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[Rivelution]

Its in Kansas right now, but its pretty boring. I'll just watch the highlights later.

I wish I had a proper feed to watch the title. I'd quite like Dario to do well.

He was sent to the back of the grid for going under the white line in qualifying.

[EwanM]

Its in Kansas right now, but its pretty boring. I'll just watch the highlights later.

I wish I had a proper feed to watch the title. I'd quite like Dario to do well.

He was sent to the back of the grid for going under the white line in qualifying.

Oh well hahahah! Keep me updated though. He was good at Long Beach (shouldbe F1's new home )

[Rivelution]

He is P7 right now with Dixie leading. The only crash so far is when Mutoh cut off Meira causing him to slow down and Castroneves ran right into the back of him. Helio is still racing, but Meira is out as with Viso for gearbox problems, but was unlucky and was hit by the debris from the incident causing him to pit for another wing.

[EwanM]

He is P7 right now with Dixie leading. The only crash so far is when Mutoh cut off Meira causing him to slow down and Castroneves ran right into the back of him. Helio is still racing, but Meira is out as with Viso for gearbox problems, but was unlucky and was hit by the debris from the incident causing him to pit for another wing.

Thanks man, nice avatar btw.
Zonta and Ludwig FTW

[Rivelution]

Haha yeah I've always loved the Mercedes GTR. My cousin in law saw them race when FIA GT went to Laguna in 97 and 98. That must have been awesome seeing the Porsche's, McLaren's, and Mercedes' battle it out.

[Rivelution]

WHAT A FREAKIN IDIOT!!!

Indy Racing League founder Tony George dropped a bombshell in December when he told an industry group that he would shut down the open-wheel series if it didn’t break into the black soon.

When pressed about the possibility of being profitable by 2013, George responded, “It has to be, or or there won’t be a 2013. We expect a return on that investment.”

The remark before the Sports Business Journal Motorsports Marketing Forum in New York was scarcely reported outside racing circles and received virtually no attention from Indianapolis media.

Now racing analysts wonder what would happen to the fabled Indianapolis Motor Speedway if the IRL were to collapse.

“It’’s difficult to envision the Indianapolis 500 without a supporting series,” said Tim Frost, president of Frost Motorsports, a Chicago-based business consultancy. “I’m not sure any of us know what would happen if Tony George pulled the plug on the Indy Racing League. I can tell you, it wouldn’t be good.”

Most analysts are optimistic George will hit the goal and see the series thrive. Even Frost rates the IRL’s chances of reaching profitability within four years at around 70 percent—a figure other analysts agree is reasonable.

It’s been an uphill battle. Analysts estimate George has poured more than $250 million into the series in its 13 seasons. When asked in the New York forum if the league had turned a profit, George responded, “Not yet.”

IRL lieutenants are preparing for an all-out sales and marketing assault during one of the worst economic downturns since the Great Depression. The marketers are counting on last year’s unification with rival open-wheel series CART, and a three-year centennial celebration surrounding the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indianapolis 500 that starts this year, to rev the engine.

One thing is certain: Results of the campaign will profoundly affect open-wheel racing worldwide, not to mention in Indiana.

“We’re talking about tens of thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in economic impact,” said Tom Weisenbach, Indiana Motorsports Association executive director. “We find new racing-related companies in Indiana every day.”

Post-IRL options

If the IRL doesn’t turn a profit in the next four years and George keeps his word, the Speedway would face interesting options. George, who is also IMS chairman, could maintain the Indianapolis 500 as a stand-alone open-wheel event, or make it part of an open-wheel series that starts in the wake of IRL’s death. Both options seem unlikely.

The other option would be to join Formula One. As strange as the idea might sound, the Indianapolis 500 was a fixture on the F1 calendar from 1950-60, though most of the drivers who raced here didn’t compete in many other F1 races.

“If the IRL went away, they wouldn’t have tumbleweeds blowing down the front stretch,” Frost said. “It’s just too much of a valued fixed asset to let sit during May.”

The Allstate 400 at the Brickyard NASCAR race and the MotoGP motorcycle race are thought to bring in a combined $35 million to $50 million in revenue, but motorsports analysts said those races don’t hold a candle to the revenue generated by the Indianapolis 500.

The Speedway doesn’t release the number, but ticket sales are just the tip of the iceberg. Whatever the number, it’s augmented by hospitality, merchandise and concession sales during almost the entire month of May, Frost said.

How could we have avoided this? Oh wait let me see, ummmm, I believe the IRL never should have been created in the first place. He created the IRL so that HE could have all the power, but it took 12 years to do so. Now that he's in the position he wanted he cant even do it correctly, I mean a new chassis and engine arent due until 2012!!!

[EwanM]

Dear god if Mr George goes through with this, we may see the end of open wheel racing in the States (major I mean). For me that would be terrible.

[7UpJordan]

Tony George - the American equivalent of Bernie Ecclestone.

[Rivelution]

Dear god if Mr George goes through with this, we may see the end of open wheel racing in the States (major I mean). For me that would be terrible.

That would be terrible for the USA, but might be a good thing for F1 if there was no open wheel series in the States. I mean I started watching F1 when CART fizzled out, all those fans would go to F1 too because open wheel fans hate nascar!

I would love nothing more than to see the IRL fail... only if another series sprung up.

Tony George - the American equivalent of Bernie Ecclestone.

Nah he's worse.

[EwanM]

Dear god if Mr George goes through with this, we may see the end of open wheel racing in the States (major I mean). For me that would be terrible.

That would be terrible for the USA, but might be a good thing for F1 if there was no open wheel series in the States. I mean I started watching F1 when CART fizzled out, all those fans would go to F1 too because open wheel fans hate nascar!

I would love nothing more than to see the IRL fail... only if another series sprung up.

Tony George - the American equivalent of Bernie Ecclestone.

Nah he's worse.

Bernie KO1 Tony George though. He gave him the middle finger and took F1 outta Indy...

[EwanM]

I think if IRL did fold and USGPE took off we'd deff see the return of the US GP... Hopefully at Long Beach or Laguna Seca...

[Rivelution]

Dear god if Mr George goes through with this, we may see the end of open wheel racing in the States (major I mean). For me that would be terrible.

That would be terrible for the USA, but might be a good thing for F1 if there was no open wheel series in the States. I mean I started watching F1 when CART fizzled out, all those fans would go to F1 too because open wheel fans hate nascar!

I would love nothing more than to see the IRL fail... only if another series sprung up.

Tony George - the American equivalent of Bernie Ecclestone.

Nah he's worse.

Bernie KO1 Tony George though. He gave him the middle finger and took F1 outta Indy...

Bernie does do stupid things, and is extremely greedy which is taking its toll on F1. But at least he hasnt ruined F1.


Look at Tony George. He's greedy, stupid, and his ideas for the "new" IRL are basically pages right out of the old CART book. He has completely ruined American open wheel racing, all because he wanted complete power of the series. He finally did it, but it took 12 years and with it, almost no fans.

He destroyed a great series that had real fans, awesome tracks, great drivers, beautiful cars, and best of all, competitive, and close racing. Everyone loved CART. Hell, even some Europeans liked it compared to no Europeans liking nascar.

[Jamie]

Indy 500! Woo! Helio For the win i say!!!! i think Kanaan for the title

[EwanM]

Dario

[Rivelution]

Power Power Power