PG still pushing for LV street race in '06

[Dov]

From the reviewjournal.com:

But Paul Gentilozzi remembers well the last motorsports venture that used the Las Vegas Strip as its glitzy backdrop and, frankly, he can't get the neon vision out of his mind.

Which is why Gentilozzi, co-owner of the Champ Car Series that races tonight in a double-header event with NASCAR's Craftsman Trucks at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, has designs -- early though they may be -- on bringing open-wheel racing back to the city proper. No, it won't be on the Strip -- "That would be like closing Fifth Avenue in New York or Lake Shore (Drive) in Chicago," Gentilozzi acknowledges -- nor will it be on a temporary course set up in a hotel parking lot, such as the four-year Caesars Palace Grand Prix was. Rather, Gentilozzi is eyeing service roads just off the Strip, still with the glorious resort skyline as a backdrop, for a possible road race in 2006.

"We've found a couple of locations that stay off the Strip and use low-service roads. We have some ideas that offer some real challenges for the drivers and great viewing for the fans." These ideas have been zipping through Gentilozzi's mind at 200 mph since he and fellow Champ Car owners Gerald Forsythe and Kevin Kalkhoven bought the bankrupt CART racing series at the start of the year. "We've only been going for eight-plus months so we haven't been able to get everything done," Gentilozzi explains. "But this is in our plans for 2006. We hope there are people out there who understand the creativity it takes to create the financial impact of a venture like ours (estimated $20 million in nongaming local revenue this week)."

Gentilozzi says the Champ Car Series could come to Las Vegas twice each year, with a race at the Speedway and one off the Strip.

[Omega99]

Wasn't I reading something here about how LVMS wants champ car back in the future? Why turn your back on another relationship?

Actually, if they continued to run at LVMS in a double event with the Craftsman trucks, they could probably run a seperate event on the streets at a different time of year and not hurt themselves any moreso than leaving the oval event and having just a street race.

[Dov]

Originally posted by Omega99
Wasn't I reading something here about how LVMS wants champ car back in the future? Why turn your back on another relationship?

Omega, read the last quote in my thread and that should answer your question(s).

[indycool]

Regarding the last quote, that's what PG said about San Jose and Laguna Seca, too. IMO, they're not going to run both. LVMS and The Strip are eight or so miles apart. The Strip has changed since 1984 when they ran at Caesars Palace. Gentilozzi can talk all he wants about using service roads, etc., but it would now be a logistical nightmare to A) find the space, B) reroute traffic, and C) get the casinos tuned in to a street race in Vegas. It would also probably be fought by LVMS, as it was when Heitzler couldn't get what he wanted from LVMS and broadcast to the Vegas media that he'd run a street race if he didn't get what he wanted from LVMS. That hasn't happened yet, either.

[Muzza]

Once again Mr. Gentilozzi makes an unnecessary, bombastic statement when it was least needed - and worse, coming in the wake of a race held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway that was, by all accounts, a (moderate) success.

Gentilozzi should spend time and effort fostering this renewed relationship with the LVMS (having this track accepting to host a Champ Car race - of course, they were well paid for that - was one of the surprises of the 2004) and try to score a better deal for next year (let's not forget that OWRS paid half a million dollars to have a race there...) instead of turning playing this two-face role - and spitting in the plate he just ate from.

Just another disastrous corporate relation move by Mr. Boombox.

[Amar7605]

I just came back from Las Vegas, and personally I cannot see how a race could be help anywhere along the Strip. Yes, the roads are wide enough to have a race and decent pit areas, but the thing is that I don't really see how grandstands can be put up. This is because all of the people walking around the Strip, it would be very difficult to have grandstands AND not distrupting foot traffic. And not all of the casinos are connected by bridges or trams.

The race at LVMS was great. There were a lot of people there, the view from Earnheardt Terrace was amazing, and the racing was awesome. And its a speedway that wants Champ Cars to return.

Hey Three Amigos... don't squander this opportunity!

[Dov]

^^^

From the article:
No, it won't be on the Strip -- "That would be like closing Fifth Avenue in New York or Lake Shore (Drive) in Chicago," Gentilozzi acknowledges -- nor will it be on a temporary course set up in a hotel parking lot, such as the four-year Caesars Palace Grand Prix was. Rather, Gentilozzi is eyeing service roads just off the Strip, still with the glorious resort skyline as a backdrop, for a possible road race in 2006.

