MILLER: Elkhart Or Bust

IndyCar

MILLER: Elkhart Or Bust

Here’s why it’s a pipe dream for IndyCar to go anyplace but Elkhart Lake.

Robin Miller | Posted June 19, 2012

Can a quick deal with Elkhart Lake get done to see open-wheel cars return this summer? (Photo: LAT)

It seems like every fan of Indy car has a “good idea” about a replacement race for China, which bowed out last week and left a hole in the 2012 calendar.

The oval crowd suggests Pocono, Michigan, Chicagoland, Kentucky or Phoenix while the road racers favor Elkhart Lake, Laguna Seca, Montreal or the infield at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

But, unless Randy Bernard and George Bruggenthies can work out a way for IndyCar to piggyback with the American Le Mans Series at Road America on the weekend of Aug. 17-19, the best solution would simply be to stick with 15 races and pass on No. 16 this season.

Because there isn’t enough time to properly promote and organize another race – throwing one together at the last minute would be a disaster.

Kevin Healy and Andretti Sports Marketing managed to pull off a four-month miracle at Milwaukee last weekend but they had good sponsors, a solid plan, gung ho volunteers and a fan base in place.

So, here’s why it’s a pipe dream to go anyplace but Elkhart Lake.

IMS: The popular theory is that the Speedway in the fall is perfect place for No. 16 but that is so wrong on every level. First off, there are already two races with more aluminum than warm bodies so why would IMS want to host another poor draw? Nobody showed up for the Hoosier Grand Prix at IRP back in the mid-60s and nobody is going to show up for Indy cars turning left and right on the world’s greatest oval. The road course made F1 cars look slow so imagine what a 700-horsepower Indy car would be like?

And let’s be realistic. The Indy 500 has made great strides since The Split and regained a lot of its muscle. I want to see Indy cars in their natural environment at 16th & Georgetown, ONCE A YEAR IN MAY, not plodding along in front of 20,000 people in football season.

POCONO: The repaving job has everyone salivating about returning to Pennsylvania after a 23-year absence and it may happen – in 2013. Trying to recapture the east coast open wheel fan requires at least a year of promoting and some smart ticket prices like Milwaukee to make it work.

Page 1 of 2