|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
13 Mar 2004, 03:12 (Ref:904042) | #1 | ||
Rookie
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 61
|
Will IRL do Road Racing
If ChampCar fold, and all teams that are going to the IRL do so, will Tony George infact run the road racing that he has promised. In my concideration, the road races were to lure away ChampCar teams that wanted road/street races on the IRL schedule. But without any places for these teams to go, and the IRL the only game in town, might Mr. George then cancel his plans for road course races and let the IRL remain as an oval-only series.
|
||
|
13 Mar 2004, 03:15 (Ref:904044) | #2 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 221
|
This thread probably belongs over on the IRL forum.
They've already stated that they plan to possibly as soon as next year, and I would say that should Champcar fold, the chances will be far greater. |
||
|
13 Mar 2004, 03:16 (Ref:904045) | #3 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 221
|
oh and welcome to the forum billkirkywofb.
|
||
|
13 Mar 2004, 04:40 (Ref:904066) | #4 | ||
Ten-Tenths Hall of Fame
Veteran
Join Date: Jun 1999
Posts: 12,053
|
they will run road courses , but not on this forum
Im gonna move this to the Indycar forum |
||
__________________
In Loving memory of Peter Brock I hate it when im driving in a straight line & Seb Vettel runs into me GO THE MIGHTY HAWKS !!!! |
13 Mar 2004, 08:26 (Ref:904167) | #5 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,900
|
I wonder if the fact that Fernandez and possibly Jourdain have/could leave will have any effect on the Mexican races? Maybe they'll wanna come over as well?
Last edited by Down F0rce; 13 Mar 2004 at 09:05. |
||
__________________
I can't drive 55. |
13 Mar 2004, 08:57 (Ref:904182) | #6 | ||
Subscriber
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,344
|
And why not? They could pop down to Mexico city, and while they are south of the border, they could head too Rio...
Last edited by Hazza; 13 Mar 2004 at 08:59. |
||
__________________
"Abe will be remembered as a fighter" - RIP Abe. |
13 Mar 2004, 10:36 (Ref:904233) | #7 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 13,000
|
I don't think they will run road courses this year, mainly because the cars are not prepared for it, and the schedule is already locked in.
As for 2005, they're already planning to run 4 road courses - Watkins Glen, Sears Point, Road Atlanta and Road America seem like the most likely. It's possible that Tony would run 2 series in the near future - one on ovals the other on road courses, with their races on different days, so teams can run in either or both series. |
||
|
13 Mar 2004, 11:53 (Ref:904301) | #8 | ||
Ten-Tenths Hall of Fame
Veteran
Join Date: Jun 1999
Posts: 12,053
|
interesting concept Boots , why do you say two series instead of one ?
|
||
__________________
In Loving memory of Peter Brock I hate it when im driving in a straight line & Seb Vettel runs into me GO THE MIGHTY HAWKS !!!! |
13 Mar 2004, 17:46 (Ref:904528) | #9 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 670
|
As mentioned, the IRL has been promising road-races in 2005 since last year and I see no reason to doubt them. At this point, I don't think I've heard a single IRL driver who doesn't want them on the schedule.
Here's an ESPN article with quotes from a bunch of drivers: http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?id=1750840 As you can see, Kanaan, Herta, Franchitti, Manning and Dixon would like the schedule to have 50% or more road races. I don't think that percentage is too likely, but road courses are almost guaranteed. (Watkins Glen, by the way, has long been ruled out because it's no longer for fast open-wheel cars.) So, it looks like the IRL will have mostly turned into CART within the next two or three years. That's fine by me, but might not be good news for those who were expecting it to be a series that could attract the young American drivers from sprint cars, etc. |
||
__________________
"Meet me at the racetrack, Jack." |
14 Mar 2004, 13:19 (Ref:905075) | #10 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,376
|
I'm not so sure about the IRL turning into CART.
I think your right about the IRL having about 4 road races, but I'm not sure you'll see much more than that. That could be bad news for Canada, Mexico and Australia, and I seriously doubt that the IRL is going to Europe anytime soon. Tony George has never spoken about going international, like CART did. I do believe, that Tony realizes how important it is, to have a decent number of American drivers in his series, along with having the vast majority of his races in the states. Unfortunately for CART, they got away from that, and I think they paid a heavy price. The pressure on George will be immense to change his series and morph into CART. CART venues, teams and sponsors will be screaming in TG's ear, to do this or that, and drivers from around the world will be clamoring for a ride, but in the end, I think he will resist any big changes. He will, within reason, stick somewhat close to his vision, with only small changes, alittle at a time. The IRL is more likely to look like the old USAC of the sixties and seventies, than the CART of the eighties and nineties. |
||
__________________
"I don't feel insecure about 'being girlie'. I do as much media as I can because I want this IRL series to be so kick-butt that NASCAR goes, 'Huh?'" Danica Patrick |
24 Mar 2004, 14:46 (Ref:917993) | #11 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,419
|
Just read an interesting article over at Motorsport.com today, about the IPS series, and according to that article the IPS will go road racing as well in 2005. Perhaps to be expected, but it's nice to read something more solid about it
Should certainly make IPS more interesting to many aspiring drivers out there, including those who have their sight set on working their way up the Formula BMW/Toyota Atlantic/Champ Car ladder. |
|
|
24 Mar 2004, 15:58 (Ref:918049) | #12 | ||||
Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 670
|
Quote:
Quote:
As an aside, my impression is that the system is considerably simpler in the US than it is in many European countries. Many have their own Karting --> FFord --> F3 system, but then there's FRenault, F3000, FNissan and a dozen others to think about. In the US, it looks like Champ Car is: Karting --> FBMW --> Atlantic --> Champ Car and Indy Car is: Karting --> IPS --> Indy Car. Is that about right? |
||||
__________________
"Meet me at the racetrack, Jack." |
24 Mar 2004, 16:46 (Ref:918101) | #13 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 576
|
Possibilities for road races include. 1.Road America, 2.Long Beach 3. Somewhere in Mexico, 4.Toronto, 5.Australia, and as Boots said 6.Sears Point and 7.Road Atlanta.
