IROC Adds Road Course- Schumi To Follow?
Written by George Katinger · January 7, 2006
It was with great interest that I read the announcement that the IROC series was adding a road course to their series this year.
speedtv.com: Road Course Added to 2006 IROC Schedule
With the fourth race of the International Race Of Champions running the road circuit at Daytona International Speedway, maybe the series can live up to it’s lofty title. And can Michael Schumacher FINALLY be added to the list of invitees? Yeah, I know, the schedule no doubt conflicts with F1. But maybe it’s time to reschedule the races to attract a true cast of international drivers. And add two more road courses.
Then we would have an international race of champions, wouldn’t we? What the French have done in Paris with their race of champions is truly more representative of racing the best against the best, and they have managed to outshine IROC in a few short years.
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Why would Schumacher want ot join IROC? IROC is NASCAR drivers vs. SOME drivers from different series. Martin Truex Jr. and Bobby Hamilton should have not been invited in 2005.
I think each series should only have two drivers invited: the recent champion and a competitive driver.
Half the competitive drivers can’t compete in IROC anyways. They usually have other liquor sponsors for their own team so they can’t compete (ex: Dan Wheldon.)
If they made IROC more “international” I’d watch it.Start by adding tracks in different countires, invite drivers from different countries, etc. I don’t think ANY F1 driver should lower themself to IROC until it is “less-NASCAR.”
I think the most important thing to do is to change the car. The best alternative would to be to have a different car at each track (one track have indy cars, next track have sports car, etc.) But I doubt they have the budget for it. Make the cars so unique so that there aren’t ANY drivers that can relate to it. IROC cars look like stock cars on steroids. The last thing Schumacher should do is to join IROC.
“I don’t think ANY F1 driver should lower themself to IROC until it is “less-NASCAR.”
I believe that was the underlaying point George was making DJ.
The last few years IROC has become a showplace for NASCAR drivers showing their skills at drafting to the disadvantage of many drivers of other disciplines
The Paris Race of Champions has three advantages IROC doesn’t
A. Event date is in Jan. when all race seasons are over, with the exception of the new A1GP circuit.
B. PARIS. Being held on the European Continent, with Paris being the “whipped cream on top” adds to the events prestige.
C. Venue. The RoC is held in a relativly small venue compared to Daytona or MIS. As a result costs are much less and part of what would have been spent is used to have various vehicles to compete with.
I’m very glad to see IROC getting back to “its roots” but to truely do that (or complete the transformation) it needs to be broadcast live, offer a larger purse, and move the dates to deconflict with other series, add at least one additional road course.
My sentiments exactly, the real appeal for me with the Paris Race of Champions is the diversity of equipment, watching drivers of differing disciplines adapt to vehicles they are not familiar with a large part of the attraction.
The Paris event is a true test of driver skills as opposed to car-set up superiority, on a track that is part asphalt and dirt. If there is any group of drivers with an advantage it would be the WRC guys. Otherwise I believe it is an equal test.
Now if we can only get that NASCAR spewing speedtv to cover it, it would truly be interesting to watch!
While I agree that in order for IROC to really be a true “Race of Champions”, they shouldn’t limit it to US oval tracks and mostly NASCAR drivers, but they should also change both tracks and cars for every race.
Since there are only 4 races a season, why not have something like Champ Cars for Race 1 on a Short Road Course, F1 Cars on a Long Road Course for Race 2, Stock Cars on a Super Speedway Oval for Race 3, and 4×4 Cars on a Cross Country Course for Race 4. I mean make it competitive and different for everyone. It sounds like fun to me…