[Snrub]

Indeed why a street race? The series needs more ovals, but it just needs to be done right. Vegas is a larger oval and has an unusual amount of banking so they need to run low downforce. Mandate 0 degrees of front wing, hanford device-like rear wings with 0 degrees rear as well, same rubber, road/street course 750hp instead of oval 700hp. That would produce the best entertainment and challange. It would be very technical, drivers might even have to apply the brakes going into corners and do it at something like 160mph because of the lack of downforce but hit something like 210mph on the straights and probably 220mph with a slingshot. Entertainment wise it would be wild because of the constant oscillations back and forth, but the corners would ensure that better drivers could pull away. In a way it would be dangerous because of the constant passing, but there would be little aero "chopping" in the corners so that would probably balance it out.

[Omega99]

Originally posted by Dov
Omega, read the last quote in my thread and that should answer your question(s).

*cough*

[indycool]

As I posted before, why go through the bombastics? Gentilozzi spawns San Jose as Laguna falters. He already falters LVMS from a year ago. He brags about the world wanting races, yet they don't produce any. In Vegas, staying OT, it's a much different environment than 20 years ago. Why beat this drum?

[Snrub]

I was watching Wind Tunnel last night and Robin Miller was saying that the fans were quiet interested in the race until the first caution which lasted forever. He said at that point most of the crowd left and through the rest of the race what was left slowly trickled away leaving ~8k fans for the checkered flag. Can anyone confirm this? RM's point was that race control's practices ruined a great chance to grab some fans. I know I was gettng pretty impatient and I had the race taped!

[indycool]

The buses back to the casinos left --- depending on who you listen to -- either 45 minutes or 90 minutes after the truck race checker per LVMS' agreement with the casinos, as was done last year and in place this year before the OWRS race was even scheduled. Don't know what an actual count might've been. Mark C. said 8-10k. Others said up to 20k. Most qualify it by "30 laps into therace, there was this many." Hard to tell.

[Snrub]

Originally posted by indycool
The buses back to the casinos left --- depending on who you listen to -- either 45 minutes or 90 minutes after the truck race checker per LVMS' agreement with the casinos, as was done last year and in place this year before the OWRS race was even scheduled.

That's pretty stupid, but would explain some things. It seems like yet again the OWRS guys do something good but have some critical faults that undermine much of their efforts. I really think they had something with using the truck race and a high speed oval - a chance to produce an awsome race in front of people who don't realize how well it could be done.

[indycool]

The live TV time for the trucks also was prohibitive to starting earlier.

[brightline]

Originally posted by indycool
The buses back to the casinos left --- depending on who you listen to -- either 45 minutes or 90 minutes after the truck race checker per LVMS' agreement with the casinos, as was done last year and in place this year before the OWRS race was even scheduled. Don't know what an actual count might've been. Mark C. said 8-10k. Others said up to 20k. Most qualify it by "30 laps into therace, there was this many." Hard to tell.

I was in the Earnhardt Terrace, and from what I saw a lot of the NASCAR fans left after the start, just to check out the start. The long yellow didn't help. I think the time didn't help either. Coming from the east coast of the US sitting in the stands until midnight meant we were really sitting there until 3:00AM. As exciting as the finish was I was still yawning because it was so darn late. The track was beautiful the evening was perfect. Those that left early missed a great fireworks display as well.

I looked for some of you (macdaddy) but didn't find anyone as we didn't arrive until 5:45 due to the heavy traffic which from the stands appeared to only get worse and didn't slow down until halfway through the truck race.

[Tim Northcutt]

It figures that the Truck fans left....

Most NASCAR fans I know really don't "get it"....

The lines I get most often are "They don't look like cars at all" followed by "If it ain't swappin' paint, it ain't racin'"...

Seriously....

I didn't expect them to stay...

[jjspierx]

Before one of the commericial breaks during the champcar race, the camera focused on a father and son in the crowd. The father saw that the camera was on him and him started yelling and pointing at his budweiser which he was apparently proud of. I was pretty sure I knew which series he was there to watch. Not to be stereotypical, but....ok, nevermind I'll being stereotypical, but I'm still fairly certain I knew which series he was there to watch.

