More food for thought

[Olive]

As one series falls, another grows:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64808

[Jimmy Magnusson]

A1GP owes its existance thanks to a rich arabian sheik who has been plowing money into it. Of course the drivers love it, they get paid to do it. Every racing driver's dream. Jani is now doing his best to prop it up - because that's where his career will be! Reason is, in 07 he was a part of the Red Bull Junior programme, who paid for his seat at PKV. For 2008 the programme has been cut down in size quite a bit (Daniel Morad was also one of the victims despite a tremendeous season), and now Jani hasn't got anyone to pay for his seat. So rather than going out hunting for sponsorship he did the sensible thing and took the A1GP Team Switzerland seat. That's also why he hasn't got anything lined up for the "real" season: he's got no budget for it. I have no doubt that he would still have been in Champ Car in 2008 if Red Bull had kept paying for his seat. Oh, and A1GP lost $212 million during their 05/06 season.

[Olive]

It's true that's how A1 was funded initially - but the Sheik is no longer directly involved, it has an engine partnership with Ferrari and an increasingly visible amount of sponsorship.

[Jimmy Magnusson]

They get by (thanks to an investment company), but you can't say it's healthy. They're going to have to abandon some part of the "nation's cup" concept to stay alive - primarily liveries - and I still believe they will go under in a not too distant future. I'll be surprised if it is still here in a decade.

Now, if you want a series that is actually doing rather well, I give you the American Le Mans Series. Very healthy and very, very professional.

[climb]

I think that the Ferrari involvement has a good chance to reboost the series; of course it's not sure, but possible

[BootsOntheSide]

If A1 isn't doing well (despite a unique concept, some good team managers, nice circuits and the best driving lineups outside F1 and GP2), it should tell ChampCar something about its international plans. People don't want F1 Junior, they want a North American series (with Australia and perhaps one or two non-European others), and a good proportion of drivers from those countries. Any open-wheel series which will realistically survive alongside NASCAR will have to have plenty of ovals as well - it's the traditional US form of racing, and far more popular than road/street when all other things are equal.

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

If A1 isn't doing well (despite a unique concept, some good team managers, nice circuits and the best driving lineups outside F1 and GP2), it should tell ChampCar something about its international plans. People don't want F1 Junior, they want a North American series (with Australia and perhaps one or two non-European others), and a good proportion of drivers from those countries. Any open-wheel series which will realistically survive alongside NASCAR will have to have plenty of ovals as well - it's the traditional US form of racing, and far more popular than road/street when all other things are equal.

Exactly. With Bourdais gone the field will be more even, and had it not been for the quite frankly rubbish schedule I would have been somewhat confident. Trying to be a world series won't help them. IRL's schedule on the other hand is getting better (overall, but I still have some issues with it); a few more road courses and it will be pretty much CART's old schedule!

[Alex K]

Well, IMHO ICS really needs races in Canada and Mexico, and that's it, would be nice if they get Long Beach, maybe Road America... but they don't need Euro/China/Arabia expansion as opposed to CCWS.

[madman16]

IMO i don't think the whole thing hinges on the schedule or types of tracks rather the glaringly obvious lack of American drivers. If there are no Americans, or none performing towards the front, the yanks won't watch it

[Mystery]

Interesting point - the number of suspicious penalties applied to Franchitti, Villeneuve and Montoya this season will be fascinating.

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Originally Posted by Mystery

Interesting point - the number of suspicious penalties applied to Franchitti, Villeneuve and Montoya this season will be fascinating.

In NASCAR, everybody (well, except Bowyer) cheats.

[Mystery]

In what way? And if that's the case why don't we all watch wrestling or body building for similar entertainment

[jonesi]

Originally Posted by climb

I think that the Ferrari involvement has a good chance to reboost the series; of course it's not sure, but possible

I'm still waiting to hear the details on how much all that Ferrari involvement is going to cost. It will add some prestige to the series, but cost might put them out of business too.

[jonesi]

Originally Posted by Mystery

Interesting point - the number of suspicious penalties applied to Franchitti, Villeneuve and Montoya this season will be fascinating.

In Nascar's modern era (post tv) they really don't have a record of unreasonable penalties of drivers. If anything they let the stars get away with more aggressive behavior then they should. When Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart, etc have been penalized/probation they earned it and more. They went easy on Montoya last year (when he had a pitroad penalty and was ranting on the radio how he wasn't going to come in), probably because he was a rookie. Robby Gordon got off very easy for his Montreal stunt, probably because he was the owner of a struggling team.

[Leighton Irwin]

NASCAR boys cheat! Never. It is called creative interpretation of the rules.
Like Smokey Yunick driving from the track at Daytona to his shop leaving his gas tank sitting at Tech. Or the infamous 7/8th perfect replica. Now that was creative.

[fomoco]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Magnusson

Exactly. With Bourdais gone the field will be more even, and had it not been for the quite frankly rubbish schedule I would have been somewhat confident. Trying to be a world series won't help them. IRL's schedule on the other hand is getting better (overall, but I still have some issues with it); a few more road courses and it will be pretty much CART's old schedule!

But this what is Tony" I am USA's answer to Bernie E" said he wouldn't do. Yet he supposedly offered to keep the certain races and a couple of OS's races. My how the mighty have fallen. But that is just Tony Speak. Heard it all before.

[Mystery]

Oh let's not go there. The world is full of marketing spin these days. KK and friends are no less guilty of that (no - we're sure you don't subsidize cars at all!). They can't be honest otherwise everyone they're both marketing each series to would know exactly how good/bad things have got.

[Mystery]

Double post

[climb]

Originally Posted by jonesi

I'm still waiting to hear the details on how much all that Ferrari involvement is going to cost. It will add some prestige to the series, but cost might put them out of business too.

Don't think they ignore the economic challenges of non-F1 series