Round 11: MAVTV 500. Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, CA. 26-27 June, 2015

[BudLightJaguar]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Not having a marketing solution, isn't going to attract advertisers and sponsors and is something that's plagued the IRL from its inception.

Exactly. Sponsors will find other series to put their money, if the attitude is something like "we're just a bunch of journeymen with our Italian made junior open-wheelers".

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by BudLightJaguar

Exactly. Sponsors will find other series to put their money, if the attitude is something like "we're just a bunch of journeymen with our Italian made junior open-wheelers".

The result is the rows of empty seats at Saturday's race. However, according to IndyCar the ratings for MAVTV 500, were more than double those of 2014. I don't know how the Nielsen rating system works.

http://www.indycar.com/News/2015/06/...VTV-500-double

[HJJ]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Having the season finale in October's not going to happen with Mark Miles in charge because he thinks the NFL will clash with IndyCar.

That's the Boston Consulting group talking and they have Mike Miles ear. I'm convinced that they (Boston Consulting Group) are N.E. Patriot fans that do not want to go to race weekends when the Pats are playing.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by HJJ

That's the Boston Consulting group talking and they have Mike Miles ear. I'm convinced that they (Boston Consulting Group) are N.E. Patriot fans that do not want to go to race weekends when the Pats are playing.

What do the Boston Consulting Group know about motorsport, then again what does Mark Miles know know about motorsport, if he has to get advice from the Boston Consulting Group?

They probably are Pats fans and are behind Deflate Gate.

[10TENTHS]

Miles used to run ATP (tennis) and was involved in staging a Superbowl event, as far as I recall. More notable than bull riding...

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by 10TENTHS

Miles used to run ATP (tennis) and was involved in staging a Superbowl event, as far as I recall. More notable than bull riding...

Indeed he did but Tennis and the Super Bowl aren't motorsport and neither is bull riding.

[NaBUru38]

By the way, PBR has been sold to IMG. Randy Bernard surely deserves some credit.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

The result is the rows of empty seats at Saturday's race. However, according to IndyCar the ratings for MAVTV 500, were more than double those of 2014. I don't know how the Nielsen rating system works.

http://www.indycar.com/News/2015/06/...VTV-500-double

Scheduling the race at 1pm on a Saturday wasn't doing anyone any favours

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Scheduling the race at 1pm on a Saturday wasn't doing anyone any favours

It didn't help.

[rwintle]

Originally Posted by BudLightJaguar

During my Toronto visit, I didn't see any kind of promotion in downton. No prints, billboards. Nothing at all. ALMS (and USCC) has had a pit stop demo at Yonge-Dundas Square for many years, IndyCar had nothing.

They used to do a mini-festival at Yonge-Dundas - multiple days even (Tues/Weds/Thurs of race week). Vendors, pit stop challenge, show cars, etc. The last full one was I think in 2010 (pics: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ricard...7624489194872/).

Haven't seen anything similar since. The pit stop challenge did move down into the financial/theatre district in an evening timeslot, in 2011 I think. But that was it for off-track things for the most part, just the odd event here and there. So little promotion.

[rwintle]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

Something that's gotten lost in the convo here:
http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2015/0...ar-during-pit/
Please excuse the source; first hit on Google News search.

Any word on the crewman's condition? It looked pretty ugly.

This is the third race this year (I believe the count is correct) where we've had a injury on pit road. This seems to be more common in IndyCar this year than other forms of motorracing.

I didn't even see any replay of this incident (although I confess I nodded off partway through the race so might have missed it). There was just one small passing mention.

Also lost in the convo - career-best 13th place finish for Pippa Mann. Bravo. I don't think I heard her mentioned even once during the whole race broadcast. Boo TV commentators. Tough to convince sponsors to pony up if each driver isn't going to be mentioned at least a few times, I'd think.