Indycar News & Rumors.

[NaBUru38]

If there's 24-25 full-season cars, then there must be some sponsors.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

If there's 24-25 full-season cars, then there must be some sponsors.

As well as pay drivers.

[icemachine]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

As well as pay drivers.

There's always been pay drivers

[FordCosworthPanoz]

The 'paying telecaster' DRT mentions is part of the problem...

As for sponsors vs pay drivers, it's what its always been. Larger teams have sponsors and smaller teams have pay drivers. It just so happens that the number of top quality teams have shrunk and number of smaller teams stayed the same or even increased.

I do agree that "last legs" is a little bit over dramatic, but decline may be a more appropriate word.

[FordCosworthPanoz]

Originally Posted by icemachine

There's always been pay drivers

Yep, this is the case for just about every series except maybye NASCAR Cup in the world and its only getting worse, which means less talented young drivers will be doing open wheel and more doing NASCAR or factory GT programs.

[gomick]

Formula 1 had pay drivers 20 years ago etc, nothing new - just need to get some American "pay drivers" in there. Where are all the big US Corporations, surely they need to write of billions of dodgy dollars ...

Reckon in a single car make formula, there should be a cap on $$$ spent - why make it sooo expensive?

[FordCosworthPanoz]

Originally Posted by gomick

Formula 1 had pay drivers 20 years ago etc, nothing new - just need to get some American "pay drivers" in there. Where are all the big US Corporations, surely they need to write of billions of dodgy dollars ...

Reckon in a single car make formula, there should be a cap on $$$ spent - why make it sooo expensive?

Good question...

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by FordCosworthPanoz

The 'paying telecaster' DRT mentions is part of the problem...

No doubt - but to think when many motorsport categories are paying for tv and Indycar is getting paid that is something.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by icemachine

There's always been pay drivers

I'm well aware of that but with fewer big sponsors now in IndyCar, the smaller teams are going to have to look to pay drivers, because the lack of decent TV coverage certainly won't attract any new sponsors.

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

ChampCar was virtually a spec series once Reynard went bust and Lola was the sole chassis manufacturer.

It would seem Kirby has changed his mind regarding the spec path as it clearly isn't working, with the series looking like it's on its last legs.

G Kirby was like a lot of the last remnants of open wheel fans, he had false hopes for the "rebuyoutifcation" in 2008. He thought the act of doing that would fix all, but failed to realize where the rot in the sport really is.

He gets it now and has shuffled off to write for Motorsport and write about motorsport history because there is nothing to write about right now of interest.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

G Kirby was like a lot of the last remnants of open wheel fans, he had false hopes for the "rebuyoutifcation" in 2008. He thought the act of doing that would fix all, but failed to realize where the rot in the sport really is.

He gets it now and has shuffled off to write for Motorsport and write about motorsport history because there is nothing to write about right now of interest.

In his 'The Way It Is' column he's done a bit more than write about motorsport history, he's opened up the debate as to what is wrong with AOWR.

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

In his 'The Way It Is' column he's done a bit more than write about motorsport history, he's opened up the debate as to what is wrong with AOWR.

He has, but that's about all he's done in recent times in the area of the modern era of this "sport". Most of those columns come out of talking to people about history for his features in Motorsport and his books. He happens to ask them about the modern era and then can toss up something for his blog. It's not what makes a living for him though. These days he's out of the picture as a journalist that covers races or the indy racing league and instead is cranking out historical features and books.

In fact there is no longer any journalist that covers the irl on a full time basis and hardly any that cover it part time. There is no real demand for the stories by the print media or tv.

[Peat]

Regarding the 'talent' behind the wheel in IndyCar. I often get the impression that the rest of the motorsport world looks down their noses at the IndyCar grid and that they are just people not good enough for F1.

Rubens performance last year was nothing but disappointing. 'Dinger, after the initial impressive form out of the blocks has sort of settled in the middle of the timesheets and has stated that the cars are alot harder the drive and the field far more competitive than he'd expected.

So, what's it going to take for people to realise that these guys are a collection of rather talented racecar drivers and not just some also-rans?

