Do Nationalities Matter in Champ Car?

[Amar7605]

When I looked at the Champ Car roster for this year, I couldn't help but notice the nationalities of the drivers. It was interesting to see where everyone was from, but then it got me thinking.

Although I am an American and I guess naturally root more for AJ and Jimmy, in the end I don't really care where the drivers are from. For me, I did not think of Sebastian Bourdais as the French Champ Car champion. Rather, I saw him as the best Champ Car driver. It did not matter to me that he was French.

The great blessing of this forum is that people from all over the world get to chat and share their opinions. So, I am opening this topic to the world. Do the nationalities of the drivers really matter? Or, rather, should we be celebrating the skill of the race car drivers, regardless of country?

I choose the latter!

[luke]

Its good that we have drivers from all other the world so then they are attracting a wide fan base and then countries from all over the world can identify themselves with Champ Car after all it is a 'world series'.
However there is never to less Americans needed in the series in my opinion if it’s going to work. Obviously if there is a merge then this will no doubt help but AJ who is a rising star could be swung over to NASCAR according to rumors...Then there's Vasser who is in his final year. Ryan Hunter-Reay who looked to have quite allot of potential even a future American F1 driver by some has gone but then again he was rather disappointing and quiet last year.
There is no doubt more Americans are needed in the series but then again Amar when I look at a driver I don't look at their nationality and it doesn't matter at all, it's just for Champ Car to create more interest in America it needs American heroes if you get what I mean so you could say it does matter a bit.

[racerkeke]

I'm interested to see how much casual fan support will remain in Canada for Champ Car now that Players is out of it. I think people got interested thru the CART-related advertising for Players that you saw (and still see, and they're collector's items) in every corner store. When Players was involved they really made a big deal out of getting Canadian drivers so you could cheer for the Players cars and do something for nationalism.

From a "real racing" perspective it might be better that Canadian drivers can no longer expect to be taken under the Players umbrella, but must make their way on merit alone as the US drivers have. But from a casual fan perspective it might not be as good. The nationalism card is great for bringing in people who don't know much about the sport -- after they're hooked they often choose different drivers to support. So our commentary here is probably not representative of the market Champ Car wants to entice.

I guess a related question would be, if you don't cheer for a driver because of his or her nationality, what is it that attracts you to them?

keke

[BootsOntheSide]

The mainstream success of a championship in any given country is almost entirely related to having drivers from that country. F1 was nothing in Spain until Alonso broke through. It was bigger in the US when they had US drivers near the front. The departures of Fernandez and Jourdain in Mexico seem to have hit the Mexican ChampCar following.

Ther will probably only be 1 American driver for the bulk of 2006, and that's nowhere near enough to attract casual fans (who could be tomorrow's die-hard fans, as mentioned) or mass media attention. Britain has around 1/5 the population of the US, yet it has 3 drivers in a US-based series. Most of the great US drivers are in NASCAR, and many of those could switch over to succeed (on ovals at least) in open-wheel cars very quickly.

[Dutton]

It depends on the question being asked. Having different proportions of different nationalities can affect the overall popularity of a series, and also have different effects in different areas. So, from the this perspective, depending on what is trying to be achieved, it can matter.

From a personal perspective, I do not care what the nationalities are (although I do like to see a mix, for the sake of diversity). I think this is particularly important if something is attempting to be an international series.

So, I guess, from the point of view of Champ Car (being a World Series and all), I would say it matters, to a point, to have a mix of nationalities. Exactly how that mix represents itself is not relevant.

[luke]

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

The departures of Fernandez and Jourdain in Mexico seem to have hit the Mexican ChampCar following.

Apart from what I believe was a slight drop in attendance at Monterrey I can't quite see how Champ Car in Mexico isn't as big as it was once was.

[drewdawg727]

Personally i do not think that nationalities matter.
Although it would be nice to have more American drivers because most of the Champ Car fans do come from the United States...

I seem to remember between 1999-2001 about half of the drivers came from Brazil (Kanaan, Castroneves, Moreno, Fittipaldi, Gugelmin, DaMatta, Deferran, etc.) and yet we didn't even have a race there...except for Rio but that got the boot.

But if you think about it, you can't really think of driver's nationalities...some driver's family could have lived in America but when they were born they were in another country (an unlikely situation but you get my point).

The point i'm trying to make is that even though a driver's nationality is foreign, they still live somewhere in America, so in my opinion a nationality doesn't matter.

[D70s]

Well, I'm Canadian and my two favourite drivers are English. So obviously it doesn't matter too much. However when I started following Indycars in the mid-90's, it was because of Scott Goodyear and PT. Patrick Carpentier was my favourite driver for a long time. So I think racerkeke is correct that it is more important to the casual fan. But once you are hooked in, it matters less.

[luke]

Well in terms of favourite drivers I think they don't. Whem watching motor racing when I like a driver I don't look at his nationality well think of it at all. But I guess now for soem reason I do want to see British drivers win, but I do like Justin Wilson anyway because he is such a good driver. When he raced with PT of all people and passed him at turn 5 I think it is of all places to overtake and he did on it was such a good move as pushed PT hard, that race he spun under caution but he never gave up and fights untill the end. I think most people are fans of Wilson...

[stmookeyj033]

Matters a little bit for me, a sense of Australian pride.

[Seoigh]

Originally Posted by racerkeke

I'm interested to see how much casual fan support will remain in Canada for Champ Car now that Players is out of it. I think people got interested thru the CART-related advertising for Players that you saw (and still see, and they're collector's items) in every corner store. When Players was involved they really made a big deal out of getting Canadian drivers so you could cheer for the Players cars and do something for nationalism.

