Could INDYCAR adds the one-mile Phoenix oval to its schedule? (LAT)
Hello open-wheel types and thanks for all your questions. I intend to answer your questions every week during the season, so just email me at . Don’t feel left out if I didn’t directly respond. I appreciate your interest and passion.
~Robin Miller
Q: Well, the Indy Car schedule is out and at least the Indy 500 is still part of the deal. That's a good thing. We're going to make the three California races and Indy for sure, maybe a couple of others. And with any real luck 2013 will have an expanded schedule with a couple of more ovals -- Phoenix maybe? Who knows, maybe Indy Car will figure out a way to work with track owners at smaller venues and put on some oval races at tracks that are less than a mile. We'll see, right?
Jake James, Studio City, CA (no relation to James Jakes).
RM: INDYCAR has made some contact with PIR for 2013 and Randy Bernard wants to make it a priority so that bodes well. I think Richmond is going to get strong consideration as well and there’s another short track Bernard is considering as well.
Q: How can INDYCAR with any sense of sanity and good taste, choose to race on that death ring? What solutions are they considering to implement to eliminate pack racing? I should think that even with the DW12 that track will be easy flat all the way around. Horsepower levels are similar and I imagine down-force levels will remain relatively high. What gives? Chicane on the back straight? Just because all 30,000 non-Indianapolis based oval fans show up there doesn't mean it’s a good race or a suitable place for Indy cars. Can wait for May 2012!
Paul Stephani, Chicago, IL
RM: In fairness to Texas, there’s never been a fatality in an Indy car race there but it’s been insanity since Day 1 when Pack Racing was born. I know a couple of veteran drivers were pissed off when they heard Texas was back on the schedule and you are correct: short of taking off all the wings no way these new cars won’t be flat out.
Q: I HATE this year’s schedule and I don't normally use that word. What ever happened to having races close to your home base of 500,000 fans? If it takes title sponsors to run at Michigan International Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, the Milwaukee Mile, Chicago Speedway, and Cleveland, then Randy needs to go find title sponsors PERIOD or take some of the 10's of millions they make at the Indy 500 and use that money like Tony George did. I love ovals but the ones in Phoenix, Louden, and Richmond don't really interest me because I can't go to the race. I turned into an Indy Car fan because there were seven races within 4-5 hours of Indianapolis. Now I guess I'll start going to NASCAR races again...
Matt Converset, Decatur, IN
RM: Randy’s got enough on his plate without having to do a track’s job but it’s obviously a tough assignment to find a proper title sponsor that can truly help the bottom line. I think Milwaukee could still have a chance but that’s all of those tracks you mentioned.
Q: Seeing the success at Iowa, which has little in the way of professional sports, wouldn't it be smart for someone to build a track in other states without many professional teams? Think of Wyoming, Missouri, Montana, or either of the Dakotas. There aren't many people in those states, but if the track was close to a big city, there might be enough. Also, I saw that the schedule has been released, but the article makes it sound like one or two races could still be added. Is that true?
John Middendorf, Dayton Ohio
RM: It probably would be more brave than smart because it’s a huge expense with a bigger unknown. I hear what you’re saying but Iowa has always had a big open wheel following and they support INDYCAR and USAC as well as NASCAR every season. When I raced USAC midgets in the ‘70s we went to the Huron and Rapid City and they had nice crowds and Mizzou has a ton of race fans as well so it could work. Yes, INDYCAR wants 17 races.
Q: So, we are all disappointed in the road course heavy schedule. Clearly the hardcore fan base wants more ovals and it sounds like Randy Bernard wants more ovals, but most of us realize that it has to be financially lucrative. Could you explain who it ultimately needs to be lucrative to and where the money comes from? Is it the track owner that needs to get paid? What percentages come from the TV contract, race sponsors, team entry fees, ticket sales, hot dog sales, INDYCAR, etc.? Is the TV money set in advance, or will a higher rating generate more revenue for anyone other than the network? How much do ticket sales really move the needle on profit for all involved and does it make a significant difference for that race, or is it more for next year's race when they can sell ads and sponsorships at a higher rate based on the previous year's attendance?
Will Jeffery
RM: I don’t have exact numbers but we can try and get close. Let’s say you are Loudon. You pay INDYCAR a sanction fee of $1.2 million. Your track is open two or three days and that is X amount of dollars for your workers plus you buy radio, TV and newspaper ads. Add on the purse. Before a car turns a wheel, you’re $2 million into the game. Your only chance to get that money back is a big title sponsor and a big crowd, which buys a lot of refreshments and souvenirs. Milwaukee and Loudon were big losers in 2011 and right now ovals are shaky propositions.
Q: Since it appears that Indy Car racing on ovals is a dying breed that promoters seemingly don't want to touch, why not run a race in conjunction with NASCAR's Cup cars? USAC used to run stock car/Indy car doubleheaders, why couldn't that work nowadays? Especially if both races are included on the ticket. Indy car already runs with the Truck series, so there shouldn't be any real conflicts. If promoted right, an event like I suggest would probably sell well enough at a track like Milwaukee if not one of NASCAR's bigger tracks.
Gregg Paul, Mukwonago, WI
RM: USAC ran doubleheaders with Indy cars and USAC stockers and CART and IRL both tried twin bills with ARCA and IRL and Trucks have shared tracks for a long time. But NASCAR wants to promote its Nationwide series the day before Cup, not Indy cars and obviously the trucks don’t draw with or without Indy cars tagging along. The only time I’ve heard of anything like that was when Tony George wanted to go back to Phoenix and was offered a Thursday night on a Friday/Saturday/Sunday NASCAR weekend.
Q: I know much of the recent talk has been about the new car and its problems, but I was wondering what future possibilities for oval tracks might exist, in your opinion. One track I have heard nothing about is Rockingham. Being from the South myself, I think it's a mistake to assume that only stock cars can do well down here. I know I would make the trip to see Indy there.
Josh, Fountain Inn, SC
RM: I showed Randy Bernard the Rockingham layout the other day and it’s got just the right amount of seats for an Indy car oval race and is a cool short track. It might work.
Q: It’s great to see that Watkins Glen is one of the tracks being mentioned as an addition to the 2012 Indy Car schedule. I live an hour from “The Glen” and attended all the Indy Car races. The crowds may not have been “NASCAR large” but they were decent and very enthusiastic. The problem with the layout of the track is that fans love to spread out around the track and camp so the grandstands look deceptively empty. Another issue was the scheduling. One of the races was held a week before the Toronto race. I met a large number of very serious Canadian race fans who told me that it was difficult to justify the cost and time of going to two races one week apart. If the races had been spaced out a little I think more fans would have made the drive down. I also spoke with fans who didn’t like the late starting time. A 3:30-4:00 start for a two hour race and then a 5 hour drive home made it hard on some fans. Just a few suggestions and I would love to see the Indy Cars back on a track where they belong.
Dave, Johnson City, NY
RM: I think everyone is thrilled to hear that The Glen could come back because nobody ever wanted to leave. It’s one of the great road courses ever and needs to be part of INDYCAR. But you are right, no late starts and I thought July 4 was a good idea but evidently the sponsors hate it so the date is key. Q: How come INDYC AR doesn’t race at Pikes Peak International Raceway anymore? I see that the track is still used for other deals. I think this is a perfect oval for Indy cars. I know it does need the SAFER Barrier in place. This was one of my favorite tracks that IndyCar went too. Has Randy talked to the owners of PPIR about hosting a race?
Armond Ealey
RM: As I recall, the crowds kept going down because the track was on the wrong side of Colorado Springs and a bitch to get to from Denver. Don’t think Randy has talked with PPIR.
