Corner5
07-30-09, 09:04 AM
from speed-
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Q: Do you think it will be possible for any new administration to continue, much less advance IndyCar beyond this season? The long term deal with the "Versus" network, the long term deals with tracks (i.e. Infineon) that are on the verge of being broken, the inability to come up with a formula, and the yawn-fest high speed parades all seem to be dragging the series in the wrong direction. Could we see another USAC/CART breakaway with the team owners running things?
Napalm Nick, Locust Grove, VA
RM: Not sure there's any solid plan for the new car or engine right this moment but it might not matter since just about everyone is searching for money and not having much luck. With TG not able to help teams like the old days, we may be screwed until 2012, providing IndyCar makes it that long. The standing joke the past few weeks has been that Tony George is going to start a breakaway series next year. But seriously? No, I don't see any owners groups forming, although Kevin Kalkhoven said never say never last weekend when I asked what would happen if the IRL were shut down or sold.
Q: With all this talk of the Hulman-George sister selling the IRL or not, who do you think might be some prospective buyers? I know you said possibly Forsythe (although unlikely), formation of a new CART style series, or one of the current team owners (likely Penske, Ganassi, or Andretti. Probably Penske cause he's really the only one who can swing that kinda coin). But who else?? Also, I know from your past posts that buying this series is not too enticing an investment, what I don't understand though, is why? What are the annual running costs of this thing, and how much is coming through the door as income? And why is the overhead so much? Between ticket sales, TV money, merchandising, and sponsorship how are they not covering themselves?
Hollywood Sheen
RM: The rumor lately has been John Menard going in with TGeorge to buy the IRL and I called Menard two weeks ago. He said he wants to do whatever is necessary to help open wheel racing survive (including being the title sponsor) but that he was told the IRL was not for sale. Operating the IRL costs somewhere in the $50 million neighborhood ($26 million alone in TEAM money) and the payroll is staggering. No title sponsor, no big TV money like NASCAR or F1, and it's not a pretty financial picture. I imagine if IndyCar could get down to only losing $10 million a year it would be happy.
Somebody put the league out of its misery, PLEASE! :shakehead
"
Q: Do you think it will be possible for any new administration to continue, much less advance IndyCar beyond this season? The long term deal with the "Versus" network, the long term deals with tracks (i.e. Infineon) that are on the verge of being broken, the inability to come up with a formula, and the yawn-fest high speed parades all seem to be dragging the series in the wrong direction. Could we see another USAC/CART breakaway with the team owners running things?
Napalm Nick, Locust Grove, VA
RM: Not sure there's any solid plan for the new car or engine right this moment but it might not matter since just about everyone is searching for money and not having much luck. With TG not able to help teams like the old days, we may be screwed until 2012, providing IndyCar makes it that long. The standing joke the past few weeks has been that Tony George is going to start a breakaway series next year. But seriously? No, I don't see any owners groups forming, although Kevin Kalkhoven said never say never last weekend when I asked what would happen if the IRL were shut down or sold.
Q: With all this talk of the Hulman-George sister selling the IRL or not, who do you think might be some prospective buyers? I know you said possibly Forsythe (although unlikely), formation of a new CART style series, or one of the current team owners (likely Penske, Ganassi, or Andretti. Probably Penske cause he's really the only one who can swing that kinda coin). But who else?? Also, I know from your past posts that buying this series is not too enticing an investment, what I don't understand though, is why? What are the annual running costs of this thing, and how much is coming through the door as income? And why is the overhead so much? Between ticket sales, TV money, merchandising, and sponsorship how are they not covering themselves?
Hollywood Sheen
RM: The rumor lately has been John Menard going in with TGeorge to buy the IRL and I called Menard two weeks ago. He said he wants to do whatever is necessary to help open wheel racing survive (including being the title sponsor) but that he was told the IRL was not for sale. Operating the IRL costs somewhere in the $50 million neighborhood ($26 million alone in TEAM money) and the payroll is staggering. No title sponsor, no big TV money like NASCAR or F1, and it's not a pretty financial picture. I imagine if IndyCar could get down to only losing $10 million a year it would be happy.
Somebody put the league out of its misery, PLEASE! :shakehead