[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

I thought they grew 'em big in Texas !!!

we do. we do everything big in Texas! we even screw up big!!!

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

I think there's 2 reasons why the length of the 600 won't be changed any time soon:

1. It's on the same day as the more famous Indy 500 (the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing"), ...

I must disagree with you, my friend. The Indy 500 isn't what it used to be. I remember a time when I was glued to the TV for the 500, then glued to the TV for the CC 600. We're talking about 12 hours of racing. Not anymore. Now, I couldn't care less about the Indy 500. When they split the series, I think they lost a huge fan base. In fact, I don't even know or care who won the Indy 500. It's just not the same.

Before the split, I got the chance to see the Indy cars at Loudon. Freakin' amazing. Big names. Fast cars. It was as if the cars were on the end of a wip. I'd never seen anything like it. Sadly, after the split, I lost interest.

[BiscuitMan]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

[/list]I must disagree with you, my friend. The Indy 500 isn't what it used to be. I remember a time when I was glued to the TV for the 500, then glued to the TV for the CC 600. We're talking about 12 hours of racing. Not anymore. Now, I couldn't care less about the Indy 500. When they split the series, I think they lost a huge fan base. In fact, I don't even know or care who won the Indy 500. It's just not the same.

Before the split, I got the chance to see the Indy cars at Loudon. Freakin' amazing. Big names. Fast cars. It was as if the cars were on the end of a wip. I'd never seen anything like it. Sadly, after the split, I lost interest.

I know you been out of the pocket for a while. But, while you were gone IRL and Champ Cars merged and now they are one happy family again. You really missed a good race.

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by BiscuitMan

I know you been out of the pocket for a while. But, while you were gone IRL and Champ Cars merged and now they are one happy family again. You really missed a good race.

Really? Thanks for the info! I guess I'll need to get to know the drivers again!








http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb098&pp=ZN

[Racer Duck]

Hey Penny, glad to see you back.

If you're serious about getting to know the IRL drivers again, stop by the Motorsports Forum. We've even got a predictions thread for IRL running over there.

Now, though you lost interest in the IRL "back when...", it doesn't mean everyone did. And, no matter how many people of a like mind also deserted that ship, it still didn't sink it, though many wished it would have. Still, Indy remains an icon in American racing - sure it's not the same as it was, but what is? As an icon, it is also a standard against which others measure their events. Thus, as long as the Indy 500 lives, there will be others attempting to surpass it, either in importance or by "spectacle" (prize money, length of race, big names, etc.) Like the Superbowl or the World Series, there are many people who pay no attention to the referenced sport, yet get interested and enthused when that event comes around each year. The World 600 is one such event which aspires to surpass "Indy". The true test for the World 600 will be when they schedule it at the same time of day as "Indy"...

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

Hey Penny, glad to see you back.

If you're serious about getting to know the IRL drivers again, stop by the Motorsports Forum. We've even got a predictions thread for IRL running over there.

Now, though you lost interest in the IRL "back when...", it doesn't mean everyone did. And, no matter how many people of a like mind also deserted that ship, it still didn't sink it, though many wished it would have. Still, Indy remains an icon in American racing - sure it's not the same as it was, but what is? As an icon, it is also a standard against which others measure their events. Thus, as long as the Indy 500 lives, there will be others attempting to surpass it, either in importance or by "spectacle" (prize money, length of race, big names, etc.) Like the Superbowl or the World Series, there are many people who pay no attention to the referenced sport, yet get interested and enthused when that event comes around each year. The World 600 is one such event which aspires to surpass "Indy". The true test for the World 600 will be when they schedule it at the same time of day as "Indy"...

Yup. Agreed. World Series, Super Bowl, Indy 500, Daytona 500. "Spectacles." When I was a kid, I knew Richard Petty drove the STP 43. Other than that, didn't follow sports much.

As for the Indy 500, I was a Sullivan (anyone who can pull a 360 and win the race gets my attention) and Mears fan. Tony Stewart was coming up through the ranks back then. There was another guy, I think his name was Nigel Mansel, who joined the series right before the split. He was fun to watch.

