Fontana

[clm1545]

And we can't understand why so many people prefer NASCAR.

[indycals]

It was still better than any NASCAR or F1 race.

[Deleted]

Nascar is primarily down to better marketing. F1... they have the legacy market. As for the race... crazy, but in a good way with an exciting finish. So who will be the first one to load up a sand blaster and "weather" the paint on a Scott Dixon 1/18 diecast? Talk about debris!

[racerbrown]

it's hard to believe the amount of junk they were pulling out of the radiators.
duane

[harveythedog2]

Not only the sand but the grooves in the track caught out a lot of racers. I was really rooting for Tags to be there at the end and have a good finish. How about that axle or piece of car that almost hit Jakes? Could have easily been devasting. I must have changed who I was rooting for to win about 6 times as my favorites kept dropping out.

I was shocked at the sparce crowd though and just don't understand it. Nascar racing is terrible.

[SWT500]

The only thing NASCAR has is more cars riding around. In the case of Fontana, a lot of attrition leaves fewer cars running and it looks less than ideal on such a large track. The facility needs to be held accountable for the track seams, dirt and debris. That kind of stuff simply must not happen. As for the crowd, they should sell general admission tickets, sit where you want. Get the folks in there. They will eat, drink and buy souvenirs. That is also where IMS misses the boat on practice and quals. To the educated fan, it was still a good race.

[trevor83]

Agreed. They knew last year the seams were an issue. Why didn't they address it so it was a non factor this year?!?!

[clm1545]

Oct 20, 2013 0:11:12 GMT -5 indycals said:

It was still better than any NASCAR or F1 race.

I agree, Michael, but that is not my point. IMO 5 cars on the lead lap, 9 cars finishing, and having the pace car lead the most laps, is not the way to attract new fans or promote the series. Indycar does not have to promote the series to us, we are already on board. Again IMO Indycar could and should be the best racing in the world and the leadership and ownership is letting it, and all of us down. Most folks vote with their wallets, and they are not voting for Indycar. Tire debris has been a major factor in both Indycar and F1 for quite some time. It is a result of the insanely high grip levels, both aero and mechanical built into the cars.
Maybe, the series should have blown the aprons during the cautions.
Maybe, the series should have inspected the fencing at Houston, and ground the bumps down before race weekend.
Maybe, the series should have marked the pit boxes at Sonoma.
I could go on, and on, but having the inmates run the asylum is never a good idea.
My $.02
Craig

[Art Laski]

I've been to every Indy Car race they've had at Fontana, and except for the stretch out on the last run, this was as good as any of them. The racing was intense and nail-biting. Maybe that didn't translate on TV, but this was high-value entertainment. Any who was bored wasn't looking at the race track or appreciating what they were looking at. The attrition didn't hamper the show at all, and is very reminiscent of all the 500 mile races held there in my recollection.

Also, this was probably the biggest crowd I've seen since the IRL came to Fontana. It's still a far cry from the CART days, especially in 97 when you couldn't get a ticket at all, but far better than it's been. They had two sections on each side not in use, and the crowd was thinner leading up to those empty areas, and that seemed to be what the cameras mostly captured. It's a pretty big place and there were lots of people in the middle.

Also, as far as costs, it was very reasonable. I paid $55 which was for a general admission ticket ($30) and a garage pass ($25), which is where we were before and after the races. Great value for the dollar in my opinion. And we sat in what I thought were GA seats, but may have been unsold reserved seats, because no one kicked us out! You can see the whole track from almost any seat.

So It's not all gloom and doom, but there has to be a better way to promote it, because there should be bigger crowds. The RV section was pretty dismal compared to how it was when we stayed there 10 years ago or so.