I would like to see Road America, Toronto, Mexico and the heart of NASCAR country, Road Atlanta. |
|
|
24 Mar 2004, 18:44 (Ref:918234) | #14 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 485
|
The IRL will do road racing in 2005
Three races are obvious: 1) Long Beach (Dover will drop OWRS after the race) 2) Sears Point or Laguna Seca (NorCal market is #4 in NA) 3) Mid-Ohio or Road America (need midwest fans) The fourth will be reserved for amongst these three 1) Mexico, Canada (Toronto or Montreal), or Road Atlanta It will happen. |
||
|
25 Mar 2004, 01:16 (Ref:918614) | #15 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 399
|
Ive heard that Watkins Glen is a sure thing for 2006.
|
||
|
25 Mar 2004, 01:28 (Ref:918623) | #16 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,376
|
I'd like to see it happen, but everyone keeps saying that its not up to the modern safety standards required for open wheel racing, and they can't change it, due to historical factors.
Race fans continue to suffer in the north-east US, from a lack of a decent road course. All I can think of is Lime Rock Park in Ct., but I'm not sure that open wheelers can race there. Very frustrating! |
||
__________________
"I don't feel insecure about 'being girlie'. I do as much media as I can because I want this IRL series to be so kick-butt that NASCAR goes, 'Huh?'" Danica Patrick |
25 Mar 2004, 01:48 (Ref:918635) | #17 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 399
|
Man there's tons of tracks in the north east-
Mosport Mount Tremblant Shannonville Montreal Watkins Glen Limerock Rumbling Road(sp) and probably some more i cant think of... Try living in the north west. We have Portland and Calgary... thats it and they both are poor quality. As far as open wheel racing at the Glen goes, the Formula Renualt series will be at the Glen this year with the GA series. It should give a good idea as to what needs imporving for the IRL to run there. |
||
|
25 Mar 2004, 03:26 (Ref:918689) | #18 | |||
Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,351
|
Quote:
Donnybrooke in Minnesesota, with its 5,000 ft. straight would be tremendous but all they care about is drag racing. PS-Roebling road (I think ) Last edited by Bob Riebe; 25 Mar 2004 at 03:27. |
|||
|
25 Mar 2004, 11:32 (Ref:919003) | #19 | |||
Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 670
|
Quote:
|
|||
__________________
"Meet me at the racetrack, Jack." |
25 Mar 2004, 12:52 (Ref:919068) | #20 | ||
Race Official
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 15,915
|
I can;t remember the last time serious open wheelers ran at The Glen? Who can tell us?
It would be great to have them there next year but although i'm not privvy to expert opinion on the track, i'd agree with it not being upto spec for such cars. Long Beach, Elkhart Lake, a Canadian round (either Montreal or Toronto?), Road Atlanta, Hermanos Rodriguez (Mexico City)and perhaps Rio would surely be the leading contenders for road races? |
||
__________________
"Double Kidney Guv'nah?" "No thanks George they're still wavin a white flag!" |
25 Mar 2004, 12:59 (Ref:919077) | #21 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,900
|
You might have to go back to the 60's when The Glen was the host of the US GP? Not sure though.
Last edited by Down F0rce; 25 Mar 2004 at 13:22. |
||
__________________
I can't drive 55. |
25 Mar 2004, 13:13 (Ref:919093) | #22 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,419
|
CART raced there between 1979 and 1981.
|
|
|
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Road Racing | P.Cummins | Bike Racing | 24 | 9 Jun 2005 09:38 |
Road Racing Help | tater | Bike Racing | 6 | 19 May 2004 16:49 |
The theory that road racing requires more talent than oval racing | Joe Fan | NASCAR & Stock Car Racing | 14 | 15 Aug 2002 12:42 |
british road racing ...... | gomick | Bike Racing | 3 | 16 Aug 2001 08:30 |
[Books] American Racing: Road Racing in the 50s and 60s | KC | Armchair Enthusiast | 2 | 28 Apr 2001 22:25 |