The IRL where next?

luke · 16 Jan 2005, 12:54 (Ref:1202160)

I would have thought Mexico would be best first.

Anyway how I see it the IRL is fine how it is, a part from a race in maybe Mexico and maybe Canada.

The IRL was partly original created because Tony George wanted to promote new American talent.
Well at first about 4/5ths of the field were Americans, now it's about 1/3rd, if that.
So the series no longer has to take part 100% in America.

And I take it that the Motegi race is for Honda and Toyota. And there is a few Japanese drivers.
Well I feel Britain deserves a race.
For the same reason as to why there may be an A1GP race here.
Because, there is British interest in the sport, the chasiss are British, currently good British drivers.
But I doubt this will happen.

Kicking-back · 16 Jan 2005, 13:42 (Ref:1202196)

I don't think a race in Europe would be a good thing for IndyCar racing.

The market here is already full with all manner of racing.

IndyCar must stay focused on the USA.

Having one race in Japan makes sense, as would adding one in Canada and Japan - and if they can bag Surfers from Champ Car that would work too.

But it must be seen as an American series in the main.

BootsOntheSide · 16 Jan 2005, 13:56 (Ref:1202214)

I'd agree with KB - it was looking to expand internationally that caused CART so many problems. Looking to increase the number of US drivers should be the priority. Adding races in Canada and Mexico would be accpetable (although no the Quebec street race mooted elsewhere), but otherwise the focus must remain on North America.

Kicking-back · 16 Jan 2005, 14:07 (Ref:1202222)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

Having one race in Japan makes sense, as would adding one in Canada and Japan - .

Obviously I mean "Canada and Mexico"

JohnSSC · 16 Jan 2005, 15:44 (Ref:1202279)

I would agree that the series should be North American centered.

For too long their has been a sort of Attention Deficit Disorder affecting open-wheel racing that seems to inspire a scattershot approach to creating and maintaining a series.

N I Tram · 21 Jan 2005, 12:46 (Ref:1206332)

The IRL should stay primarily in the US - it seems like those suggesting otherwise haven't paid full attention to the history of CART's demise.

Kicking-back · 21 Jan 2005, 13:18 (Ref:1206371)

Absolutely NITram

If we don't learn from history, we repeat the same mistakes.

GP Racer · 21 Jan 2005, 14:41 (Ref:1206452)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

Absolutely NITram

If we don't learn from history, we repeat the same mistakes.

I wholeheartedly agree guys, but it seems that IndyCar doesn't know its history.

Right now it looks like the IRL is down to only 8 American drivers, it's also going to go road racing, and any races that they add, seem certain to be more road racing or worse, street racing, the series is also likely to be going to Canada and then Mexico, and all of the small teams are gone. The manufacturers, and former CART superteams are now driving this series in the direction they want, with little regard for what the fans want to see. We also cannot draw in any of the dirt track racers that are necessary to the survival of this series, and the very thing that made it so successful in the past.

It seem's to me that the IRL wants to take CC head on, directly competing with them at their own, failed game, instead of going there own way. It's quite a gamble IMO, that may leave American open wheel race fans feeling abandoned, again...

Kicking-back · 21 Jan 2005, 17:06 (Ref:1206541)

If IndyCar can emulate the CART of 1993-1995 that would be excellent.

The big problem for open wheel racing in the USA is and continues to be the split.

JohnSSC · 22 Jan 2005, 03:09 (Ref:1206880)

It seems as if both Series' are taking whole Chapters out of the "Planning for Failure" Procedure Manual and implementing them.

At the rate they are going they are going to become support races on Grand Am weekends - I am not saying that to denigrate Grand Am!

N I Tram · 24 Jan 2005, 13:41 (Ref:1208561)

Frankly, the three new non-oval courses this year are fine by me, each representing some of the best tracks the US has to offer. If they can snare Laguna Seca, that'd be great news for fans, as it's far too god a track not to host an open-wheel race each year. However, that should be the most road or street courses for now, certainly while ChampCars still exists with a positive forward-image.

BSchneiderFan · 25 Jan 2005, 00:52 (Ref:1209110)

The IRL's decision to include road courses does, though, in my view, make the IRL and Champ Cars incompatible in the long run.

Tenoch · 25 Jan 2005, 02:32 (Ref:1209146)

I think that if the IRL races at really good road courses it will prevail, just as long it remains focused and reliefs itself from the serious caes of CARTatosis it is suffering.

Kicking-back · 25 Jan 2005, 07:08 (Ref:1209230)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

The IRL's decision to include road courses does, though, in my view, make the IRL and Champ Cars incompatible in the long run.

Undoubtedly - but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Only unity will bring real success.

JohnSSC · 25 Jan 2005, 11:30 (Ref:1209406)

Actually, in an odd sort of way it is a move that will help.

By blurring the distinctions between the two Series (all ovals vs what is left of the diverse mix) it will allow a merge and therefore unification to occur more easily. Fans on both sides will be used to the mixture of ovals/road/street venues.

In many ways the list of differences between the two Series' is shrinking.

Kicking-back · 25 Jan 2005, 14:03 (Ref:1209568)

Absolutely.

It now depends on whether common sense is shown by both sides in doing that, or if it has to be a fight to the death which will damage single-seater racing in the USA overall still further.

GP Racer · 27 Jan 2005, 21:08 (Ref:1211488)

Dumb question perhaps, but,

A - do you think that TG is becoming like CART to beat them at their own game, and put them out-of-business?

B - do you think its an effort to become so alike that a merger becomes more of a possibility?

C- do you think that the IRL is looking to siphon off casual open wheel fans who don't care which series is racing, as long as it has road/street/oval racing?

D - None of the above!

Kicking-back · 27 Jan 2005, 21:11 (Ref:1211490)

E - All of the above

macdaddy · 27 Jan 2005, 21:21 (Ref:1211496)

E would include D, though.
Refer to the PF thread on infinity!

Kicking-back · 27 Jan 2005, 21:25 (Ref:1211503)

F - all of the above, bar D and E!

JohnSSC · 27 Jan 2005, 22:10 (Ref:1211560)

Definitely B & C - I think A is unintentional evolution, not a conscious effort on TG's part. But think about it: so many teams in the IRL are former CART/CC teams that they are going to gravitate to doing more street/road courses.

TG is just following the natural momentum in that direction.

GP Racer · 27 Jan 2005, 22:20 (Ref:1211574)

You sure thats natural momentum John, or is TG just plain losing control of his series to the teams and manufacturers?

Hazza · 28 Jan 2005, 04:49 (Ref:1211745)

Well they nabbed me with C. So I can't see why they can't nab others. I just want to go racing, and so does the average punter.

cybersdorf · 28 Jan 2005, 09:25 (Ref:1211827)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GP Racer

You sure thats natural momentum John, or is TG just plain losing control of his series to the teams and manufacturers?

Or maybe it is a case of "seeing the light"?

JohnSSC · 28 Jan 2005, 16:46 (Ref:1212108)

Well, GP, that is a good point. By getting in bed with the manufacturers to take advantage of their "support" means going along with them as well. They want to get their product in front of as many people as possible. The more diverse (and popular) the Series is, the better the return for their investment.

I think though that even if the environment were one of non-leased engines - sort of like the NASCAR model - the drift towards diversity in venues would still occur. CART and USAC before then have been running road/street courses for a long time. So there will be that desire to continue to do so.

Sooner or later there will be a faction that just wants to go racing and at that point maybe we will see one Series develop.