Can Danica Patrick save Indy style racing?

[Bluzmann57]

Indy style open wheel racing is nowhere near as popular as it once was but if she wins today, it will be a huge shot in the arm for open wheeled racing. Just think of the publicity it will generate. I am not a big racing fan, but I would like to see her win, if for nothing else, to remove the monkey from her back.

[MaineDem]

1. Tony Geoerge killed open-wheel racing

I hope someone can bring it back.

Three women in the race today. It'll be nice to have parity but three is better than none.

May they all have a safe and clean race.

[rocktivity]

8. Here's what Wikepedia says about him, LOL

George's biggest claim to infamy, or fame, depending on one's point of view of CART racing in the early 1990s era, however, involved the creation of a new open wheel series that would challenge the established series at the time, CART.

He announced the creation of the Indy Racing League, which began racing in 1996. He created the IRL to encourage a more even playing field in open wheel racing. He also wanted an all-oval series, which would make it distinct from CART, which is dominated by road and street courses. However, George angered many CART figureheads by requiring 25 of the 33 spots in the Indianapolis 500 to be occupied by drivers in the IRL circuit. His allegedly abrasive personality didn't help matters either.

CART decided to boycott the race and stage their own race on the same day, the U.S. 500. Due to the CART boycott, most of the biggest names didn't enter the Indianapolis 500 for several years. George became a hated figure among some racing fans, and he was blamed for open wheel racing losing fans and drivers to NASCAR, while other racing fans supported his IRL.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

9. I just watched the '92 Indy 500

on ESPN Classic, still didn't see why open wheel racing in America needed to be "fixed". Classic then showed the 2005 race. The difference between the '05 and '92 was night and day. The '92 race had a deep field of accomplished and talented drivers that had been fixtures at the speedway for years. While the 2005 race had one of the worst fields (as did the '07) in the history of the event. The only notable feat in the '05 race was the "4th place winner".

It seems the run up to this years 500 was the first time since the split a good number of articles and commentaries were negative toward the IRL. Five, ten years ago a majority were blaming CART for the sad state of the race. And within the past five years there seemed to be more and more calls for reunification. This year the head guys at Champ Car put an end to those rumors, leaving the writers and commentators to focus on Indy, the IRL, and the root cause of the problem Tony George. Eleven years too late!

Sadly, I'm of the opinion open wheel racing in America is at the point of no return.

[Captain Hilts]

2. Danica had excellent rookie numbers that justified the publicity. A safe race for all. nt

[erpowers]

3. The Real Question

I think the real question is does Indy style racing need Danica Patrick to save it? I think the answer is no. In addition, I do not think her winning will be a huge publicity shot for Indy Racing. I think people will say okay and them move on.

[Indy_Dem_Defender]

4. Nope but

some how (big fat chance) of getting these drivers in the IRL or at least compete in the Indy 500 would do wonders.

Juan Pablo Montoya
Kasey Kahne
Jeff Gordon
Casey Mears
Tony Stewart
Ryan Newman
Robby Gordon
AJ Allmendinger
Katherine Legge
Bruno Junqueira
Sebastien Bourdais
Graham Rahal
Justin Wilson
Jacques Villeneuve

[MaineDem]

5. Bingo!

I long for the days of a good field in the 500.

This race used to mean so much!

[rocktivity]

6. I doubt Indy will get a popularity boost from being something a GIRL can win

But I might be wrong--I certainly would have been if I'd said that about Tiger Woods!

Ironically, a Patrick victory will most likely "steer" more of the aspiring male drivers toward NASCAR--at least until Danica follows them!

On edit: She finished eighth, and only one driver with less experience did better. Like a broken vacuum cleaner, that doesn't such at all.

:evilgrin:
rocknation

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

7. No

the 500 hasn't been something worth winning since 1995. That field yesterday was just pathetic.

[ProfessorGAC]

10. Just Barely

I observed something when watching Indy this weekend. The problem they will have, forever, is that compared to NASCAR, there's VERY little space for the advertising that is so dominant on the stock cars. The body has about 30% of the surface area on top, and are only about half as high. So, there's simply very little room for ads and promos.

Yeah, they're there, but they're so small that the viewers can only see them when the car is in the pits and a close-up is on the car. Who can't see the Budweiser on DE Jr's car, or the DuPont on Gordon's car? Geez, the DuPont on that car is practically as big as Danica's entire car!

I think the cost of racing, the identification with drivers, etc. is something that NASCAR has captured, and Indy racing will never be what it was.
The Professor