Road course race at IMS?

AuzGrams said:
Iowa has had 25-30,000 permanent seats and increased up to 60,000 with temporary seating for their first Nationwide race in 2009. I would imagine it wouldn't be hard for IRP to do the same if they really wanted.
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30K in attendance may end up being the norm for a lot of races in the coming years. I think Bristol held about 36K when I first attended.
 
Should put it on the road thing. Do it with plates, six or eight stop-the-racin' flags, random inverts of the entire field 'n three or four different tire compounds.

Yanno, real racin'.
 
AndyMarquisLive said:
One of the hot rumors is Indianapolis replacing Daytona on July 4th weekend.
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I can't see ISC cutting loose of that weekend. And who wants to spend the holiday week in Circle City when they could be at the beach? I ask that as a someone born a Hoosier who spent many a summer holiday at his grandparents.
 
AndyMarquisLive said:
One of the hot rumors is Indianapolis replacing Daytona on July 4th weekend.
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IDK how the swap in dates would impact either track positively or negatively. The last thing I heard about Brickyard was that everything would be done on Sat and Sun.
 
Charlie Spencer said:
I can't see ISC cutting loose of that weekend. And who wants to spend the holiday week in Circle City when they could be at the beach? I ask that as a someone born a Hoosier who spent many a summer holiday at his grandparents.
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IDK what the point would be.
 
StandOnIt said:
we are going to get a Charlotte road course race like it or not I believe and pretty soon too. I don't see it happening at Indy..those Indytrack folks are nuts about that track. I think it is partly because it is about all Indycar has going for it and to keep that track viable no matter what. They won't change a thing because they think they might lose something, so no widening or changes coming IMO. People that don't like changes should switch over to Indycar lol.
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A few years ago there were talks of bringing the apron back to help out NASCAR but I haven't heard anything on it in a while. I would guess because of concerns with feet-first IndyCar crashes again.
 
Acs said:
What better way to kick off NBC's coverage than with a horribly boring oval race or a half-baked road race.
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Brickyard 400 is still a ratings blockbuster. ESPN had the schedule realigned in 2007 so they could kick off their coverage with the Brickyard.

As for NBC... Saturday night races have always gotten horrible ratings, which is why NBC had the Coke Zero 400 pushed to Sunday night in 2015. And the 2015 Brickyard 400 was the most watched program on NBCSN ... ever.

NBC might actually be pushing for this themselves.
 
FLRacingFan said:
A few years ago there were talks of bringing the apron back to help out NASCAR but I haven't heard anything on it in a while. I would guess because of concerns with feet-first IndyCar crashes again.
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somebody might know different, but I haven't seen or heard of one concession that track has made to help Nascar racing there.
 
StandOnIt said:
somebody might know different, but I haven't seen or heard of one concession that track has made to help Nascar racing there.
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Following the test, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway started an extensive improvement project. The outside retaining wall and catch fence were replaced. The new wall and fence were decidedly stronger, and could support the 3,500 pound NASCAR stock cars. The pit area was widened, and the individual pit stalls were replaced in concrete. This was done to better support the pneumatic jacks used by the Indy cars, and to handle the refuel spillage of gasoline from the NASCAR machines. The largest project, however, involved the removal of the track apron, and the construction of the new warm-up lane, similar to that built at Nazareth Speedway in 1987.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brickyard_400

I don't know what exactly people are expecting. There's only so much you can do before you start considering things that would ruin the track. I don't think IndyCar is expecting NASCAR/ISC to fundamentally alter Daytona so they can race there.
 
AndyMarquisLive said:
As for Daytona, to be honest, I'd be fine with them moving it to October or November. In Florida, in July, it rains literally every single day. How many times has this race started at an absurd late hour or been pushed back now?
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We usually spend a couple weeks in Florida in July,at night you can count on thunderstorms.
 
FLRacingFan said:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brickyard_400

I don't know what exactly people are expecting. There's only so much you can do before you start considering things that would ruin the track. I don't think IndyCar is expecting NASCAR/ISC to fundamentally alter Daytona so they can race there.
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I believe they are expecting a better racing contest, and as the years wear on and the new has long worn off and still nothing but no passing yawners, some of us aren't too enthused with the ol Brickyard if ya know what I mean.

