Great news for fans of st.pete the IRL wont be racin there in 2005

[luke]

I was just browsing on www.autoracing1.com when I heard the news that the IRL won't race at St. Pete in 2005.
That almost certainly means there is a good chance of Champcars racin there either in the TBA race or next year.

[Kicking-back]

That is a very pro CC site.

Don't believe everything they say.

[MLM]

Originally posted by Kicking-back
That is a very pro CC site.

Don't believe everything they say.

Isn't that the truth!
That site has predicted races at places like China (Shanghai, wasn't it?),etc....

Like K-b said, don't believe everything they say (there's a couple of other pro-CC sites I wouldn't listen too, either)

[BootsOntheSide]

The IRL's racing at America's 2 greatest road courses next year, both of which have much more to offer than St. Pete's. And just because the IRL doesn't want to race there, doesn't mean OWRS will be able to fumble a deal together, although I hope they do.

[drewdawg727]

I might attend the Watkins Glen race next year...finally something close to my area minus Nazareth

[codename_47]

Originally posted by BootsOntheSide
The IRL's racing at America's 2 greatest road courses next year,

That's funny, I'm sure they announced they were racing at Watkins Glen and Sears Point.

Honestly, "pro-Champcar" is said like it's a dirty word...

[Kicking-back]

It's not a dirty word, but it does mean its credibility is questionable.

Incidentally, anyone who thinks Watkins Glen and Sears point are America's 2 greatest road courses needs to look at some more road courses!

[Dov]

The same can be said about IndyStar.com in regards to their very obvious support towards the IRL! Btw, I aree KB, while Watkins Glen and Sears Point are decent road courses, I would never consider them to be the greatest in the US.

[f1manoz]

Watkins Glen - perhaps. It HAS hosted grand prix, but that was many years ago now. Frankly, it's nothing but sub-standard nowadays.

Sears Point - you've got to be joking!

[Shaggy_SoCal]

Originally posted by BootsOntheSide
The IRL's racing at America's 2 greatest road courses next year...

IRL is racing at Road America?!?!?!

[macdaddy]

This thread hasn't been on-topic since it's inception.
Should we rename the thread "Best Websites" or "Best RoadCourses"?

[Snrub]

Keeping the IRL out of venues gives CART a chance there and it also gives them a chance to have a unique identity as starting next year it will blur further.

Boots come on now, if you ask the average race fan in the UK to name the two best courses in the US they'd say Elkhart and Laguna with 90%+ success. A die hard race fan *might* say Mid-Ohio in place of Laguna.

[Amar7605]

While this is decent news from a Champ Car fan perspective, let's all be focused on the fact that Champ Car does not have St Pete as a race, and realistically it does not seem likely to have a race for this year.

[f1manoz]

Is it any surprise the other league isn't going to St. Pete? Come on, they fought for Portland and now aren't racing there. It's nothing but a power play from that other league owner.

[Snrub]

I tend to think you're on to something f1manoz. While the IRL showed up CART in attendance at Milwaukee, one has to think that it was a move ment to hurt CART rather then the IRL honestly thinking they should go to that track before some other.

[BootsOntheSide]

Milwaukee's the oldest circuit in America though, and consistantly the most popular one-mile oval. CART fought to keep it more than most of the ovals they've lost in recent years. There's no doubt that it's a major inclusion.

Maybe Sears Point isn't one of the very best tracks going, but I'd still rate it higher than St. Pete's. And the Glen has hosted classic races in tonnes of championships, and has a mystique all of its own.

[Omega99]

I'd agree with that, but I think St. Pete's has a lot of potential. And it would be the only Florida race on the schedule. Hopefully champ cars work something out.

[jjspierx]

I happen to agree that Infineon Raceway(Sears Points) is one of America's greatest road tracks. I think its highly underated because Nascar runs there, and runs the easy course that .7 miles shorter than the standard course. Sears Point is a very technical course, even though it may not look like it on TV. It has major elevation changes, turns over crests, off-camber corners, compromise corners, and a few flat out turns that are very difficult to make without lifting.

But to get back on topic, I really hope to see CC back at St. Pete next year. I think its probably the best street circuit that CC has raced on in recent years.