Why Is It So Hard For IndyCar To Get Ovals on The Schedule?

Here are just the blatant reasons why the IndyCar Series has trouble getting a good amount of ovals back on the schedule year after year.

Race Attendance
At all the ovals other than the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, and Iowa Speedway, there are major issues with race attendance. Everyone complains that IndyCar needs ovals on the schedule, but no one seems to attend these specific events. IndyCar just needs to promote all oval events themselves, which I think Randy Bernard is going to do next year. If you want tracks like New Hampshire Speedway, and Kentucky Speedway back well then instead of having crowds of 20,000 aim for at least 40,000 next year. Next year IndyCar needs to advertise that specific race earlier on all the local TV Stations, and they need to advertise their new cars. IndyCar needs to advertise that they are a whole new series that is exciting to watch. Basically that they have a whole new product to offer the spectator, to get people to come back and get interested into American open-wheel racing again.

Sponsors 
Once again finding a title sponsor for a road course or street race is not hard compared to ovals. All of these events have more people that attend these event so sponsors are attracted to these automatically. It's hard for IndyCar to find a Title Sponsor for an oval race that will not have a big audience for that event. Once again IndyCar needs to express that they have all new cars, and that they are a growing racing series that new people are getting attracted to next year.

The Venue Making a Profit After Paying Sanctioning Fee
It's really hard for a racing venue to actually say they want an IndyCar race at their facility if they are not sure if they are going to break even at least. Some ovals like Milwaukee Speedway or Chicagoland Speedway will not be on the schedule next year simply because they are not sure if there is any profits to be made in holding an IndyCar race. Many ovals are just fine only holding Nascar races, because they already make plenty of money off those races.

TV Contract
IndyCar doesn't necessarily have the best TV Ratings either. I would like to see all races on a Channel like ABC. Although I love Versus' broadcast better than ABC's, but at least you know you will get around 900,000 viewers on ABC. Let's face the fact, you have to know there are sponsors that turn their backs on the IndyCar Series when they see TV Ratings under 200,000 viewers. Also with ABC at least everyone has access to watching the IndyCar race. Even the SPEED Channel has more access to viewers than Versus. Once again I do like Versus' broadcast better, but IndyCar on ABC would be better to attract sponsors.  Sides how is IndyCar supposed to expand and get bigger with a channel where a big part of it's fan base does not even access to that channel.

Kentucky Indy 300 Review.

Overall the race was great, but I wish more people were there to view on of the greatest races in IndyCar Series history.

A little too much action in the pits. 
There was a couple of big incidents in the pits on Sunday leaving a few drivers out of the race. First Simona de Silvestro's clutch broke, causing her to go into EJ Viso's pit stall, hitting chief mechanic Darrin McMahon. Darrin was then sent flying about 15ft away from where he was hit, and he fractured his knee from that incident. Simona would then have to stay out of the race a couple laps later due to reoccurring clutch problems. Then under caution another incident in the pits happened when JR Hildebrand's(R) brakes locked up when pulling into his pit, and hit tire changer Erik Scheumann causing lower leg injuries. In that same accident Marco Andretti and Alex Lloyd were hit and knocked out of the race to.

• Other accidents. 

The only other accident was when Ana Beatriz hit the wall in turn 4 and made contact with Will Power. The only driver put out of the race was Ana Beatriz though.

How the whole field did.

Ed Carpenter celebrating his first IndyCar Series win with his daughter McKenna. From:SPEEDTV.COM

What really made the race exciting was Ed Carpenter and Dario Franchtti battling for first place the last 20 laps of the race. The whole time they were neck to neck. Although Ed Carpenter never seemed to be able to pass Dario for the lead, but overall Ed Carpenter had the better car, and won the race. This was the first win for both Ed Carpenter and Sarah Fisher Racing. Hopefully both of them will have more wins in the future. Dario Franchitti went on to finish second, and teammate Scott Dixon finished third. Newman/Haas teammates James Hinchcliffe(R)  and Oriol Servia finished 4th and 6th. Other notable results were Ryan Hunter-Reay in fifth, Wade Cunningham(R) in seventh, and Buddy Rice in ninth.

Sarah Fisher Racing/Ed Carpenter loose sponsorship.
In an interview after the race Sarah Fisher announced that Dollar General has said they will not be back as the team's sponsor next season. Hopefully this win will convince Dollar General to come back and support the team through the 2012 season.


Poor Race attendance/TV Ratings. 
The race attendance for Kentucky was maybe around 20,000. If this race comes back, they will need a better plan to promote the race. TV Ratings for the Versus broadcast were around 188,000. This shows how IndyCar needs to find a better channel to advertise their races on TV, maybe NBC?