From a "real racing" perspective it might be better that Canadian drivers can no longer expect to be taken under the Players umbrella, but must make their way on merit alone as the US drivers have. But from a casual fan perspective it might not be as good. The nationalism card is great for bringing in people who don't know much about the sport -- after they're hooked they often choose different drivers to support. So our commentary here is probably not representative of the market Champ Car wants to entice.

I guess a related question would be, if you don't cheer for a driver because of his or her nationality, what is it that attracts you to them?

keke

You raise an important issue - I think there's definitely a marketing justification (in order to appeal to a broad audience) when considering driver nationalities...though I don't know just how big the Finnish domestic audience is on a worldwide scale. ;-)

[BootsOntheSide]

The US is potentially the biggest open-wheel racing audience in the world; China might take over in 10-20 years, but it's nowhere near yet. As long as a series runs at least half its races there, it needs fans at home more than anything. 'Casual fans' in the US are following NASCAR, and the home-grown nature of most of the drivers (and cars) is a big reason.

[SALEEN S7R]

Personally I dont think nationalites really matter that much, if a driver is good and has a attitude that I like and I find myself liking him/her then that is good enough for me. However, I do like to see British drivers doing well, it gives me a sense of national pride, really and truly though I dont think it matters all that much.

[racerkeke]

Seoigh, the Finn population of 7 million isn't large, you're right. But every one of that 7 million -- man, woman, child and reindeer -- loves racing. It was explained to me that the reason they all love racing is because they are all somehow related to a driver!

To illustrate, some time ago I received a biography of Mika Hakkinen as a gift from a Finn I'd been corresponding with, and was shocked to find it was an autographed copy. When I asked how he'd gotten the autograph he said he'd run into Mika at a party and, since he was his second cousin three times removed or something, it was a slam dunk. Go figure....

I just checked Wikipedia's entry under famous Finns (motorsport division) there sure are an awful lot of drivers to be proud of.

Just an OT thought....
keke
(no, not the famous one)

[blueflagger]

Originally Posted by D70s

So I think racerkeke is correct that it is more important to the casual fan. But once you are hooked in, it matters less.

I agree as well. At first I needed a connection to a driver to cheer for him or her. Now, it's all about racing technique, gumption and behavior to me. Sometimes I don't even know who is driving a car I am cheering for; it's all because I admire their style.

In order to expand the market, get a variety of drivers who are willing to meet with and talk to people who know little about the sport.

[Amar7605]

I started watching Formula 1 in 2000. At that time there were no American drivers. In fact, I did not know that there was a US Grand prix until it came up on a commercial 2 weeks before the race happened. So, even though I am an American I was still hooked on F1 because it was fun to watch. Nationalities didn't matter much to me.

[norman-normal]

FREEWAYS!! d**** them, the only thing they teach you is how to drive "NASCAR" style. Haven't anyone noticed, the best drivers come from locations with country roads and limited traffic?

I grew up in Salt lake city at a time when thier were no freeways outside of Germany. In Utah we were blessed with wonderfull moutain roads... Hard to find now, and too crowded untill 3 or 4AM.

There are outher factors: if you are good in the rain, your really good and it contributes to your skill in the dry. A factor the Brits have in thier favor.

The bad news is: its an unforgiving way to learn, you read about the "drop outs" in the obits.

[Dutton]

I do miss the roads of the Scottish Borders with a passion. It is one of the few things I knew I would miss before moving to Canada.

Man, they were good.

[Jordi]

I don't think nationality plays a part... I started liking CART when there was no inkling of Catalans... indeed for Greg Moore instead. But I can see how people who don't have as much a passion for racing as me or as we all do need to have a driver from their home country to have an interest.

It's the same everywhere... you can like football but if your team isn't playing it will be less interesting to you. Unless you really like football.

[Seoigh]

Originally Posted by blueflagger

I agree as well. At first I needed a connection to a driver to cheer for him or her. Now, it's all about racing technique, gumption and behavior to me. Sometimes I don't even know who is driving a car I am cheering for; it's all because I admire their style.

In order to expand the market, get a variety of drivers who are willing to meet with and talk to people who know little about the sport.

But don't we need the 'casual' fan involved if a sport is to be deemed a commercial success...certainly not so among the cogniscenti, but for 'Joe Average'..it needs to be someone he can relate to at the corner bar...

[Fogelhund]

I believe that Nationalism plays a part in the following of major motorsports. Certainly series get more local press when there are drivers of that Nation involved. When Jacques was competitive, we certainly had more F1 news than we do currently.

As far as Open Wheel is concerned, it should be of particular concern to those involved to ensure that the next generation of young American's makes their way into the top ranks, in top rides.

[gttouring]

I don't know why they harp on where a guy is from in Champcar
it is always trying to be an international series anyway, and does it really matter? it seems like marketing to get country fans into it... albeit temporarily.
I love watching F1 and openwheel races in general champcar, IRL st.petes' or watkins, GP2 A1GP , renault world series, formula nippon, F3
they are all goo and i could give a sod as to where a driver is from , if i like him and he races well, that's what rules

[Amar7605]

If nationalism is part of the Champ Car marketing plan, then it does not seem like it's working. Perhaps it's because there aren't any races in Europe or Brazil to cheer those counrtymen on, but here in the US I don't see too many people cheering on the Americans.

I am not saying that all-of-a-sudden we should have rivalries based on what countries we are all from, but from the races that I have been to and watching the races on TV with friends and family, no one I know really cares about the nation. In fact, when the nation is mentioned, we generally say. "Oh, interesting and no big deal."

[blueflagger]

I agree that amongst those of us who are already racing fans, nationality does not matter. But can it help turn people who are new to the sport into fans?

[Dutton]

I would say it can.

As much as anything, some countries may well just not get the coverage if a driver from that nation isn't involved.