View Full Version : Robin fixes everything ;)
http://www.speedtv.com/commentary/37327/
It was another dose of reality Saturday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, another reminder of how this day, this month and this race are crying out for an extreme makeover.
The 2-for-1 coupons in the local paper, the rock bands and the chance to watch Marty Roth practice wasn’t enough to bring back anything resembling a crowd.
Optimistically, no more than 10,000 turned out to watch the Battle of Brazil for the pole position. If there are 250,000 permanent seats, there had to be one body in every 25 seats and that was a stretch.
But this is nothing new because practice and qualifying here have looked like a glorified tire test since 1996.
The question remains: what can be done to restore the prominence, the depth, the integrity, the spirit, the car count and the interest to the Indianapolis 500?
It’s going to take some radical changes...
Read on!
opinionated ow
05-14-07, 10:58 PM
i don't think he is right about the car specs issues, but everything else he says has merit.
I agree with him in principle. They have to find a way to preserve the safety specs while encouraging innovation.
stroker
05-14-07, 11:16 PM
The only way I know of to promote innovation and keep costs down is to use a claiming format.
Good luck getting that past RP, TCGR and AGR.
Robin's trying to put lipstick on a pig. Even if the racing gods sent TG up in a puff of acrid smoke tomorrow I doubt anyone can turn around the mess he created. It sure isn't going to happen with a bunch of TBA sponsorship IOUs and beer can sleds.
I'd suggest selling out, putting the race on the chopping block in exchange for another NASCAR date or seeing if a Champ Car single weekend event would fly.
The field (aka the IRL) and month of May are now overhead for the Speedway. You're doing a heck of a job Tony! :yuck:
i don't think he is right about the car specs issues, but everything else he says has merit.
Yes, a return to aluminum moncoques would be very troubling. For safety's sake I'd want a heavily spec'd carbon fiber spine for the car from the first bulkhead to the engine mount. Teams could then either assemble the rest of the car with manufacturers parts or develop their own suspension and bodywork. Everybody could build their own "Reynske". Of course, the series would have to be a lot healthier to support that.
Methanolandbrats
05-15-07, 07:26 AM
Since there is already a lot of parking at IMS, why not just build a waterpark next to the golf course? The grandstands could be turned into a monorail to transport guests. Seems like the best solution.
Since there is already a lot of parking at IMS, why not just build a waterpark next to the golf course? The grandstands could be turned into a monorail to transport guests. Seems like the best solution.
How about turning the rest of tht infield into a really big bass pond?
Methanolandbrats
05-15-07, 07:59 AM
How about turning the rest of tht infield into a really big bass pond?
Great idea. Hosting a bassmasters event would be a big hit. BiF would like it.:D
chop456
05-15-07, 08:04 AM
The only way I know of to promote innovation and keep costs down is to use a claiming format.
Good luck getting that past RP, TCGR and AGR.
I like it. :D
Andrew Longman
05-15-07, 08:46 AM
He's on the right track but even Miller doesn't back everything he suggests. Doing away with CF tubs is lunacy.
Number one, more than enything else, TG needs to make Indy return more value for the teams. Exploding the purse, raising the award for pole and creating prizes for fastest pactice times are all on spot on. Do that, and it will draw all sorts of teams and drivers from all over. With them come sponsors and media interest and fans.
The grandstands could be turned into a monorail to transport guests.
Given the Disney/ABC/IRL links, I figure a Disney owned/operated "motorsports theme park" might work. Plus, Disney has the experience with the monorails to get over to the waterpark. ;)
TLC has a better chance of returning to the prominence it had in 1995 than the 500.
NOTHING would improve the image of the Indianapolis 500 better than the escort of Mr. Anton "Tony" Hulman George to the exit gate followed by a swift kick in the ass while being told to NEVER return.
I will GUARANTEE candles would be lit, church bells would ring, FTG effigies would be burned, race fans worldwide would go on a celebratory "bender" as they launch a crusade back to the promised land. Wars would end, sponsors would line up, media would JUMP at the thought, Robin Miller could retire, Pole Day would have meaning, the Bump could be put back in Bump Day, Menard could build 10 lap worthy race engines again, Indy once again could sell out in August...10 months BEFORE the 500. AND this is all before there would ever be a thought about remergurgitation.
ALL that awaits the 500......but it'll NEVER happen as long as Tony tries to save face because HIS vision is a failure and he's too stupid to admit it. IMS needs to come to grips that there's more to this than what that idiot can dreamup.
opinionated ow
05-15-07, 10:26 AM
Yes, a return to aluminum moncoques would be very troubling. For safety's sake I'd want a heavily spec'd carbon fiber spine for the car from the first bulkhead to the engine mount. Teams could then either assemble the rest of the car with manufacturers parts or develop their own suspension and bodywork. Everybody could build their own "Reynske". Of course, the series would have to be a lot healthier to support that.
i think a carbon fibre safety cell is essential, but the rest of it, i don't see any reason why you couldn't use aluminium. sort of what i envision an appropriate silver crown car would have been.
