Press Conference Tidbits

[Dov]

From CCWS.com:

[indycool]

If I hadn't expected all that, I guess I'd be disappointed. From June to August to the end of September to the first couple weeks of October to now undetermined, the '05 schedule ain't done. No resolution yet of Vancouver vs. Calgary. Four weeks before the scheduled event, they finally announce that Seoul is off. No TV yet.

[Muzza]

OWRS owners must stop this first-overpromising-and-then-underdelivering approach to public and corporate relations. In the business world, this is a no-no. This is even worse to a series trying to regain some credibility, and directed by people that are believed by some in the racing community to lack the required background (and by others as by acting over their heads). And considering the delicate situation of open-wheel racing as a whole and in North America particularly, this is even more critical.

Paul Gentilozzi enjoys behaving like a boom-box, and that can be fine, but I am surprised that an experienced (and successful) businessman like him is taking such a long time to understand that making magnificent statements and then showing so little only leads to burnt bridges - that may not be rebuilt.

Credibility, guys, credibility.

[Amar7605]

PG is just trying to rally the fans to give all of us hope that the series will survive and thrive. But I do agree, Muzza, that overpromising does not help the credibility of the sport at all. And it is bad business practice.

[indycool]

It's disgraceful business practice. Remember Las Vegas. CART listed "confirmed venues" last November. Gentilozzi denied LVMS was a confirmed venue and said it might be a street race. All the rumors were about the Mandalay Bay, Gentilozzi's hangout there. There simply was no space at the Mandalay Bay to do one. They didn't even return LVMS' phone calls until they realized it wouldn't work. Then they had buy track time from LVMS, which is where it started in the first place. The Review-Journal, in a column today, said the price tag was $500,000.

Pook tried all that rah-rah stuff. It didn't work. Why should it work for Gentilozzi?

[Snrub]

I think you're 100% right on what you posted above Muzza. Given that the series is stable right now, they'd be best to give definate details that are near worst case.

[SPRacer]

In my opinion, and probably most every fan's opinion, the series has outlived almost all expectations so far this year, and that should be the biggest weapon. Confirm what they can and continue to point to the progress so far...