-Art

[indy]

I was in a hotel with no NBCSN. So, I thought about streaming it online but my laptop was dead and I'd forgotten the power cord. Finally, I remembered to stream the mosaic from the IndyCar app via my Verizon phone. The radio call was nice but the mosaic was Dixon in-car, Helio in-car, track map with cars as dots, and video feed of race control. Honestly, the last two are pretty much worthless and I'd have killed for a TV long-shot or two. Then my phone, lasted until 13 to go when the phone finally died. I'd had it plugged in while streaming but it was already low on power and I guess the streaming was taking out more than the plug could supply. Really stunk to miss the end though. Will try to download the TV broadcast to watch it. It doesn't end the way I had hoped but it really seems like an exciting 500.

Jordan

[pje]

I’ve questioned for awhile the reasoning of Indy car racing trying to compete with football season, so next year’s schedule and them finishing Labor Day weekend will be interesting from a crowd point for me.
Also, in all my years of being a race fan I’ve never seen such a dirty oval track and I hope that is addressed next year.

Paul Erlendson

[Calvin]

I didn't get to watch it all the way thru (Too busy believe it or not)But what I did see of it I didn't have a problem with it......I need to watch it all the way thru on the DVR so I can give all of you my expert opinion.

[harveythedog2]

I like the new schedule but know for sure that I am going to have those "No Indycar Racing" withdrawls come September.

[Calvin]

Oct 21, 2013 13:32:51 GMT -5 harveythedog2 said:

I like the new schedule but know for sure that I am going to have those "No Indycar Racing" withdrawls come September.

I was having "No Indcar racing" withdawls in the middle of this years season with all those silly month long breaks.

I like how the 2014 schedule is more bundled up together, makes more sense to me but of course I'd rather see more races on the schedule and start it sooner in the year like in January.

[jeffmasengale]

I went to all three races in California this year, and the racing in Fontana was awesome live.
Here's a photo of Scott's nose after the race.

Attachments:

[pje]

Seems EJ Viso "Sickness" might last awhile:

www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/viso-part-of-venezuelan-currency-investigation/

Paul Erlendson

[Deleted]

Pretty pathetic track conditions for a season ending race. Why were the seams on the track surface not fixed after the open practice weeks prior to the race? Though the on track racing is second to none, the series took a huge step backwards this season IMO. Don't know if the Labor Day conclusion is the answer either. The early IRL tried that already to little to no gain. Just not sold on the direction of Indy Car these days.

[mjjracer]

I thought it was a great race, personally. Yeah, not a lot of cars at the end, but that's because it was the last race of the year and everyone (engine mfg included) was balls-to-the-walls. The seams and debris were awful, and I can't help but think this wouldn't be if the Captain were still in charge. Going to the California Speedway back in 1997 was a revelation - what a beautiful facility...

I'm sorry I couldn't go in person - even though it was as hot as Death Valley last year it was a fantastic time.

I don't have a lot of problem with only 8 cars on the lead lap (out of 9 running?) because there were so many early long green flag runs, that happens. Happens in Nascar too. Just remember, back in the "Good Old Days" of CART, or even the 60's-70's, at the Speedway it was not unusual for only 1-3 cars to finish on the lead lap. Remember, back then, a close finish could be 5 seconds.

I'm not foolish enough to say Indycar doesn't have many problems. But you could line up every professional motor sport series and find at least as many issues. They all are having trouble drawing (see the stands at some of the F1 races? Pathetic - even Indycar-like!), have huge problems holding on to sponsors, and cost way too much. It's just Indycar is closer to the edge than some, as it has been on the ropes getting beat up for at least, um, 17 years. Yes, the cars are not 1993 Lolas in styling, but show me a modern, purpose built racing car that is beautiful. OK, sprint cars, but they certainly aren't modern.

These are wicked-fast cars, driven by some super talented and interesting drivers. They run some great venues, including the biggest of all. Problems, sure, but I just love to watch them race. Sure, this year wasn't as great as last (except for Indy), but it was still excellent and the championship came down to the final race (again) without any stupid chase games.

I have one suggestion to those that don't like Indycars - try going to a race.

Sorry. Off my soap box.
MJ

[pje]

One other thing I'd like to ad about the season was the competition. I think we had 10 different winners. For me that made it a very fun season.

Paul Erlendson