"The track has long been criticized for being poorly-suited for stock cars prompting some fans to choose other tracks. The subsequent addition of new races relatively nearby at Chicagoland and Kentucky have given fans other options. The 2016 running of the race saw the lowest attendance in the race's history, with fewer than 50,000 people in attendance leaving nearly 200,000 empty seats":

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brickyard_400
 
StandOnIt said:
The track has long been criticized for being poorly-suited for stock cars prompting some fans to choose other tracks. The subsequent addition of new races relatively nearby at Chicagoland and Kentucky have given fans other options. The 2016 running of the race saw the lowest attendance in the race's history, with fewer than 50,000 people in attendance leaving nearly 200,000 empty seats

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brickyard_400
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Naturally being suited to IndyCar more than to NASCAR doesn't mean they haven't made concessions. You really think IMS doesn't want this race to be a success? The whole "Super Weekend" concept, moving dates around, evaluating the road course, all that shows me that NASCAR and IMS are equally interested in redeeming this event as much as it can be.
 
Skoalbandit33 said:
30K in attendance may end up being the norm for a lot of races in the coming years. I think Bristol held about 36K when I first attended.
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The logic of "maybe NASCAR will fall so bad that they can get back to their roots" is something I almost hope for at this point, but I don't trust Brian France and whoever else who is actually in charge now to make these decisions. IMS has no place on the schedule aside from this odd TV situation where I guess TV really wants it. None of the NASCAR diehards seem to

At least I make my voice heard on the Fan Council.because

I don't understand why running this race on July 4th weekend is going to do. The only way to make this race exciting is moving it into the Chase in Chicago's spot (since it's a cookie cutter that is somewhat disliked).
 
Charlie Spencer said:
IRP may be like Myrtle Beach - not enough ROI on the expenses required these days to host one of the top three series. Just a guess.
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I should email the track or call somebody up but they're still hosting ARCA, USAC Silver Crown, GRC, and Indy 500 Night, so I'm guessing NASCAR's sanctioning fees are whats the deal.
 
FLRacingFan said:
MkFabUh.png
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I had five extra minutes this morning so I drew up a plan that I feel would really help out with the avg NASCAR fan's opinion on Indy. With only a few minor changes to the road course there, I really feel that they can come up with a solution to eliminating the 'bad rap' that Indy gets for hosting it's annual event.

I worked on this before my first cup of coffee this morning so my work may have to be refined a bit.....

As you can see, I've added an additional 6.3 miles of asphalt to the course by adding a left, then right turn coming out of what we all view as the speedway's turn #2. The great thing about this new concept is that the asphalt is already in place thus reducing construction costs. Now, there are a few points along the way where the local policeman will have to man the intersections to keep the traffic flow moving in a north westerly direction. Once the initial course is traversed, the 6.3 miles can be opened back up to the general public as that part of the course will no longer be a necessary section of the track.


Indy Proposal 1.jpg

Indy Proposal 2.jpg


Additional proposed changes to Indianapolis Motor Speedway prior to the 2018 season because it will become necessary.

Indy Proposal 3.jpg
 
AuzGrams said:
I should email the track or call somebody up but they're still hosting ARCA, USAC Silver Crown, GRC, and Indy 500 Night, so I'm guessing NASCAR's sanctioning fees are whats the deal.
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Did IRP install SAFER? If not, I'm guessing that's the big financial stumbling block.

It's all moot, since NASCAR isn't going back there regardless.
 
Leave the museum in placed at the south end. Put the tent on either end of it. Consider leaving the pagoda as a stage for those ever-popular music acts, or for Monster's motorcycle stunts.
 
I'd really hate to see Daytona lose that weekend, been going since I was a kid. Nobody wants to go to Indiana for July 4th weekend, let alone watch a NASCAR race there.
 
Give Atlanta or Darlington their 2nd date back. I'd definitely make the drive for both Atlanta dates.
 
Not a fan of the road course, the F1 races there were a snooze fest for me. I think if NASCAR does the road course it's just another gimmick band aid to cover the fact that either the aero package they are running isn't suitable for the track or the cars themselves are no longer suitable to be there. I don't remember the 90 to mid 2000's races at Indy being boring but maybe younger me was just caught up in the spectacle of a race at Indy. To a degree I still am as the Brickyard is one of my favorite races on the calendar and hope to attend there one day. My problem is that the weather in August in the midwest is unbearable and currently have no urge to sit in the grandstands to bake. I would hope that if they do decide to run the road course just do the right thing and leave all together. Go to Iowa, Road America or Gateway then. I however would not be opposed if they switch dates with Chicagoland, switch Chicagoland back to a night race like it used to be and have the Brickyard open up the Chase.
 
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Someone posted earlier in the thread about wanting to see Indy Car try the Roval at Daytona if NASCAR went to the Indy Roadcourse, that would be fine and good...but give me a Formula 1 US Grand Prix on the Daytona Roval. I need that in my life.
 
I wouldn't hold my breath waitin' for that swap to take place.

Thinkin' that's the sort of "hot rumor" goin' around the Charlotte area medical facilities.........
 
