just a quick question

[IronLion]

dont shoot me down if this has been talked about before.

but what was the reasoning behind the irl doin 1 race in japan?

are they looking to go overseas more and more or is it just a 1 international race a year?

i havent followed IRL very close (being i havent had cable TV for a while) and have only just started to get back into it so i wasnt sure the reasoing behind it.

thanks guys

[Kicking-back]

It's solely one overseas race, because Honda and Toyota are engine suppliers to the IRL.

[IronLion]

that does make sence.

thanks mate

[infoxicated]

Personally I think it's unnecessary... Motegi isn't the greatest oval there is, and the delay in the season caused by the long haul to Japan doesn't help the momentum of the series.

[Team Owner]

Honda is the reason for having a race at Motegi but the promoter there likes the IRL.
Did you know that the reason the stands are not full at Motegi is because the mayor of the city has control over the amount of tickets that can be sold?

Odd but true. I met the mayor at the Honda welcome reception this year so I asked him about this and his reply was that since so many people come and camp out the entire weekend that he felt this was too many people to have in his city at one time. I imagine that if the promoter were to pay him under the table he might change his tune.

Speaking of which the reason I haven't posted much lately is that I got sick on the trip home from Japan and am now just getting back to normal. Over 150 people on our flight back to the states got sick.

[infoxicated]

Nasty... hope you make a swift return to full health.

I remember it being said somewhere that this year the Motegi event had been held on a japanese holiday to see if it would boost attendance, however it had the opposite effect, with most locals heading further afield instead of going to the race.

I appreciate that it's held due to Honda, and it is a brilliant facility with the mix of different road courses and the oval, but it really does get in the way of the start of the season. I'd prefer two other events to happen instead, before Indy, so that the championship is starting to take shape before the 500. Maybe it just seems like a larger break due to the month of may being so long, although I cant help but think an overseas event that early in the season is a bit misguided.

[Snrub]

Originally Posted by Team Owner

Honda is the reason for having a race at Motegi but the promoter there likes the IRL.
Did you know that the reason the stands are not full at Motegi is because the mayor of the city has control over the amount of tickets that can be sold?

Odd but true. I met the mayor at the Honda welcome reception this year so I asked him about this and his reply was that since so many people come and camp out the entire weekend that he felt this was too many people to have in his city at one time. I imagine that if the promoter were to pay him under the table he might change his tune.

Speaking of which the reason I haven't posted much lately is that I got sick on the trip home from Japan and am now just getting back to normal. Over 150 people on our flight back to the states got sick.

What an odd mayor. Although compared to my recent battles with the local council, that guy seems downright logical.

Lots of people make a big deal about Motegi, but really who cares? Even if one wants to be 100% cynical and say that Honda is blackmailing the series, isn't that a fair trade for all the money they pump into the series?

I remember you mentioning everyone getting sick before. Did you have some sort of out of control bacterial infection?