What I thought about the facility and this race needs to come back next year.
No Kentucky is not the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but this is still a top notch racing facility that IndyCar needs to come back to. I was impressed with the fact that I could actually see the whole track. Finding a good place to sit in the track isn't a problem, because you can see the whole thing from just about anywhere you sit. This is another action packed oval that needs to come back in 2012. 

Kentucky Indy 300 Preview

Obviously this is one of the most exciting race circuits that IndyCar will be going to this season. With a full 29 cars set to race tomorrow this is looking to be a very competitive race. I'm also proud to say that I'll be viewing the race at Kentucky Speedway tomorrow. So I'll give you my input next week on what I experienced first hand at Kentucky Speedway.

Anyways qualifying today was packed with plenty of action. Will Power is on the pole, giving him another point over Dario Franchitti in the IndyCar Series Championship. Three American's qualified in the top five with Graham Rahal in 2nd, Ed Carpenter in 4th, and JR Hildebrand(R) in 5th. Also James Hinchcliffe(R) qualified in 3rd, and Marco Andretti in 6th. Simona de Silvestro showed an impressive qualifying run, ending up in 13th. This could be showing that she is rebuilding her confidence on ovals after her crash at Milwaukee. Dan Wheldon didn't qualify in his Sam Schmidt car, because his car did not pass tech inspection due to the fact that the backing plates were wrong. Now he will start in the back of the pack in 28th. Also Pippa Mann didn't post an official lap because she crashed on her warmup lap. Other Disappointing qualifying runs: Helio Castroneves 16, Tony Kanaan 19th, and Takuma Sato 22nd.

My pick to win the Kentucky Indy 300 is Graham Rahal, because he has been patiently awaiting for a chance to win and he has that chance in Kentucky this weekend.

Savor the Moments.
Kentucky Speedway may not be back on the schedule next year due to the fact that Bruton Smith and Randy Bernard have not found sponsors for an IndyCar race here next season. Other ovals that have the same circumstances are New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and Chicagoland Speedway. Let's face the facts, unless Randy Bernard has the magical spark to find sponsors for each of these tracks, IndyCar will not be back at any of them for a long time to come.


Kentucky Indy 300 Starting Grid.
1. (12) Will Power, Dallara-Honda, 219.283
2. (38) Graham Rahal, Dallara-Honda, 218.348
3. (06) James Hinchcliffe, Dallara-Honda, 218.186
4. (67) Ed Carpenter, Dallara-Honda, 218.004
5. (4) JR Hildebrand, Dallara-Honda, 217.872
6. (26) Marco Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 217.807
7. (9) Scott Dixon, Dallara-Honda, 217.692
8. (28) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Honda, 217.632
9. (2) Oriol Servia, Dallara-Honda, 217.520
10. (83) Charlie Kimball, Dallara-Honda, 217.357
11. (10) Dario Franchitti, Dallara-Honda, 217.213
12. (27) Mike Conway, Dallara-Honda, 217.110
13. (78) Simona de Silvestro, Dallara-Honda, 216.924
14. (7) Danica Patrick, Dallara-Honda, 216.768
15. (17) Wade Cunningham, Dallara-Honda, 216.763
16. (3) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Honda, 216.732
17. (44) Buddy Rice, Dallara-Honda, 216.685
18. (6) Ryan Briscoe, Dallara-Honda, 216.669
19. (82) Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Honda, 216.484
20. (24) Ana Beatriz, Dallara-Honda, 216.424
21. (14) Vitor Meira, Dallara-Honda, 216.300
22. (5) Takuma Sato, Dallara-Honda, 215.856
23. (59) EJ Viso, Dallara-Honda, 215.789
24. (19) Alex Lloyd, Dallara-Honda, 215.607
25. (34) Dillon Battistini, Dallara-Honda, 215.578
26. (22) Townsend Bell, Dallara-Honda, 215.404
27. (18) James Jakes, Dallara-Honda, 214.297
28. (77) Dan Wheldon, Dallara-Honda, no speed
29. (30) Pippa Mann, Dallara-Honda, no speed
The Kentucky Indy 300 will be on Versus live at 2:45 ET. Race coverage starts at 2:00 ET.

Reigning Indy 500 Champ Drives Lights Car of Belardi Auto Racing

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 7) -- Dan Wheldon hopped into the Firestone Indy Lights car of Belardi Auto Racing’s Anders Krohn at Indianapolis Motor Speedway yesterday.
No, you are not mistaken, it is not May.  Wheldon was invited to test drive the three cars of the Mazda Road to Indy
ladder system during a media day at the famed speedway.  The two-time Indy 500 winner was like a kid in a candy store; eyes gleaming at the chance to take the cars for a joyride around the former Formula 1 road course.

