USA Today: 50% think Indy......

[indycool]

....is the USA's most important race....last two paragraphs.....


> Some of Indy's glory returns
> By Gary Graves, USA TODAY
>
> To illustrate the Indianapolis 500's ongoing return to prominence, consider that teams and drivers from a rival open-wheel circuit who once competed there as a holiday diversion are now running that race as part of full-time gigs in the series it has spawned.
> Also ponder the addition of Toyota and Honda as engine makers. It's enough to convince you that the race is back on top until you consider fewer teams have entered the May 25 race than last year.
> In fact, 17 teams will begin practice Sunday with 71 entries, down from 89 last year. This falloff is the result of a slow economy and the growing cost of running in the IRL, which ironically was formed as a cheaper alternative to CART.
> It's not likely to affect the 33-car field, but teams might struggle qualifying cars or finding enough drivers.
> "I don't think we have concerns of getting 33," said IRL senior vice president Brian Barnhart. "I'm not sure we'll have the car count number that we've had in the past of being in the mid-40s, but I think we'll probably be in the upper 30s to right at 40. Even though the car count may be down, it's going to be a much higher and a much deeper field."
> Indeed, the switch of several former CART teams to full-time duty in the IRL has increased Indy's luster. They still have to catch Team Penske, which has two-time defending champion Helio Castroneves and Gil de Ferran. Penske has entered both G-Force and Dallara chassis (a total of eight cars) and will go with the fastest.
> Michael Andretti, co-owner of Andretti Green, is running four cars, one of which will be Andretti's swan song from racing.
> This week's practice will culminate May 10 with pole qualifying that sets the front row. Other spots will be determined with second- round qualifying the next day and Bump Day on May 18.
> No matter how the field is filled, a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup poll suggests that sports fans still view the Indy 500 as the USA's premier race. Of 1,001 respondents, 50% said it's the most important auto racing event, with 42% saying it isn't and 8% having no opinion.
> Of 42% who said the Indy 500 wasn't the most important, 37% placed that honor on NASCAR's Daytona 500, with 34% having no opinion. The poll was conducted April 22-24.>

[shiny side up!]

42%+37%+34% = 113%... are we counting some extra- terrestrials (or maybe Europeans ) too? How do you get 113%????

[indycool]

Yeah, that last paragraph reads tough. It looks like 37% OF the 42% left. But 34% "no opinion" still leaves 29% of that unaccounted for......

[shiny side up!]

OHHH, I get it... well, the 29% unaccounted for might think that Sebring or the Daytona 24 or Eldora or even the Pike's Peak Climb are more important, who knows??

[rush1]

I would imagine most of those unaccounted for think CART's GI Joe Portland Grand Prix is most important. They will be sad when its no more...

[kmchow]

Originally posted by indycool
[B> In fact, 17 teams will begin practice Sunday with 71 entries, down from 89 last year. This falloff is the result of a slow economy and the growing cost of running in the IRL, which ironically was formed as a cheaper alternative to CART.[/B]

Am I reading this correctly? 17 IRL teams are fielding a total 71 cars/drivers or just drivers???? In other words, are multiple drivers trying to qualify the same car, hoping to get into the Indy500??? Or are there literally 71 cars AND drivers hoping to qualify? Thanks ahead.

[Lee Janotta]

Originally posted by indycool
> In fact, 17 teams will begin practice Sunday with 71 entries, down from 89 last year.

Hey, no fair counting cars in the parking lot!

[Tim Northcutt]

That number is always high because it includes backup cars, and extras that guys like A.J. and Menard bring that they throw other drivers in the paddock into in last week deals after their primary drivers get in...

Every year there are cars out there that never see the track...entries that have no driver, and the deals between drivers in the paddock with helmet in hand and these lesser teams never come about...

I'm not sure if they will have 33 this year, to be honest with you...

when it ultimaely shakes out, they might have somewhere between 30 and the full field...

The big hang up will be the engine suppliers and how many teams/cars they can service adequately with power and parts...

[indycool]

They'll have 33 by the end. As for backup cars, Penske has four G Forces and four Dallaras and has named two drivers. That's how this happens.

[Indyfan4ever]

Economy?....mmmmmmmmmmmm i have a doubt.

My thought's.. theres less car's, because of the new chassis change.

Tj