkoven and Gerry Forsythe (and Dan Pettit?) are funding ChampCar from their personal holdings -- from their wallets, as it were.
Big difference.
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Indy's main value is that it could be a building block for a new series. It used to be a one month deal but really only race day is what draws the crowds. It doesn't even sell out anymore. 15 years ago you could hardly get tickets now you can get them in blocks of 100.
If it was so important to drivers and teams and sponsors and fans, tony george wouldn't have to shell out for 15 field fillers.