Chris Pook on ESPN.com chat today

[power&glory]

you must read this, it brings up many interesting points and overall leaves u walking away believing very much in this man: http://dynamic.espn.go.com/espn/chat..._id=2273:beer:

[Flatspot]

Good Stuff!!!! I think I'll email a few of those pro-IRL media folks right now.

[Jay]

Great interview, all should read.

[macdaddy]

Not to bore you, as you've probably already read the article by now, but here are a few quotes I found informative and/or entertaining...

"It'll be 2005 before we open up the series to the world's engine manufacturers and we will probably be looking at a V-10 engine, gas-powered."

"A series name change is being seriously considered."

"Well, I'm not sure how much talent is going over to the IRL. I think the guys that consistently qualify on the front part of our grid are with us. The more senior ones who qualify in the back part of the grid - I think the IRL provides a good retirement opportunity for them."

[MA2]

Pooks comment about the local Indy media is right on the mark - the Star reported that the Idiots Requiring Lobotomies had 35000 in attendance.

If we want to exaggerate like that, then: LADIES - I'VE GOT A 6 FOOT SCHLONG!!!!

[Liz]

Did they count the groundhogs, the workers, and people who came because they were giving away tickets at the grocery store? I heard there were 1,500 paying customers and the rest were just filler.

[Jay]

That was for Saturday.... Although really, half the reason you come on Friday or Saturday is the off the track stuff, not the on track stuff. Since the only interesting part of oval racing is watching guys bang wheels or crash, watching cars do one long left hand turn isn't going to draw much of a crowd.

[Liz]

Here is the quotation I like best: the bold emphasis is added.

How can the fans of CART help the series prosper?

Chris Pook: 1. Continuing to support us. And 2. When the media do not provide fair reporting and conveniently leave out facts -- challenge them.

A good example was the Indianapolis TV media last night failed to report the huge crowd in Montreal for the first race their. They just gave the results and then in the coverage of the IRL in St. Louis, the inference was it was a most succesful day in spite of only drawing a very few number of people. The fans cannot underestimate how powerful they are and how their voices do count. All we are asking for is fairness in the media.

No matter what the people on the Other Side, or the Accountants, tell you -- our voices are the ones that count and our voices must be heard. And it would not hurt to write a note to sponsors too if you use their products. Most of them have websites.

Don't listen to the Cassandras that keep repeating that money is the only thing that matters. The sponsors have to sell their products to someone, and if no one is watching or attending, what's the point? [Example: McDonald's if they were at the Montreal race could possibly have sold 300,000 drinks and 100,000 hamburgers a day just to the people who were on the grounds. And if their stores in Canada were giving away CART stickers or little diecasts with their happy meals every time there's a race in Canada, would that not help everybody?]

[JohnSSC]

You are right on the mark there, Liz (although I liked Pook's "retirement" quote better! - hope Mikey enjoys his.). When I see someone other than a "journalist" such as Paul Page rhapsodizing about the IRL I might give a listen but until then I assume that TG is not only buying tickets but a lot of nice dinners/trips whatever in the Indianapolis area so he gets the stories he so desperately needs.

[greg.n]

Pook made an appeal that every CART fan should get into. IF your local media doesnt cover CART ask why they ignored an event that draws more spectators than most NFL/NBA/baseball/golf games and then if they provide media coverage of the IRL and don't give CART coverage ask the same question. Secondly, write to major newspapers drawing attention to their lack of CART coverage and ask for attedance figures to be included in the reports. A few years ago in New Zealand we lost our F1 coverage from the national cable channel and the howl that went up from fans made the national news bulletins on the major channels (equivalent to ABC/CBS)with the result that the No.1 channel in the country committed to cover F! live and started a two/three hour motorsport show on Sunday afternoons sponsored by Shell. They do listen to the public and you can make a HUGE difference. What would USA today do if they got 500 letters on one subject across a two week period? Change would happen friends-coverage!