Part of the reason Michigan faild to attract attendance was lack of marketing

[Joey Jo Jo]

Part of the reason CART is dropping Michigan is the track's fault This statement by the CEO explains it

"We are looking at ways to own and promote our own races," said Heitzler, referring to the 1996 U.S. 500 at Michigan that drew 110,000 and was promoted by CART when it was owned by CART team owner Roger Penske. "But that was not an option with ISC (International Speedway Corporation, owners of Michigan International Speedway).

and as macdaddy said:

"Michigan is in three days. I've yet to hear a single word about it on any Detroit media, TV or radio. Not a word. Why are there only 40,000 people there? I'd bet most people don't even know it's happening."

That's the only problem I see CART facing, extreme lack of promotion and marketing. Some how CART needs to work with everyone involved, track owners, (we know what happened there)race promoters, sponsers, owners and even drivers and of course fans. I bet if the marketing guys just logged on to 10 tenths they could have enough ideas to last them forever.

[SevenGrain]

Ditto: Nazareth, Gateway, Homestead, and Detroit...

[SevenGrain]

Originally posted by Joey Jo Jo
Part of the reason CART is dropping Michigan is the track's fault

CART didn't really drop Michigan so much as Michigan decided to drop CART. The track decided that CART's sanction fee was too high, and CART and Michigan couldn't reach a compromise. ISC, the track owners, were also unwilling to let CART rent the track and promote the race themselves.

[Crash Test]

Hey... at least ads for the Surfers race have started up this week

[Liz]

This is the theme song of Champ Car fans this year. I keep hearing noises from Champ Car management about promotional efforts but nothing is ever done.

The main reason Toronto is promoted so heavily is Molson - they do all the legwork - and of course Kool and Players, which will not be involved after next year due to Tobacco Nanny pressure ... Players was absolutely everywhere during race week and it's a wonder the drivers weren't absolutely exhausted on race day, they were at so many events.

If the marketing people would like to hire me as a consultant, I could draw them up a few marketing plans. So could SevenGrain, I'll bet.

But so far they don't really seem to be interested in our ideas, "mere fans" that we are, so I don't know what we can do except to keep on reminding them that marketing is key.