How low will it go

[Napoleon]

How low will the ratings be for the IRL 497.5 this year in light of attendence shrinking every year since 95, Annika Sorenstam playing a PGA tournament and sucking up all the PR oxygen and all.

I say it will be lower then 4.

[Chief]

I'll admit I've watched some of the weekday RPM shows and quite honestly there is nothing that interests me there. I'm so sickened by the state of the Indy 500 it ain't funny. It's tainted and if it can turn off a fan of 38 + years I can't see how it's gonna capture the interest of the casual fan.

It's like drinking a beer and realizing after the sip that someone put their cigarette out in it.

[Napoleon]

Wow. Five people have chosen 3.4 or lower.

[RTKar]

Yup, watching the troubles of open wheel racing is like watching a drug addict...they have to hit rock bottom before they seek help......if they seek help.

[JSR]

What did it get last year? 4.8????

[Railbird]

As a lifelong Indycentric it sickens me to see the race dropping off the nation's radar screens. Predictable yes, but depressing nonetheless.

I've been a student of the history of openwheel racing all my life but I never dreamed I would be in a position to see it's final chapters unfold.

[RaceGrrl]

Originally posted by JSR
What did it get last year? 4.8????

Indy did get 4.8 last year, down from 5.8 in 2001. The NASCAR race drew 5.1 last year, and 5.3 in 2001.

[pchall]

"It's a new track record [for bad ratings]!"

[FortyOneFord]

3.8

[Napoleon]

Well we now have 2 votes over 4.6 so some lemmings must have voted.

[Hot Rod Otis]

Originally posted by Napoleon
Well we now have 2 votes over 4.6 so some lemmings must have voted.

We know JSR was one vote, wonder who #2 was?

[racer2c]

Originally posted by Hot Rod Otis
We know JSR was one vote, wonder who #2 was?

That would be me. With the IRL and Indy at the brink of demise, I find myself feeling sorry for them. :(

[Napoleon]

Only a few more days to get your vote in.

[JSR]

Originally posted by Hot Rod Otis
We know JSR was one vote, wonder who #2 was?

Correct. I know I am in the minority here but I hope I am right. I guess we'll know soon enough.

[JSR]

Unfortunately it went down from last year by .2

4.6 is the final....I missed it by .1

Some of you folks missed it by a mile. :p

[Ziggy]

It's not fair! Hooter had on twelve TV sets!

Like arguing over a deck chair on the Titanic

Ziggy

[DaveL]

Indy ratings continue their downward trend. Someone correct me on this, but I believe the ratings have fell every year of the IRL era save for one.

Anytime a TenderloinForum Lemming wants to talk about the growing IRL ratings is fine with me.

[JSR]

Originally posted by Ziggy
It's not fair! Hooter had on twelve TV sets!

Like arguing over a deck chair on the Titanic

Ziggy

I have seen the name Hooter mentioned here a couple of times. Who is Hooter?

[mapguy]

Originally posted by JSR
I have seen the name Hooter mentioned here a couple of times. Who is Hooter?

Defender. aka Hooter:Morgan.

[cart7]

I wonder how much lower it would have been had not most of the east coast been rained in Sunday.

[DaveL]

In homage to Hooterfender...

Plunging car counts, attendence and ratings!

The fabulous IRL, by the numbers :thumbup:

[nrc]

The weather probably saved it from losing a few more tenths. They dodged a real bullet with the golf chick.

Something else to keep in mind. Until 1998 the pre-race activities were included in the Indy TV rating. Since ratings are an average, if the pre-race were included today the ratings would be in the 3s.

[Napoleon]

Good point nrc. I had forgotten that.

[Jag_Warrior]

Maybe they'll go back and revise last year's numbers down. So in fact, this year's 4.6 will represent a gain. :p

I think Tony should call for a recount!