Thoughts on the 2008 ChampCar schedule..............
Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:21 pm
After what seemed like an unrelenting spate of bad news coming from the offices of the Champ Car World Series, at last their 2008 schedule comes out......and already the criticisms are beginning to flow. So, what's wrong with the calendar for next year:
(1)NO OVALS!!!!!! For the second year in a row, the series will host no oval-track races, never mind the fact, the stone-cold fact that, contrary to popular opinion, the DP01 is oval-track capable, according to the FIA. One of the hallmarks of American open-wheel racing was the diversity of its' schedule, going from a street race to a bullring-style oval to the 500 and then to another bullring, then off to a road course....is it any wonder the IRL had such an increase in fans over last year?
(2)Where are they? From early September to late October, the series will essentially vanish from the sports-world; like last year, don't expect lots of coverage from the mainstream press or the auto-racing press.....after all, this is the series that yanked the hardcards of its' four top OW scribes(although Speed's Robin Miller has said on-air that, barring any problems crossing the border, he will be in Mexico City for the season finale.....)
(3)Why the European intrigue? This year ChampCar returned to the Old World for two races at Zolder, Belgium and at Assen, Holland; next year, the series returns there and adds a third venue, the Jerez circuit in Spain. Suggestion to the powers that be........try rebuilding what's left of your American fanbase FIRST, then you can start building it elsewhere......
(1)NO OVALS!!!!!! For the second year in a row, the series will host no oval-track races, never mind the fact, the stone-cold fact that, contrary to popular opinion, the DP01 is oval-track capable, according to the FIA. One of the hallmarks of American open-wheel racing was the diversity of its' schedule, going from a street race to a bullring-style oval to the 500 and then to another bullring, then off to a road course....is it any wonder the IRL had such an increase in fans over last year?
(2)Where are they? From early September to late October, the series will essentially vanish from the sports-world; like last year, don't expect lots of coverage from the mainstream press or the auto-racing press.....after all, this is the series that yanked the hardcards of its' four top OW scribes(although Speed's Robin Miller has said on-air that, barring any problems crossing the border, he will be in Mexico City for the season finale.....)
(3)Why the European intrigue? This year ChampCar returned to the Old World for two races at Zolder, Belgium and at Assen, Holland; next year, the series returns there and adds a third venue, the Jerez circuit in Spain. Suggestion to the powers that be........try rebuilding what's left of your American fanbase FIRST, then you can start building it elsewhere......