Last Hurrah for Champ Car at PORTLAND ?!

[zerO]

Yeah, we heard the rumors: IRL vying for a Portland date in 2005 ?! - but it isn't to be as a race in addition to the hoped for Champ Car one - at least that is not what IRL is pursuing... here's the latest on this story = http://www.columbian.com/06132004/sports/155107.html

No matter how much Eidswick & Co. wish to turn a blind eye on this situation, officially at least, I'm pretty sure that even their silly official stance - ie: We'll see how well this year's race does first. - pretty much says that CCWS isn't all that eager for returning to Portland next year (otherwise the official stance would be quite different, no ?!)... some may not agree but that's how I read into it... and now it finally is official that IRL is pursuing to snatch Portland EXCLUSIVELY !!! - they even have a sponsor lined-up that says so ?!, and OWRS doesn't have a dåmn sponsor today nor is it likely to have one for next year... so, what will it be next year: IRL or OWRS ?! - because both won't fit nor happen... it isn't a question anymore, unless the Champ Car Troika have something up their sleeve and I really doubt that since they have expressed their desire to add 4-6 foreign races next year (in addition to St.Pete - which is also being pursued by IRL, btw) and either Denver or Portland or both will have to get axed to make room... that freakin' simple - add it all up...

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[Kicking-back]

Your posts are quite difficult to read. A bit of punctuation and spacing would help.

On the subject - Portland would be a good road race for the IRL to add, but I'm still hoping both series can get together. Then all these "us or them" stories will be redundant.

[sgjb]

It would be interesting to see what the IRL would do there. I think quite poorly. Cart is even struggling. I go every year and I would venture a guess there is about 20% of the fans at the race are from Canada.

When Villeneuve and Greg Moore raced there many people went down to see them. The Canadian drivers still keep us coming as the interest is still high but not as high as Greg's days.

If the IRL went in, I would guess they would lose almost all the Canadian fans from the race as generally we are CART fans I think. If the IRL could lure a few Canadians over maybe that would change!!

[zerO]

Originally posted by Kicking-back
Portland would be a good road race for the IRL to add, but I'm still hoping both series can get together. Then all these "us or them" stories will be redundant.

Until one series ceases to exist it will always be "us or them" - such is life... and there is COMPLETELY no snowball chance in héll for any "unification" - so we might as well forget about that dream... in the meantime, it's very simple = either CCWS or IRL will race at Portland next year - NOT BOTH ?! - most likely IRL since they are pursuing it much harder than OWRS... btw, very same scenario is being played out at Road America for next year ?!

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[indycool]

The same scenario could be playing out at a lot of places. A lot of the deals are reported to be one-year contracts or redone to one-year contracts.

OWRS is really the "incumbent," so to speak, at Portland but there's no sponsor for the race (G.I. Joe's isn't back) and the Columbian reported ticket sales are projected to be 30-40,000 for Race Day. This is the first of the OWRS self-promotions and the finances don't appear to be very good. The Oregonian reported the race lost $1 million last year on CART's tab.

I don't know that the IRL would do any better. The concept 22 years ago was bringing the Indycars to Portland. OWRS is not the Indycars, so that "hook" doesn't exist. Maybe it would for IRL. Time will tell how this plays out.

[Kicking-back]

It's a good track, which generally produces good racing.

[marcus]

I love the track.
I'd love to see both series race there but strange that OWRS are "Gonna see how this years event goes"

does that mean they dont really care for Portland ? or am I reading it wrong ?

[racinthestreets]

does that mean they dont really care for Portland ? or am I reading it wrong ?

That is a tough one to answer. I think that PG likes the track, he has keep his other racing series there. Having said that, when GI Joe's failed to sponsor this year, I believe that Portland was added to the schedule for "numbers" because it had the infrastructure in place to pull off a race this early in the season. I believe that it is the last race at PIR for CCWS - and that is too bad. If Nike or some similar sponsor was to step up and sign an agreement this weekend - well then toss my prediction out the door please. To a potential sponsor for Portland

[indycool]

Agree, racin....they had to take chances on Portland, Denver and Cleveland to self-promote or those races were history. If it goes well, they may do it again. If not.....