JLMannin
05-15-07, 11:21 AM
I like everything he says except for the banning of carbon fiber tubs and the last chance 25 lap race to fill the last five positions on the grid.
All of the other ideas would be a great start on the long journey back to prestige and glory.
The first time Miller mentioned aluminum he was referring to aluminum honeycomb monocoques. This is what the Barber Pro Series cockpits were made of. I don't think he is referring to the late 70's, early 80's style aluminum or magnesium types.
Not 100% sure, but I think the main give away between aluminum honeycomb and carbon fibre is weight not integrity.
THE PRELIM: Qualifying is reduced from four to two days and each car only gets three attempts total, like the good old days. The pole pays $1 million (get another sponsor) but only 28 cars are locked in because, on the second weekend a 25-lap hooligan will be run and the top five finishers advance to the main event.
Unfortunately it would only be of morbid interest to watch the likes of Milka, Roth, PJ, Al Jr., etc. duke it out for the last five spots. The likely result of this would be Visible from Space II. :saywhat:
-Kevin
Since there is already a lot of parking at IMS...
...someone should convince Tony that AutoX needs a new vision. http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/52/conequ2.gif :tony:
miatanut
05-15-07, 09:57 PM
NOTHING would improve the image of the Indianapolis 500 better than the escort of Mr. Anton "Tony" Hulman George to the exit gate followed by a swift kick in the ass while being told to NEVER return.
I will GUARANTEE candles would be lit, church bells would ring, FTG effigies would be burned, race fans worldwide would go on a celebratory "bender" as they launch a crusade back to the promised land. Wars would end, sponsors would line up, media would JUMP at the thought, Robin Miller could retire, Pole Day would have meaning, the Bump could be put back in Bump Day, Menard could build 10 lap worthy race engines again, Indy once again could sell out in August...10 months BEFORE the 500. AND this is all before there would ever be a thought about remergurgitation.
ALL that awaits the 500......but it'll NEVER happen as long as Tony tries to save face because HIS vision is a failure and he's too stupid to admit it. IMS needs to come to grips that there's more to this than what that idiot can dreamup.
Nice weather and they had fewer butts in the seats than a typical Champ Car Saturday. If the weather for the race is lousy, they will be able to hide behind that. If the weather is nice for the race, I think things will get ugly for Tony.
If the weather is good and attendance is not, I think we will see some major changes.
miatanut
05-15-07, 09:59 PM
i think a carbon fibre safety cell is essential, but the rest of it, i don't see any reason why you couldn't use aluminium. sort of what i envision an appropriate silver crown car would have been.
Carbon fiber safety cell, aluminum and fiberglass wings and bodywork.
When I posted that at CCF there were no takers. A more open minded bunch here! :thumbup:
DagoFast
05-16-07, 02:01 AM
But how are you supposed to weld the frames tubes to that there carbon fibre cell thingy? :gomer: :gomer:
But how are you supposed to weld the frames tubes to that there carbon fibre cell thingy? :gomer: :gomer:
You don't. You just use the American made cracks in the tub as mounting points.
If the weather is good and attendance is not, I think we will see some major changes.
Dream on, my friend. Ain't nuthin' gonna drill through Tony's coconut.
DagoFast
05-16-07, 11:05 AM
You don't. You just use the American made cracks in the tub as mounting points.
Ah, 'merican made crack. It's the bestest in the whole world. :tony:
miatanut
05-16-07, 12:25 PM
Dream on, my friend. Ain't nuthin' gonna drill through Tony's coconut.
Nuthin' will drill through Tony's coconut, but there are various teams there who participate in an entire failed series so they can go to one race. That race, which is so important that it needs an entire month devoted to itself, just pulled a smaller Saturday qualifying crowed than a typical Champ Car race. As I understand it, Sunday qualifying TV coverage got pre-empted by ladies' golf, reducing the sponsor exposure from this most important race.
Various teams are going to have to start asking themselves "What are we doing here?"
Various teams are going to have to start asking themselves "What are we doing here?"
Only if ROI falls to unmeasurable levels. Tony's taking the 500 down with him....history proves he'll be bled dry by parasitic ex-CARTers first, then dig into the coffers again and again to "save the traditions of the 500". Traditions that only HE is allowed to destroy. Signs of the apocolypse have been everywhere for the past 12 years. Old money turns to New money which is usually blown by an inheritor in the stupidest ways. Tony exemplifies this fine tradition.
miatanut
05-16-07, 03:31 PM
Signs of the apocolypse have been everywhere for the past 12 years.
I haven't really seen them until the last couple. Last year had crummy weather for Pole Day, so that was easy to hide behind. This year the weather was great and the crowds weren't. Nothing to hide behind.
This is the most encouraging sign I've seen in a long time!
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.