Blair racing out....

Tailwind · 16 Dec 2002, 04:42 (Ref:450809)

According to CRASH.NET, Blair racing has been unable to find a sponser for next season. They have folded up shop.

DNQ · 16 Dec 2002, 14:14 (Ref:451154)

IRL costs are rising, it's inevitable some teams will be spat out...

camcartfan · 16 Dec 2002, 17:51 (Ref:451281)

I talked to Larry Blair via email. He said he has contacted over 550 companies for sponsorship, with no luck.

BootsOntheSide · 17 Dec 2002, 14:30 (Ref:451855)

Maybe he can get something sorted out for CART, or at least the 500?

Jordi · 17 Dec 2002, 17:35 (Ref:451943)

550 companies??? maybe putting them all together...

shame that a race winner can't be in the field...

camcartfan · 18 Dec 2002, 05:48 (Ref:452395)

I talked to him about CART also, but he didn't mention which series he was looking at. He sounded discouraged.

Crash Test · 18 Dec 2002, 13:09 (Ref:452629)

It's probably a case of not what you know, but who you know. You can have the flashiest presentation in the world, but the way the economy is, it's hard to convince tight companies to write fat cheques. A great shame

The Snout · 20 Dec 2002, 01:19 (Ref:453882)

But Toyota and Honda are onboard, isn't that all that matters ? Rather than a few ground roots teams. Something about the needs of the many....

BootsOntheSide · 20 Dec 2002, 12:55 (Ref:454178)

Of course it isn't. Honda and Toyota will be gone soon enough, they're not here on account of any love of racing, adn will just as quickly tear IRL apart as they have tried to do to CART. Only with IRL, the basic product isan't on as secure grounds as CART, in terms of popularity with fans, and having top venues, drivers and teams involved out of choice.

rush1 · 20 Dec 2002, 14:43 (Ref:454256)

Honda and Toyota might also soon be gone from F1 if the manufacturers break away from Bernies empire, but they are in F1 right now and also in the IRL. No one knows what the future holds. The IRL has the most famous race in North America, the best teams (Penske, Ganassi) and more name recognition among their drivers with Unser, Andretti, Brack, Franchiti, Hornish, De Ferran and Castroneves.

Some might think CART's future is brighter but Toyota and Honda did not. And their opinion counts.

The Snout · 21 Dec 2002, 01:21 (Ref:454633)

Wouldn't worry about Toyota and Honda leaving eventually, the IRL will always have Ganassi and Penske, Unser, Andretti, Brack, Franchitti, Hornish, De Ferran and Castroneves. I'm sure in future even without manufacturers they would remain loyal to the IRL.

Tailwind · 21 Dec 2002, 02:40 (Ref:454669)

Toyota and Honda are in the IRL now and they may leave in the future like they did with CART. Oh well. CART will have new engine manufacturers and the IRL will do the same. Honda and Toyota will not kill either series by being in or out. In the end, it will be the fans that keep a series alive or let it die. Racing will go on without Toyota and Honda. It won't without fans.

Flatspot · 21 Dec 2002, 05:17 (Ref:454714)

Originally Posted by The Snout

Quote:

Wouldn't worry about Toyota and Honda leaving eventually, the IRL will always have Ganassi and Penske, Unser, Andretti, Brack, Franchitti, Hornish, De Ferran and Castroneves. I'm sure in future even without manufacturers they would remain loyal to the IR

That's pretty bold Snout. Most would have said the same thing 5 years ago exchanging the acronym CART for IRL. The team owners, particularly the ones you've sited will follow the money. The drivers will follow the jobs. No question about it in my mind. It has nothing to do with loyalty, preference, or quality and only to do with making money. However, that is what they are in business to do.

BootsOntheSide · 21 Dec 2002, 10:37 (Ref:454782)

Yea, I think The Snout was being sarcastic. Anyway, in five years Unser, Andretti and De Ferran will be long gone, and it will be the current CART stars who will be looking for an easy ride in the IRL.

Jay · 21 Dec 2002, 19:36 (Ref:455016)

"Ganassi and Penske, Unser, Andretti, Brack, Franchitti, Hornish, De Ferran and Castroneves" are loyal to the all mighty dollar and they'll go where that is - that's why their in the IRL now (duh...). Well...except for Unser and Hornish, who didn't have any other offers.

The Snout · 22 Dec 2002, 01:18 (Ref:455183)

Guys, there was sarcasism in my point, all of them have followed the Japanese money to the IRL. But just writing that these guys would remain loyal to anyone and then reading it, it sounds so obsurd.

Flatspot · 22 Dec 2002, 04:54 (Ref:455275)

Sorry Snout, my sense of humour must have been on the fritz in order for me to have thought that anyone could be serious making a comment like that.

Jay · 22 Dec 2002, 07:19 (Ref:455309)

My apologies too Snout... it's not unlike other things I've read here so I just assumed... Who knows, maybe I was drunk

.

The Snout · 22 Dec 2002, 23:54 (Ref:455809)

My apologies too Snout...

Guys nothing to be sorry for. Just demostrating how ridiculous it sounds when you actually write a statement like that. I'm just disappointed for Blair Racing and teams like that that the day of the racing enthuastic is pretty much past and it's all Yen and palm greasing.

O'Schumacher · 26 Dec 2002, 00:41 (Ref:457422)

So where will Alex Barron be in 03? A race winner should have no trouble in finding a seat, but with Big money teams now in the series, there are preciuos few seats left. Will he go to CART (Highly unlikely) or even NASCAR.

camcartfan · 26 Dec 2002, 09:48 (Ref:457535)

I tend to think Alex is out of a ride unless Blair finds funding/sponsorship. Sad, but likely....

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