[zerO]

Here's another write-up that explains why IRL will be at Portland next year and not Champ Car = http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/ore...3633214950.xml

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[JohnSSC]

I would like to see open wheelers stay at Portland - I have only seen it on TV, but it seems to be a pretty cool track.

There have been some good races there and I hope there continue to be.

[Mags]

Portland is a GREAT track for the fans - every amenity and very senic. The drivers find it wonderful, too. Not the technically challenging but it has produced some great racing moments.
It's 90 deg here right now - and will get hotter. Check our site for up to date info and pictures. I'm heading out now to shoot the morning practice. There is NO market for the IRL and they can bring it on if they want - NO on will attend.

[f1manoz]

http://www.portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=24748

Here is why OWRS will stay at Portland and the IRL will fail miserably if it tries.

[macdaddy]

I believe that article might be pretty close to the mark.
But what are "grand prixs"?

[Kicking-back]

Indeed.

Grands Prix is a phrase they need to learn.

[indycool]

The perception of the story is just CW rerun. Some of the facts are inaccurate.

[macdaddy]

Perhaps, but what it implies are likely quite accurate.
And it's not because one car has more HP than the other, that has little to do with it.

[Mags]

Thank you for supporting my theory. As one that has been covering the race here for several years, I can tell you the fans here are Champ Car fans and would never support the IRL.

[Kicking-back]

But would they support one "IndyCar" series?

[Mags]

Originally posted by Kicking-back
But would they support one "IndyCar" series?

NO. I think that is what I love about this track.. you go anywhere and it's the same.. even mention the "TG" word and you get treated like a leper.

The fans here LOVE Champ Cars.. and it is NOT like Toronto where they play volleyball when the race is on. These fans are rabid.

I sat and listened to a few talk about the Indy 499 today with Neil from Forsythe, and how they will never, EVER attend that race again until it is owned by another (so don't get your hopes up Gerry will ever be there soon) And how universally loved Newman is for having the **erhem** noodles to say what he thinks and to stand firm in the wake of money, engine manufactures pressure and the like, and how RP and others did NOT...and I sat and thought, WOW.

God Bless our 3 great guys for at least trying.

[Mags]

Originally posted by Kicking-back
But would they support one "IndyCar" series?

They say a picture is worth a 1,000 words! Spotted at Portland this morning, and we all laughed so hard we cried.

[Mags]

If you can't read it, it says "No IRL at PIR"

[Adam43]

Originally posted by Mags
They say a picture is worth a 1,000 words! Spotted at Portland this morning, and we all laughed so hard we cried.

Well its a picture of a few words :confused: and Fawlty Tower is funnier.

However the cars looked good at Portland. It seems a fun circuit to race on, with the nice straight into a slow corner for overtaking. It'll be a real shame if CART don't go back there.

[racinthestreets]

This was my fourth time at PIR in the last five years. It was the smallest crowd that I have seen. I wonder who is running CCWS promotions. I remember PG saying that the races needed to be promoted better for CCWS to be viable - well, they need to shake something up IMO. Looked as if Budweiser paid for exclusive rights to the beer revenue - I could not find a different brand of beer anywhere I looked. I was in the paddock area and at the Festival Curves. Finally, I saw Bud's Widmere Hefe as I was exiting the race track. IMO, CCWS did a lousy job promoting this race - their first. As for the beer, I know from attending many races that the majority of Champ Car Fans are not Bud beer drinkers - we will pay for quality brews! I drank water, which was a good thing because it was damn hot.

[Mags]

Originally posted by racinthestreets
This was my fourth time at PIR in the last five years. It was the smallest crowd that I have seen. I wonder who is running CCWS promotions. I remember PG saying that the races needed to be promoted better for CCWS to be viable - well, they need to shake something up IMO. Looked as if Budweiser paid for exclusive rights to the beer revenue - I could not find a different brand of beer anywhere I looked. I was in the paddock area and at the Festival Curves. Finally, I saw Bud's Widmere Hefe as I was exiting the race track. IMO, CCWS did a lousy job promoting this race - their first. As for the beer, I know from attending many races that the majority of Champ Car Fans are not Bud beer drinkers - we will pay for quality brews! I drank water, which was a good thing because it was damn hot.

They were selling Blue as well.

Ys, this was my 8th PIR and the crow was small; I don't know why, and it was DARN hot!