IMSA Race TUSC Round 9: Indy

**joeb** · 21 Jul 2014, 01:17 (Ref:3436056)

Time for another one. We have the full cast and crew ready for Indy, all four classes, 2:45 minute race. The event is a bit different because it is only 2 days long and runs Thursday and Friday.

Schedule

Entry List

Weather

Spotters Guide

Fantasy Racing

Lagunaseca_4life · 21 Jul 2014, 01:54 (Ref:3436065)

Friday?that's just weird, well good thing you pointed it because I was going to set the dvr to record on Saturday before we left for Nhra at sonoma.

JoestForEver · 21 Jul 2014, 02:52 (Ref:3436084)

Definitely a caution-load race with a DP win I'd say. On a oval track(or part of), it's hard to recover someone without summoning a safety car.

Deleted · 21 Jul 2014, 05:24 (Ref:3436103)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagunaseca_4life

Friday?that's just weird, well good thing you pointed it because I was going to set the dvr to record on Saturday before we left for Nhra at sonoma.

Being mere support series for NASCAR (stock car department) kinda demands you to get out of the way before the crowds start coming in on Saturday and Sunday...

Rcz · 21 Jul 2014, 06:05 (Ref:3436111)

Hmm... It's unfortunate that TUSC has to run as a support series for NASCAR as the demos don't match up well.. Might be better ideal to run the race with indycar instead next year. What do you think?

This is the first of two FIA grade 1 tracks that TUSC will go to.

blankfile · 21 Jul 2014, 06:51 (Ref:3436118)

entry list and schedule links are switched around on first post.

Fogelhund · 21 Jul 2014, 07:20 (Ref:3436129)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rcz

Hmm... It's unfortunate that TUSC has to run as a support series for NASCAR as the demos don't match up well.. Might be better ideal to run the race with indycar instead next year. What do you think?

This is the first of two FIA grade 1 tracks that TUSC will go to.

TUSC gets to use the total attendance for the whole weekend in their marketing. People like Shank love this. Of course it is disingenuous, as there are even fewer eyeballs than a standalone event, on the race itself, but that doesn't stop marketing.

TF110 · 21 Jul 2014, 09:23 (Ref:3436169)

Stands will look more sparse than they did for Nico Rosberg's "home race"

Theres going to be no pictures of the stands though, of course.

Maelochs · 21 Jul 2014, 11:12 (Ref:3436193)

The Indy crowd will be perfectly described by TUSC's new official Slogan (which cost then $450,000):

Better Than Kansas!

Deleted · 21 Jul 2014, 11:15 (Ref:3436195)

You know as a concept I don't think it's foolish of Small NASCAR to team up with BIG NASCAR for one weekend per year, and this is as good place as any to organize it (though I'd much rather pick Sears Point NSC or Mid-Ohio NNS and get rid of this venue). In fact when I first became aware of the draft concept for this 400 it actually kinda made sense. But running the sportscar section so separately from the main headliner makes very little sense. It feels like two separate weekends in one. No-one who comes to see the 400 will be aware there was something running on Friday. At best they'll think it as "practice day" and no excuse to take time off from work

Also, I remember two years ago when this race debuted for Grand-Am, SPEED made it look like a MASSIVE thing for the series to run at IMS - historical moment, hallowed ground!!! Yes I think there's a slight diffence between running on the speedway and boring roval no-one cares about...

At least they get rid it's NAEC status. Being only 15 mins longer than regular 2h45min standard length made it more special?

Maelochs · 21 Jul 2014, 11:44 (Ref:3436206)

Running sports cars ahead of a NASCAR race is nothing new--Rolex had been doing it unsuccessfully at Indy for years before TUSC took up the tradition.

Whatever day it is doesn't matter---NASCAR fans invariably used the sports car sessions as time to get food and souvenirs and autographs, or simply as down time.

It's not that the NASCAR fans have never seen sports cars and will be thrilled once they see what they are missing--it is that NASCAR fans don't care about sports cars any more than sports car fans care about NASCAR.

Another reason for getting the TUSC race done early is that the track needs to be reconfigured for NASCAR--it can't be quickly switched back from road to oval, with emergency vehicles, flag stations, whatever temporary tire walls and whatever quickly swapped around--as far as I know.

Deleted · 21 Jul 2014, 12:05 (Ref:3436210)

Grand-Am's stock car support bill probably fitted Montreal the best, as it was IIRC slotted to happen on NNS race day morning as double support feature with the Canadian Tire Series. Nobody cares about "Brickyard GP" for said reasons, and Watkins Glen was slotted into evening when everybody have already left to get drunk. Not that anyone cared about Grand-Am anyway...

