What if you had a race and no one saw it!

[strupgolf]

Yep, the Grand-am race at Indianapolis today. There might have been 5-7000 at most. Last year they said 30, 000, but I doubt that too. What does this say about the merger of Grand am and AlMS. The place was dead, and I mean dead, and this for the center of speed and racing. The Mascar race is expected to have 80, 000 fans, down from 240, 000 just a few years ago. But, this is the worst track to view mascar racing in the world. Any thoughts.

[Buckterrier]

It was today???? damn. But I think it's taped.

[tchanson]

Originally Posted by strupgolf

Yep, the Grand-am race at Indianapolis today.

I think you answered your own question.

Grand Am cars, at least the DP's, remain uninteresting semi-spec cars.

And no offense to local sensibilities, but while steeped in history, Indianapolis hasn't been the "center of speed and racing" for decades now.


Thanks, Tony!

[Jeff Alton]

Not enough crashes.... Not enough promotion. Even though NASCAR owns GRAND-AM they market to their core customer...

Grand-Am DP, GT, GX and the 2 tuner classes are excellent racing, despite the NASCAR yellow flag management of each race. Too bad more people in NA don't find it appealing.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I'm buying tickets this morning to take my son to the Grand Am race in August at Kansas Speedway. Can't wait!

[M.D. Holloway]

They should make every driver drink a 5th before the race...that would spark some interest

[Skytrooper]

They (Grand-Am) run a good race at Watkins Glen, although it is only six hours.

[herr_oberst]

The same thing happened here in Portland during the last years of the ALMS. The drivers pretty much outnumbered the spectators. It was really sad, too, because the racing was pretty good, and the cars were cool to look at up close. (Silver lining, the pits were empty and the crew were usually pretty friendly and would chat with you)

[VaSteve]

Similar to when I went to WG for the NASCAR weekend. Nationwide races first and a lot of fans clear out before the grand am race. Lot of elements at play....even as a fan, its hard to watch 2 races in a day in the sun.... sight lines at Indy have to be terrible. Indy has been getting a bad rap for the NASCAR races...as the OP mentions, the fan count is Way down. They killed a fun nationwide race at Orielly park, a tiny short track nearby to improve the Indy weekend and added the grand am. It doesn't appear to be helping.

[Kozmo930]

They have taken something and turned it into a spec class. Where is the car builders that come up with new ideas to go fast ? there own car shapes that defi the air around them ? power plants that amaze you with technology ? drivers that go beyond what a car can do to win ?
oh I forgot , NASCAR owns them now
another sad day in racing ...............

[mattdavis11]

It doesn't make any sense to me. The excitement should lie in the quality of the racing, ie. passing for the lead, yet the opposite occurs. No one saw a passing maneuver because they weren't there for a grand am race, but tens of thousands show up to watch an F1 race where nobody makes a pass?

[VaSteve]

They have taken something and turned it into a spec class. Where is the car builders that come up with new ideas to go fast ? there own car shapes that defi the air around them ? power plants that amaze you with technology ? drivers that go beyond what a car can do to win ?

oh I forgot , NASCAR owns them now

another sad day in racing ...............

Ownership has little to do with it IMHO. I went to watch GA at both Daytona and VIR and crowds were small. This is also a dead year with the merger ... not sure how that affects crowds.

[Kozmo930]

Anyone at Sebring this year ? last race for Audi in LMP1 ... even knowing it for what it was " empty win" the crowd was good. Texas new race track everyone wanted to be there, racing was good. But the old tracks and just politics are starting to take the fun out of it. The good racing you don't see because it is back in the field where the bills are really paid. DP is not the crowd draw it thinks it is ... sorry , spec racing is spec racing

[Scott Douglas]

I just happened to turn it on by accident yesterday afternoon.
It felt really weird seeing cars go the wrong direction on the oval portion of the track.
Sad to see the empty stands too.
What ever happened to the real sports car racing of the mid-60's?

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

I just happened to turn it on by accident yesterday afternoon.
It felt really weird seeing cars go the wrong direction on the oval portion of the track.
Sad to see the empty stands too.
What ever happened to the real sports car racing of the mid-60's?

You never watched F1 there?

Grand Am is boring racing. NASCAR at Indy might be boring too, never been there. But if I was in the area and had the money to pick which race to attend. I'd go with NASCAR.

And it doesn't matter what kind of racing is 2nd on the billing, it won't be as well attended. In Long Beach they bring a boat load in on Saturday with the celebrity race and at least 3 other races plus practice. I've never gone on Saturday.

Fridays, yes, because it's free.

[doug_porsche]

I am guessing, but...

Seems like, even though both owned by NASCAR, they are really two different demographics.

Road racers / sports car racers and fans would be board at Dover, watching 4 door "Late Model Modified" turn left for hours on end. Look, he's turning left! Wow, he is turning left! Wait, now he is turning left! Wounder what he is going to do next.

True NASCAR fans at a road race have problems comprehending a great road race. Well how is that little red car (Ferrari) and that 911 going to have a chance against that funny looking car (DP)!? That aint fair. And how can I enjoy the race when I cant even see the cars go around the hole darn track! You mean this ***** is going on for 6 hrs.

Then you add that the feature race is on a Friday afternoon? If Porsche enthusiast are "happening to catch the race on TV". I question their marketing departments effectiveness also.

I watched the race on tv and it was a very good race! Was great to see Rubens not only go fast but go far!

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by M.D. Holloway

They should make every driver drink a 5th before the race...that would spark some interest

Why not make it a drinking game? Every time there's a yellow, all the drivers have to take a drink.

[Scott Douglas]

Originally Posted by Zeke

You never watched F1 there?


Fridays, yes, because it's free.

You're right, F1 did race backwards there too. Guess they didn't show as much of the straightaway racing as they did yesterday. I never really watched an F1 race there as I'm not a big F1 fan any more. Too many computers/wings not enough driver input. Oh for the old days of Hill, Moss, Clark etc. with skinny tires and cigar shaped cars.

Is Friday free again at LB?
I used to go when it was free too. Then they found they could charge money that day too so I quit going altogether.

[VaSteve]

Doug...I watched NASCAR at the glen in 2010 with real NASCAR fans. Nobody had a hard time understanding it.

People like competition. They like what they can relate to. People here like Porsches so we talk about road racing. Watching two cars battle it out neck and neck on an oval is a lot of fun. The TV doesn't show you that. Its every bit as competitive and exciting. If you have never seen it in person you should. Dover has 25% banking or so....its insane.

A support race in the middle of the weekday at a "meh" track? I'm not surprised at the low attendance. The Lime Rock race is lightly attended as well.

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by Zeke

You never watched F1 there?

Grand Am is boring racing. NASCAR at Indy might be boring too, never been there. But if I was in the area and had the money to pick which race to attend. I'd go with NASCAR.

And it doesn't matter what kind of racing is 2nd on the billing, it won't be as well attended. In Long Beach they bring a boat load in on Saturday with the celebrity race and at least 3 other races plus practice. I've never gone on Saturday.

Fridays, yes, because it's free.

Ha! I am just the opposite. I only go on Saturday. I couldn't care less about Indycar. You have to pay to get in their paddock and not see much. I don't waste any photos on them during quali on Saturday. I get into the ALMS paddock for free and meet drivers and mechanics. The race always provides some thrills and spills in the GT class. And there is a concert afterwards.

The only reason I'd like to go on Sunday is for World Challenge. I usually don't even watch the Indycar race on TV on Sunday.