IRL Street Mania Arrives In St. Pete
Written by George Katinger · March 30, 2005
With the IRL’s first tender step in the direction of real racing, fans as well as the drivers are eager to get it on in St. Pete.
motorsport.com: Barnhart keen on roadracing
journalreview.com: Pole Position: IRL drivers will make history on first road course
irl.racing-live.com: A new challenge for IndyCar
whowon.com: Marlboro Team Penske heads to IRL’s first street course race leading the championship
mcall.com: Andretti’s boys ready for right turns
speedtv.com: Right Time Coming for IndyCar Drivers
irl.racing-live.com: Champ-leader Hornish admits to some street-nerves
With the inaugral St. Pete street course, the IRL will take the first step in competing with the rival Champ Car series on its own terms. And hopefully, a long term compromise between the warring ownership factions over who controls open wheel racing.
Where the two series go from here depends on the success, if any, the IRL can demonstrate on road-street courses this year. There can be no way that track attendence can possibly be lower then the first two oval events at Homestead and PIR. Not to mention the all important TV ratings. As most street course events tend to be “happenings” and not just races, the St. Pete weekend should be well attended, especially so if Mr. Green is out tending to his promotional duties.
But regardless of the attendence, the product must be stimulating as well. The IRL has many veteren road course racers among them, but they also have a cast of driver characters who find it difficult to know where they are on an oval, never mind a road course. If the race turns into a wreck strewn series of cautions, with little on track excitement, it may do more harm then good to the series struggling marketing efforts.
Here’s wishing them well.
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