The Mazda Road to Indy is a three-rung ladder system that is made up of the Cooper Tires USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda, the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear, and the Firestone Indy Lights.  The cars go up in power, size and weight as you move up the program, which ends in the IZOD IndyCar Series. 

The now “unemployed” IndyCar driver, Wheldon had a similar way of coming up through the series.  First starting in F2000, he moved on to Indy Lights, then to the IndyCars, and is now the test driver of the brand new 2012 IndyCar…and enjoying every moment of it.

What Dan really enjoyed was the Indy Lights car of Belardi Auto Racing.  The reigning champ took the #9 machine, currently being driven by Anders Krohn, for six to seven laps around the road course.  He noted that the car was really well balanced and felt similar to the 2012 IndyCar. 

Of the three cars driven yesterday, he had the fastest time in the Lights car with a lap time of 1:25:38. 

Throughout the day Wheldon mentioned that the transition to each car going up felt right, and that it wouldn’t make sense to jump from an F2000 straight to an IndyCar. He reiterated the fact that the Mazda Road to Indy program really works and hopes it stays in place for years to come.
---
Belardi Auto Racing can be found on Facebook (search “Belardi Auto Racing”), while driver Anders Krohn can be found on Twitter (@anderskrohn).

Belardi Auto Racing To Test at Kentucky Speedway with Sprint Car Driver

BROWNSBURG, Indiana (Sept 12, 2011) - Sprint car driver Jacob Wilson will join Belardi Auto Racing for a one day test at Kentucky Speedway.

“We’re very excited to have the opportunity to bring Jacob on board for the test at Kentucky,” team owner Brian Belardi said.  “Although he’s never been in a Lights car, the talent he’s showcased on dirt tracks and in sprint cars shows us how successful he could be in the Mazda Road to Indy.  We would love to bring more of the sprint car and midget drivers to the program, because I think it’s important to integrate those different types of talent into the development program we have feeding into the IZOD IndyCar series.”

Hailing from nearby Crawfordsville, Wilson currently races in the USAC Silver Crown, National Pavement Sprint Car and Must See Racing Xtreme Sprint series.  The 21 year-old will take his first run in a Firestone Indy Lights machine with Belardi Auto Racing at a test on September 22nd in Sparta, KY. 

Despite having no seat time in a Lights car, Wilson is no rookie to the world of racing.  He has been racing go-karts since the age of 6, and won six of his eight national titles in just one year.  Wilson also boasts over 35 national race wins and is the winner of the Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial event.

“Growing up as a kid in Indiana it was all about racing for me,” said Wilson.  “My excitement for the opportunity to test a Firestone Indy Lights car with Belardi Auto Racing is indescribable.  I have to say thank you to Brian Belardi and John Brunner for the opportunity and all of the people involved for their support.”

Belardi Auto Racing will return to Kentucky Speedway the week following the test for the Kentucky 100, the penultimate race of the 2011 season.
----
Stay updated with Belardi Auto Racing by liking them on Facebook (“Belardi Auto Racing”), or check out Wilson on Twitter @JacobWilson07.

Belardi Racing's Baltimore Summary.

Belardi Auto Racing Endures Bumpy Ride in Baltimore Releases


BALTIMORE -- Belardi Auto Racing’s weekend in Baltimore proved to be quite bumpy, much like the temporary street course that they ran on.

After qualifying in a season high of 3rd position, Belardi Auto Racing’s Anders Krohn was bumped to P5 because of a ruling by race officials four hours after qualifying had ended.  Officials ruled that polesitter Gustavo Yacaman had run his fastest lap during a yellow, and the time was disallowed.  Yacaman and other drivers, including Krohn, were then rearranged on the starting grid.

Krohn’s teammate, Jorge Goncalvez, officially started the race in P9 and was running in the 8th spot until he caused a full course yellow on Lap 9 of 35.  Goncalvez stalled on the 2.04 mile street course, and was moved to the back of the field.

After getting the No. 4 machine restarted, Goncalvez’s day was done on Lap 12.  The Venezuelan’s car stalled once more because of a gearbox issue, and unfortunately his day ended in P16. 

Meanwhile, having maneuvered his way to P3, Krohn inherited the lead and became the third leader of the race after Conor Daly broke a wing on Lap 25 and Esteban Gurrieri crashed on Lap 28, bringing out another full course caution.  The Norwegian continued to lead the race through the restart until he locked up the brakes going into the tight Turn 1 and slid into the runoff area.

