The Current State of IndyCar

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

St. Pete is just under 3 weeks away and IndyCar needs to be getting its marketting machine in gear and drumming up interest

Absolutely but this can occur without Verizon.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Absolutely but this can occur without Verizon.

It can but with the exposure Verizon has as a globaly recognized telecoms company, with connections to Vodaphone, it just might behoove the IRL to get a move on.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

It can but with the exposure Verizon has as a globaly recognized telecoms company, with connections to Vodaphone, it just might behoove the IRL to get a move on.

Maybe even Indycar as well

[vodka]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

It can but with the exposure Verizon has as a globaly recognized telecoms company, with connections to Vodaphone, it just might behoove the IRL to get a move on.

Verizon is not well-known worldwide, not in Europe at least. Vodafone - yes, they could promote the series very well.

[HJJ]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

It can but with the exposure Verizon has as a globaly recognized telecoms company, with connections to Vodaphone, it just might behoove the IRL to get a move on.

On this side of the pond, other than Racer.com (or maybe a Cave-in or Oreo story in the Indy Star on espn.com) they are completely off the radar. Nobody cares.

[rwintle]

It is very unfortunate from the Toronto perspective that Verizon decided to stay out of the Canadian market recently. They could have taken the opportunity to pile a lot of promotion behind the Toronto race (like Target did a couple of years ago). Not likely now unfortunately, even if they do turn out to be the series title sponsor.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by HJJ

On this side of the pond, other than Racer.com (or maybe a Cave-in or Oreo story in the Indy Star on espn.com) they are completely off the radar. Nobody cares.

They may not currently have the exposure in the global, public domain but as a telecoms company in their own right, they are hardly off the radar.

In 1999, Vodafone acquired US telecoms company AirTouch Communications, which became Vodafone Airtouch plc but due to Vodafone's lack of other North American business operations, Vodafone Airtouch and Bell Atlantic, which later became Verizon after merging with GTE, created a joint mobile telecoms venture that year, called Verizon Wireless; the result Verizon Wireless became and still is the largest mobile network operator in the US. In 2006 Verizon Wireless owned 98.6% of Vodafone's US customers.

In February this year Verizon purchased Vodafone's 45% stake in Verizon Wireless, owning it outright. They also own MCI, which was formerly MCI WorldCom, which later became WorldCom and they have a 23.14% stake in Vodafone Italy, the rest being owned by Vodafone Group PLC. Sponsoring the IndyCar series will increase their profile and public awareness, provided IndyCar gives the series decent TV coverage in the US and abroad.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Obviously not 100% proof and I haven't been drinking, of Verizon as series sponsor but with their logo on the top right hand corner of this IndyCar nation web page, it's a pretty good indicator.

http://view.email.brickyard.com/?j=f...7667047a721c79

[HJJ]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

They may not currently have the exposure in the global, public domain but as a telecoms company in their own right, they are hardly off the radar.

Mr. bjohnsonsmith; Indycar is off the radar, not Verizon. No news in any outlet is not good for a series this close to their opening race.

[IndyMeister]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Maybe even Indycar as well

Do I sense a slight touch of irony there?

But anyway: since the EuroSport days American Open Wheel Racing is off the radar in Europe. And I doubt that a deal with Vodafone can improve that.

But I guess the old days of a simple "tv coverage = popularity" or "1 big sponsor = popularity" are long gone...

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by HJJ

Mr. bjohnsonsmith; Indycar is off the radar, not Verizon. No news in any outlet is not good for a series this close to their opening race.

Thanks for setting me straight, .

[bjohnsonsmith]

There we have it and we can all breath a massive sigh of relief, Verizon are officially the series sponsor.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112920

[D.R.T.]

Great news for Indycar and great work by Miles and the indycar team by securing a title sponsor

[luke]

The series some what in 2014 has had some very good news.

Indy: Kurt Busch and Jacques Villeneuve

Montoya full time

Full time sponsor

Pocono being a 500

Just a shame I have to pay for Espn uk

[D.R.T.]

Some great news from Verizon in regards to the title sponsorship for Indycar

http://www.racer.com/index.php/indyc...-title-sponsor

[FstrthnU]

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/how...1549624639/all
What do you guys think of Jalopnik's ideas?

My thoughts:

1. I think everyone can agree that a new good-looking chassis would be welcome.

2. Not sure about direct production-based engines, would entirely depend on manufacturer interest

3. Free design areas would be nice, if costs didn't spiral out of control

4. I completely disagree with the author that Indy shouldn't race at ovals, they provide variety and are a traditional element of the series. One commenter did have a good idea of having an even split 18-race season (6 street races, 6 ovals, 6 road courses).

5. Indycar is already working on an international expansion/off-season, but I think 25 races might be too much.

6. We'd love to see more constructors, but the question is who they would be. With most manufacturers involved heavily in other motorsports already.

[Bob Riebe]

Originally Posted by FstrthnU

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/how...1549624639/all
What do you guys think of Jalopnik's ideas?

My thoughts:
2. Not sure about direct production-based engines, would entirely depend on manufacturer interest

This is the only idea jalopy had that was of any interest, the rest were just more spec. series bs.

Factory interest and production based possibilities is what kept Indianapolis style racing intersting first with USAC, then CART and then, although George crapped on a good idea, IRL viable as far as fan and factory interest.
Make loyalty is not quite dead yet.