[Paradise City]

Guys like Power, Franchitti, Castroneves, Rahal, Bourdais, Page, RHR and the mercurial Sato are all handy pilots. Duno was sent packing a few years ago. Indycar doesn't roll out a bad entry list you know.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

He has, but that's about all he's done in recent times in the area of the modern era of this "sport". Most of those columns come out of talking to people about history for his features in Motorsport and his books. He happens to ask them about the modern era and then can toss up something for his blog. It's not what makes a living for him though. These days he's out of the picture as a journalist that covers races or the indy racing league and instead is cranking out historical features and books.

In fact there is no longer any journalist that covers the irl on a full time basis and hardly any that cover it part time. There is no real demand for the stories by the print media or tv.

He's done more than that, with articles on the D-Wing and engine specs regarding turbo V6s and inline 4s. He's not completely stuck in the past.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Peat

Regarding the 'talent' behind the wheel in IndyCar. I often get the impression that the rest of the motorsport world looks down their noses at the IndyCar grid and that they are just people not good enough for F1.

Rubens performance last year was nothing but disappointing. 'Dinger, after the initial impressive form out of the blocks has sort of settled in the middle of the timesheets and has stated that the cars are alot harder the drive and the field far more competitive than he'd expected.

So, what's it going to take for people to realise that these guys are a collection of rather talented racecar drivers and not just some also-rans?

I remember back in the CART days, how worried Bernie was about the quality of the drivers in that series, that he tried to get the FIA to stop issuing Super Licenses to drivers racing or wanting to race in CART.

CART's now gone as we all know and so has the threat Bernie perceived it to be.

If the rest of the motorsport world looks down their noses at the IndyCar grid, I don't think it's due to a lack of racing talent but due to how the series itself is now being run.

[ptclaus98]

Originally Posted by gomick

Formula 1 had pay drivers 20 years ago etc, nothing new - just need to get some American "pay drivers" in there. Where are all the big US Corporations, surely they need to write of billions of dodgy dollars ...

Reckon in a single car make formula, there should be a cap on $$$ spent - why make it sooo expensive?

It's not that expensive compared to other forms of motorsport. It could be the cheapest budget to run a car in all of the major motorsport categories out there. The ROI isn't there.

[bjohnsonsmith]

No delay in Push to Pass.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/106199

[bjohnsonsmith]

Just in case anyone was wondering what was happening with Ryan Briscoe, he's racing at Le Mans this year.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/106151

[PabloTeK]

He's baaaaaaaack!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/106276

[FordCosworthPanoz]

Originally Posted by PabloTeK

He's baaaaaaaack!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/106276

It's clear, Miles is just a puppet for all the Turkeys at Trackforum and the other remaining 50-80 years olds from Southern Indiana that are still loyal to this company to gobble over. The guy is a Margaret Thatcher in all of his previous jobs: cut, cut, cut. His "reforms" will likely include slashing leader circle bonuses and milking more out of racetracks and partners, all in time for big Tony to come back and "fix" everything like he did in 1996, all while putting a smiley face on, having dinners with the clueless Indycar media, and pretending to care.

Tony George Jr. and Indy Lights: 9 car grid (16 last year), dying teams, dying interest, delayed new car, Road to Nowhere for drivers.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Justin Wilson has signed a three year deal.

http://www.indycar.com/News/2013/03/...long-term-deal

I just wonder if the series will be around in three years time?

[The Happy Track Fan]

Originally Posted by Paradise City

Guys like Power, Franchitti, Castroneves, Rahal, Bourdais, Page, RHR and the mercurial Sato are all handy pilots. Duno was sent packing a few years ago. Indycar doesn't roll out a bad entry list you know.

No. They don't.

Sad part is. The driving talent is pretty damn good. The cars - IMHO - are decent looking and sound nice. They are plenty fast enough.

It's just the constant shooting of itself square in the foot that makes Indy Car a laughingstock.

Cmon 16th and Georgetown. You fire Bernard and put Brian Brainfart and the Tony George back in the saddle, and you wonder why people just laugh and laugh and laugh.

Never have I seen a series with such vigour to fire fastballs at it's own testicles.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I just wonder if the series will be around in three years time?

[FordCosworthPanoz]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Think about it. I think it will be around in 3 Years, but A hell of a lot can happen during that time. No Champ car Fan would have predicted the outcome of their series in 2005 when the series' ratings, attendance and talent level were increasing after years of significant decline during the early 2000s. Same with ALMS back in 2010. Same with Can Am.

The User only alluded to the possibility of there not being a series in 3 years, which to deny is just as naïve as saying the series has no chance of surviving in 3 years. You never do know.