I think they'll announce the schedule soon, once they get the date set for the Brickyard and everything. But I don't think we'll know until the start of next season whether it will be on the road course or the oval. Essentially we're in a holding pattern until Xfinity runs the oval with their new aero package experiment. If it works, then it will be used for cup and the race stays on the oval in 2018. If not, then we get the road course in 2018 and try that out. And if that doesn't work, I predict Indy is off the schedule when the track agreements run out in 2021. The relationship between IMS and NASCAR isn't the greatest to say the least. All of these initiatives are coming from the NASCAR side at their cost, not IMS.
 
Acs said:
I think they'll announce the schedule soon, once they get the date set for the Brickyard and everything. But I don't think we'll know until the start of next season whether it will be on the road course or the oval. Essentially we're in a holding pattern until Xfinity runs the oval with their new aero package experiment. If it works, then it will be used for cup and the race stays on the oval in 2018. If not, then we get the road course in 2018 and try that out. And if that doesn't work, I predict Indy is off the schedule when the track agreements run out in 2021. The relationship between IMS and NASCAR isn't the greatest to say the least. All of these initiatives are coming from the NASCAR side at their cost, not IMS.
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I agree with this 100% , pretty rational post. I dont think next decade NASCAR will be going to the Brickyard.
 
Snappy D said:
I agree with this 100% , pretty rational post. I dont think next decade NASCAR will be going to the Brickyard.
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And they sure as sh!t won't be going to IRP, so let's put that one to bed too.
 
For the first time ever , IMS has a few areas for infield camping for this
weekends indycar race. No camping on the infield golf course holes however.
So that's a big change the track is making for the fans.
 
I was really hoping Brian would have secured a low level cabinet position by now. But moving the Independence Day race from the capital of nascar, to one of their worst races, in a town that treats nascar like it is second class, with absolutely nothing to do outside of the track. Is quite possibly their dumbest idea since moving the Labor Day race to California.

May as well move the 600 to New Hampshire and cut 300 miles from the race while they are at it. And move the 500 to April, in order to catch some of the spring break crowd. You know, that all important demo.
 
AdoubleU24 said:
I'd really hate to see Daytona lose that weekend, been going since I was a kid. Nobody wants to go to Indiana for July 4th weekend, let alone watch a NASCAR race there.
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Agreed, to me that would be right up there with when Darlington got moved out of Labor Day weekend. The rain issue could be avoided if they did like they used to and drop the green flag around 11am. They'd be done by the time the daily afternoon Florida t-storm rolls through. NBC would probably never have that though.
 
ToyYoda said:
Agreed, to me that would be right up there with when Darlington got moved out of Labor Day weekend. The rain issue could be avoided if they did like they used to and drop the green flag around 11am. They'd be done by the time the daily afternoon Florida t-storm rolls through. NBC would probably never have that though.
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I am going to my 2nd Daytona July race this year, first time in 2015 we had to leave because we had a plane to catch at 9am. The race didnt end up starting until midnight or so. I wish NASCAR would race the Firecracker 400 at 10am or so the way it used to be. I think if NASCAR does end up taking the July 4th race from Daytona and give it to Indy it would be another tradition lost.
 
I kinda just factor rain delay in my daily schedule when I go to Daytona now lol. I expect it. It doesn't bother me anymore like it used to, as long as the race doesn't get pushed to the next day - which it did in 2014. I was already staying there for the weekend so it wasn't as bad then, just a 15 min drive back to the beach.

What I like about keeping it a night race is it gives you a full day to tailgate and enjoy yourself. To me that gives the $150 ticket price some added value.
 
AdoubleU24 said:
I kinda just factor rain delay in my daily schedule when I go to Daytona now lol. I expect it. It doesn't bother me anymore like it used to, as long as the race doesn't get pushed to the next day - which it did in 2014. I was already staying there for the weekend so it wasn't as bad then, just a 15 min drive back to the beach.

What I like about keeping it a night race is it gives you a full day to tailgate and enjoy yourself. To me that gives the $150 ticket price some added value.
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I factor it in for every race I attend, and assume it will get pushed to Monday.
 
AdoubleU24 said:
I kinda just factor rain delay in my daily schedule when I go to Daytona now lol. I expect it. It doesn't bother me anymore like it used to, as long as the race doesn't get pushed to the next day - which it did in 2014. I was already staying there for the weekend so it wasn't as bad then, just a 15 min drive back to the beach.

What I like about keeping it a night race is it gives you a full day to tailgate and enjoy yourself. To me that gives the $150 ticket price some added value.
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I feel the same way, Learned my lesson. We are flying in Thursday and leaving Weds. Plenty of time for rain delays.
 
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