Ford's challenge to Offy, with both push-rod and OHC engines through Plymouth's brief but exciting foray into Chevy push-rods in early CART and finally the IRL idea that George crapped on at least kept it interesting.
As make x, y or z could enter something related to their production engines as a factory or through privateers.
When that ended boring set in quickly.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by FstrthnU

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/how...1549624639/all
What do you guys think of Jalopnik's ideas?

My thoughts:

1. I think everyone can agree that a new good-looking chassis would be welcome.

2. Not sure about direct production-based engines, would entirely depend on manufacturer interest

3. Free design areas would be nice, if costs didn't spiral out of control

4. I completely disagree with the author that Indy shouldn't race at ovals, they provide variety and are a traditional element of the series. One commenter did have a good idea of having an even split 18-race season (6 street races, 6 ovals, 6 road courses).

5. Indycar is already working on an international expansion/off-season, but I think 25 races might be too much.

6. We'd love to see more constructors, but the question is who they would be. With most manufacturers involved heavily in other motorsports already.

1. Unfortunately, I don't think there is a new chassis in the offing in the very near future but aero-kits will be introduced next year, something some teams have been reluctant to implement. The aero-kit concept was something Lola originally came up with when bidding for the IndyCar contract. The intention then, once Dallara got the contract was for them to produce the safety cell and tub, the various aero adaptations would be added on. Apart from the aesthetics, which hopefully the aero-kits will rectify, there's nothing actually wrong with the chassis itself and it has produced some excellent racing.

2. There's a rumour Cosworth may return, though how that would fit in with road relevance I'm not too sure unless Ford are also involved, as both Cosworth and Ford are involved in producing the Duratec engine.

3. Free design areas could be an alternative to a new chassis.

4. IndyCar without Ovals, would be like fish without chips, it's fundamental and is what sets it apart from other OW series but I would certainly welcome an end to double headers and a return to Laguna Seca and some of the other traditional pre-split tracks.

5. In 2001, the season it all started to go horribly wrong for CART, they were racing outside of North America in Australia, England, Germany and Japan. Any international exposure has to be good for a series.

6. It would be nice to see other constructors, IndyCar was never about spec-racing but obviously it has to be cost effective for other manufacturers to be involved. Long gone are the days when an endless stream of tobacco money could finance a team like Penske, who in turn could build his own cars in Poole, Dorset, England, which brings up the question of better sponsors. However, with the current viewing figures, IndyCar isn't attracting better sponsors and Schmidt Peterson Motorsports , for example, lost HP and Intel.

[NaBUru38]

The car is fine, changing it won't do much. I'd like a more modern nose, but races are so good that I barely notice.

IndyCar needs serious marketing. Having four consecutive weekends on ABC and Verizon as title sponsor may help. Same for having Montoya full-time and Busch and Villeneuve at the Indianapolis 500.

[rwintle]

Regarding engines, I know Cosworth's been rumoured... has anyone considered a Mazda-Cosworth powerplant? Mazda could make good sense given their investment in lower rungs of the Road to Indy ladder, no?

[Canada ALMS fan]

Originally Posted by rwintle

Regarding engines, I know Cosworth's been rumoured... has anyone considered a Mazda-Cosworth powerplant? Mazda could make good sense given their investment in lower rungs of the Road to Indy ladder, no?

That would make sense, not sure if the dollars are there for this though, especially with the marketing dollars that the series expects along with it. Might make more sense than the P2 diesel project they seem to be getting nowhere with? They want road relevance though.
A third manufacturer would make Indycar quite a bit stronger, especially with distinct aero kits coming next year.

[ptclaus98]

Originally Posted by FstrthnU

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/how...1549624639/all
What do you guys think of Jalopnik's ideas?

My thoughts:

1. I think everyone can agree that a new good-looking chassis would be welcome.

2. Not sure about direct production-based engines, would entirely depend on manufacturer interest

3. Free design areas would be nice, if costs didn't spiral out of control

4. I completely disagree with the author that Indy shouldn't race at ovals, they provide variety and are a traditional element of the series. One commenter did have a good idea of having an even split 18-race season (6 street races, 6 ovals, 6 road courses).

5. Indycar is already working on an international expansion/off-season, but I think 25 races might be too much.

6. We'd love to see more constructors, but the question is who they would be. With most manufacturers involved heavily in other motorsports already.

That article is written by a complete dumbass. IndyCars with no ovals? Seriously?

[ptclaus98]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

1. Unfortunately, I don't think there is a new chassis in the offing in the very near future but aero-kits will be introduced next year, something some teams have been reluctant to implement. The aero-kit concept was something Lola originally came up with when bidding for the IndyCar contract. The intention then, once Dallara got the contract was for them to produce the safety cell and tub, the various aero adaptations would be added on. Apart from the aesthetics, which hopefully the aero-kits will rectify, there's nothing actually wrong with the chassis itself and it has produced some excellent racing.

Pretty sure the concept of an aero kit around a control monocoque was done before Lola's concept in IndyCar.

[ptclaus98]

IndyCar should go with production based engines and figure out how to make it work and they should have been on it yesterday. 4 cyl engines get up to two power adding devices, 6 cyl engines get one, V8s are completely atmospheric. Regulate fuel flow, and after that everything is open to development.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by ptclaus98

Pretty sure the concept of an aero kit around a control monocoque was done before Lola's concept in IndyCar.

Maybe but when the various manufacturers were bidding for the IndyCar contract, they were the only one to include the idea in their bid, along with a universal tub that could be used in Indy Lights as well as IndyCar, thus saving those teams, wishing to make the transitioin from one series to the other or run teams in both series, money. I think the IRL made a huge mistake in not giving Lola the contract.