I guess I've become a "sports fan." Who knew? But I don't watch hockey (Bruins) or basketball (Celtics).

I'll check out the Motorsports Forum. All I know about IRL these days is that Danica won a race and ran over a crew member.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

[/list]I must disagree with you, my friend. The Indy 500 isn't what it used to be. I remember a time when I was glued to the TV for the 500, then glued to the TV for the CC 600. We're talking about 12 hours of racing. Not anymore. Now, I couldn't care less about the Indy 500. When they split the series, I think they lost a huge fan base. In fact, I don't even know or care who won the Indy 500. It's just not the same.

Before the split, I got the chance to see the Indy cars at Loudon. Freakin' amazing. Big names. Fast cars. It was as if the cars were on the end of a wip. I'd never seen anything like it. Sadly, after the split, I lost interest.

As Duck said, CART and IRL have merged (Not necessarily a good thing) and they're back together. It's going to take the CART contingent a couple seasons to get up to speed because they're having to adjust to the IRL cars. But they will, I'm sure.

The IRL race at Texas this week past was, by far and away, the best racing of the weekend, including my favourite, the CTS? Hard, side-by-side racing by drivers who actually seemed to want to win the race, not just get points.

I have one question... Why did you "lost interest after the CART/IRL split?" The cars were just as fast. The racing was actually better ( three of the first six IRL races were decided by less than half a second). They got off the road and street courses and were exclusively ovals. I'm a bit confused.

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

I have one question... Why did you "lost interest after the CART/IRL split?" The cars were just as fast. The racing was actually better ( three of the first six IRL races were decided by less than half a second). They got off the road and street courses and were exclusively ovals. I'm a bit confused.

From what I remember, it was the "haves" and the "have nots". I think the first race I watched after the split, the leader/winner was a lap ahead of the rest of the field. Plus, I couldn't keep track of which driver was in which series. I know, I know ... driver fan. Sullivan and Mears retired, and I didn't really have anyone to cheer for. Wasn't a big Andretti fan.

I tune in to the Indy 500 every year, but I don't know any of the drivers, so I don't watch for long. You're going to nail me for this, but the only driver I know is the guy who was on "Dancing with the Stars," and for the life of me, I can't even think of his name.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

From what I remember, it was the "haves" and the "have nots". I think the first race I watched after the split, the leader/winner was a lap ahead of the rest of the field. Plus, I couldn't keep track of which driver was in which series. I know, I know ... driver fan. Sullivan and Mears retired, and I didn't really have anyone to cheer for. Wasn't a big Andretti fan.

I tune in to the Indy 500 every year, but I don't know any of the drivers, so I don't watch for long. You're going to nail me for this, but the only driver I know is the guy who was on "Dancing with the Stars," and for the life of me, I can't even think of his name.

A true indication you've been away too long!

Now we have a New Zealander leading the driver's championship, a Brazilian and Dancing with the Stars winner in 2nd, an Englishman in 3rd, another Brazilian in 4th, an Aussie in 5th, an American swimsuit model with an attitude in 6th, a Japanese in 7th, a 3rd generation IndyCar driver wheeling one of his dad's cars in 8th, Tony George's stepson (who was born in Indianapolis) in 9th and a Spaniard in 10th.

Needless to say, it ain't what you remembered.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

A true indication you've been away too long!

Now we have a New Zealander leading the driver's championship, a Brazilian and Dancing with the Stars winner in 2nd, an Englishman in 3rd, another Brazilian in 4th, an Aussie in 5th, an American swimsuit model with an attitude in 6th, a Japanese in 7th, a 3rd generation IndyCar driver wheeling one of his dad's cars in 8th, Tony George's stepson (who was born in Indianapolis) in 9th and a Spaniard in 10th.

Needless to say, it ain't what you remembered.

Sounds an awful lot like CART, before the split, to me.

I'll give it three years and they'll be running 75% road or street races. (This year it's 35% - 6 in 17 races)