Smart moves by the driver of the No. 9 Liberty Engineering machine allowed for Belardi Auto Racing to get a top-10 finish when Krohn ended the 12-turn, 35 lap race in P6.

With lots of ups and downs in Baltimore, the Belardi Auto Racing team is ready to move on and focus on their next race at Kentucky Speedway on October 2nd.  Going into the penultimate race, El Pollito and The Viking are 5th and 6th in points, respectively. 

Keep up to date with the team on Twitter: @JGoncalvez, @anderskrohn, and on Facebook: “Belardi Auto Racing.”
------------------------------------------

USF2000 Finale Brings Accolades for Belardi Auto Racing

BALTIMORE -- It was a challenging but rewarding weekend for Belardi Auto Racing’s USF2000 team to say the least.

With practice delayed five hours on Friday morning, and only turning five laps at the brand new street course, Belardi’s drivers Wayne Boyd and Luigi Biangardi knew this would be a tough but exciting way to end their season in the Cooper Tires USF2000 series.

During the first of two races over the weekend, a Lap 1 accident saw several cars get collected, bringing Boyd to P1.  Fighting off competitor Petri Suvanto throughout the race, Boyd clinched his second win of the season and moved to third in Championship points. 

Saturday’s happiness didn’t end with Wayne’s win. Teammate Biangardi had an impressive run improving to 4th place after starting in P9 -- his best finish this year.  The PFC Award was also awarded to team owner Brian Belardi for being the winning car owner.

Looking to further improve their weekend, Biangardi and Boyd started Sunday’s race in 4th and 5th respectively.  Following a restart, Boyd regrettably fell out of the race after his No. 4 TheAppBuilder.com machine began to have electrical problems.  His day ended in P15.

The attention was then on Biangardi, who at 15-years-old, is the youngest driver in the series.  In a battle for third during the last lap, the driver of the No. 9 INECT-IT.com/Gulfstream Properties machine collided with Matthew DiLeo in Turn 12.  The Chicago native unfortunately finished in 12th.  At the end of the day, however, a random finisher award, The Staubli Award, was awarded to Luigi, bringing the weekend to a bittersweet finish.

Belardi Auto Racing finishes its impressive USF2000 series season in 3rd place of the Championship run.  Wayne Boyd also finishes 3rd in the drivers’ standings with Luigi Biangardi in 10th after only competing in six of the twelve rounds of competition. 

Although the year is done for these two impressive drivers, Belardi Auto Racing continues their season with the Firestone Indy Lights series who will compete in two more races this year.  Check their Facebook page (“Belardi Auto Racing”) for updates.

The Great Brian Barnhart(TGBB)

All of the fans, and including the drivers agree that TGBB needs to be dealt with. He has shown many reasons why he can't run a major racing series like IndyCar, ever since he first started working for the IRL in 2005 as the president of the series. This last race was what sold it for me though, when TGBB restarted the race at Loudon when the drivers were pleading with Race Control not to restart the race. Although IndyCar can run on a road course with some water on the track, it doesn't mean that they can on ovals! It should be common sense to Brian Barnhart that they can't.

By saying that, the IndyCar Series should never be making these mistakes if they want to attract new sponsors and fans to the series. This call from TGBB was just plain ignorance. This makes the whole IndyCar Series look like they have no idea what they are doing, which in some ways some fans are starting to agree with that.

I'm also very disappointed with a lot of the call making that TGBB has made this season. There has been several incidents where drivers like Helio Castroneves or Alex Tagliani were never penalized for blocking other people and sending them out of the race. Even if IndyCar penalizes the drivers it's usually too late to make a difference at all, for instance Mike Conway, Ryan Hunter-Reay, and Alex Tagliani are all on probation through Dec. 31st. I feel that Mike Conway and Ryan Hunter-Reay did not do enough rule breaking to sustain such a penalty like probation. For Alex Tagliani, they should have penalized him much earlier this season for incidents. Drivers I would like to see penalized like Dario Franchitti or Helio Castroneves, will never be penalized due to the fact that Race Control does not seem to pay attention to these two drivers's actions on the track. Let's just guess that is because they are the "face" of the series, so they can receive special treatment, that I don't agree with.

Also if they want to attract high profile drivers to the IndyCar Series, how are they going to do that when the current drivers can't even trust TGBB's call making now. The drivers who race in the IndyCar Series have to trust TGBB's decision making skills to make sure they are safe in every aspect of racing, and I just don't think any if them can trust him. So if the current drivers are aggravated with the series, how are other drivers going to want to race in the IndyCar Series?

One more thing to note:If they are worried about Will Power flipping off the officials on live TV, well they shouldn't, because TGBB is really the worst person they could have promoting the series right now.