Yes NASCAR stock car fans may not care about NASCAR sportscars and vice versa, but if you schedule them properly there is some overlapping. Just as there is okay-ish crowd watching Porsche Supercup every European GP and okay-ish crowd watching World Challenge on ICS weekends

For this particular weekend, yes transforming the venue from roval to oval takes time but I'm sure they could slot USCC to at least Saturday if they wanted/tried

**joeb** · 21 Jul 2014, 13:33 (Ref:3436244)

Quote:

Originally Posted by blankfile

entry list and schedule links are switched around on first post.

Thanks, I fixed it.

wdave0 · 21 Jul 2014, 13:52 (Ref:3436248)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maelochs

Running sports cars ahead of a NASCAR race is nothing new--Rolex had been doing it unsuccessfully at Indy for years before TUSC took up the tradition.

Whatever day it is doesn't matter---NASCAR fans invariably used the sports car sessions as time to get food and souvenirs and autographs, or simply as down time.

It's not that the NASCAR fans have never seen sports cars and will be thrilled once they see what they are missing--it is that NASCAR fans don't care about sports cars any more than sports car fans care about NASCAR.

Another reason for getting the TUSC race done early is that the track needs to be reconfigured for NASCAR--it can't be quickly switched back from road to oval, with emergency vehicles, flag stations, whatever temporary tire walls and whatever quickly swapped around--as far as I know.

NASCAR spent 10 years trying unsuccessfully to interest their fans in Grand-Am while ignoring traditional road race fans, the result being empty stands and the necessity to "merge" for the ALMS fan base. This holdover as well as the continuance of rovals in general just shows they haven't taken the message to heart, much less head.

NaBUru38 · 21 Jul 2014, 15:31 (Ref:3436283)

Now, what if the Nationwide race was held at the road course?

HORNDAWG · 21 Jul 2014, 16:57 (Ref:3436315)

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

Now, what if the Nationwide race was held at the road course?

I am not anti-NASCAR, but, this is a bad choice for IMSA to make. TUSC just gets steam rolled in this event, bad day, bad time and the NNWS fans could care less about Sportscar racing.

L.P.

Salamus · 21 Jul 2014, 17:05 (Ref:3436319)

Quote:

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

I am not anti-NASCAR, but, this is a bad choice for IMSA to make. TUSC just gets steam rolled in this event, bad day, bad time and the NNWS fans could care less about Sportscar racing.

L.P.

IMSA's response:

Deleted · 21 Jul 2014, 17:30 (Ref:3436330)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salamus

IMSA's response:

But it's "big for the series" ... ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TxvwPE3lmA&t=2m17s

NaBUru38 · 21 Jul 2014, 17:48 (Ref:3436342)

Empty stands and Friday afternoon broadcasting?

Coach Ep · 21 Jul 2014, 17:59 (Ref:3436346)

Another Grand-Am contractual 'left over' from previous years it seems to me. Not hopeful either seeing this venue disappear from next year's schedule (just like KSW).

Salamus · 21 Jul 2014, 18:17 (Ref:3436355)

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

Empty stands

Judging by last year's Grand Am race, the answer is YES.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

and Friday afternoon broadcasting?

Also known as the Friday night death slot.

------------------

BTW, Jack Hawksworth will be replacing Tags for this race. A smart move to get a Indy driver since they are already familiar with the track.

Rodger Davies · 21 Jul 2014, 18:20 (Ref:3436357)

Well, at least Mike Shank will enjoy this event, right? This is what we should be doing more of.....

[/troll]

Coach Ep · 21 Jul 2014, 18:56 (Ref:3436361)

Will we see Montoya back at the scene of his biggest achievement in sportscars?

Rodger Davies · 21 Jul 2014, 19:00 (Ref:3436363)

As he's no longer in the Ganassi stable and Penske don't run anything, unfortunately not. And I mean 'unfortunately' genuinely; he might be controversial but a fantastic talent and was a joy to watch in several of the GA races he ran.

Mike Hedlund · 21 Jul 2014, 19:20 (Ref:3436369)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodger Davies

As he's no longer in the Ganassi stable and Penske don't run anything, unfortunately not. And I mean 'unfortunately' genuinely; he might be controversial but a fantastic talent and was a joy to watch in several of the GA races he ran.

He's also a really nice and friendly guy (outside the car) at the sports car races if you ever run across him in the paddock. During Daytona in 2012 (my first "Pro" race) he came driving around on a golf cart and stopped by our garage to just bullshit about the race, driving and check out the GT cars.

-mike

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