[indycool]

So, you BELIEVED Pook's statement that "our fans don't smoke Winstons, drink Budweiser and drive pickup trucks?" What are Molson and Corona doing in the series then?

[evo]

Personally, I drink Corona and wouldn't give Budweiser the time of day. Does that answer the question? Stereotypical it definitley is, though.

[Snrub]

Originally posted by indycool
So, you BELIEVED Pook's statement that "our fans don't smoke Winstons, drink Budweiser and drive pickup trucks?" What are Molson and Corona doing in the series then?

Look,I know that statement annoyed a lot of people, but let's be honest, it's not entirely untrue. It's funny that jj mentioned that moment because when I saw it I was thinking exactly the same thing. Did you see it Indycool? If so can you honestly say that your gut didn't say "Truck fan"? I wouldn't expect to see that guy at a IRL event either. If that guy is a CC fan great, but I'd bet he isn't.

Recall that when we initially had the "Pook - Bud & Winston" discussion people produced some demographics that showed a substantial difference between the "average" fan between Nascar and CC, but even greater differences in the "bottom" fan.

[indycool]

No Snrub, I didn't see it....the camera obviously showed somebody enjoying themselves at an OWRS race from your descriptions. The Pook statement was an attitude that was CART's problem throughout its existence -- and an attitude about that fan, which, I felt, came forth in that post.

[jjspierx]

Yes indycool, Pook was actually right when he said the afore mentioned statement. However, he was out of line stating it. Obviously, there are many exceptions to what he said, but demographically its just true. The average Champcar fan is of a higher education, higher income bracket, that tends to smoke and drink less than a Nascar fan. Also Corona and Molson are different than Budweiser. Budweiser is more commonly associated with Nascar because it is a CHEAP domestic beer.

I don't want to tick anybody off, but demographics are demographics, it is just facts. However as I stated before, Pook was out of line stating that fact, because its just bad business to say things that might deter a certain group of people from watching your show.

In my post above, I was saying it sort of tongue in cheek, no I don't for a fact that it was Truck fan, but stereotypically speaking, there is a pretty good chance of it.

[jjspierx]

Originally posted by Snrub
Recall that when we initially had the "Pook - Bud & Winston" discussion people produced some demographics that showed a substantial difference between the "average" fan between Nascar and CC, but even greater differences in the "bottom" fan.

Yes, that was me who found the demographics and provided links for those who didn't believe me when I said that the average open-wheel fan is of higher education and income level which tends to smoke and drink less than Nascar fans. I searched for them, because a few posters said prove it, so I did. In fact, it might have even been Indycool who was one of those who asked me to prove it.

[indycool]

Okay, if you found those demographics, you did. You also say by that that HUGE consumer products companies don't belong in CART/OWRS, just like Pook did.

I recall in our previous discussion that one poster said he owned a $45,000 pickup truck and it POed him.

If you cite those demographics and believe 'em, then what the h3ll is McDonald's doing in the sport? And Budweiser, which has a huge sports marketing operation, should forget OWRS (as they have....apparently a good call). Maybe they should approach Gallo and somebody in Wisconsin who makes cheese instead if they want money.

[racinthestreets]

From jjspierx

Yes indycool, Pook was actually right when he said the afore mentioned statement. However, he was out of line stating it.

To say that CP was out of line with his statement, then support his statement is a little off IMO.

I will say that in cards, a Spade is a Spade. Daytona is Daytona, Long Beach is Long Beach - having been to both as I presume many others that post here have too. We know the demographics are different. I prefer Fosters Beer and a nice Merlot and will bypass a Bud and White Port. However if in the area I will go to Daytona. The difference for me is that I will make a journey to attend Long Beach, Portland, Vancouver, Laguna and this year Las Vegas. I was not in Florida at the time of Daytona and did not make the effort to be there.

From Indycool

And Budweiser, which has a huge sports marketing operation, should forget OWRS (as they have....apparently a good call).

Now it is time to support your statement: Did the sale of Bud increase or not because they are not a sponsor of OWRS?
I doubt it is a good call, ask Tecate?