MDS
23rd July 2009, 01:04
Per jaskyi
Changing Indy 500 start time not being discussed: For those hoping that the Indianapolis 500 might change its start time to encourage drivers to be able to do both the IndyCar Series race and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, think again. Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corp. President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Belskus, who oversees both the IRL and the race track, said Tuesday during a news conference at the track that he has had no discussions about changing the start time since taking over the position three weeks ago. The Indianapolis 500 start time likely would have to change from its recent 1 p.m. EDT slot for it to be possible for a driver to do both events. It would be hard for Lowe's Motor Speedway to start the NASCAR race later than 5:45 p.m. because of the length of the 600-mile race, which takes more than four hours to complete. With the crossover of open-wheel drivers to NASCAR - such as #14-Tony Stewart, #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, #7-Robby Gordon, #34-John Andretti and #77-Sam Hornish Jr. - heavy interest could be generated if drivers could do both races and rumors have circulated that the start time could be alteredOf course I think this is pretty stupid. Chip and Roger could easily field extra cars for JPM and Sam, and Robby has said several times that he'd run the 500 again if given the opportunity, Junior has expressed interest as well. I think pushing back the start time would generate more buzz for both series, and far and exceed than make up for any lost audience that the hour-later start time gets.
It's probably also costing the IRL a team too. I'm a fairly decent aquantence with Robby and see him a couple of times a year. We were talking about going back to the Brickyard and he said if the start time were at noon his ideal would be to run a full time team or two with him running a partial schedule. So this year we probably would have seen a full time team and Robby in a car at places like Long Beach, Toronto, and Chicago, which certainly could have helped ratings.
Good call IRL management!
Changing Indy 500 start time not being discussed: For those hoping that the Indianapolis 500 might change its start time to encourage drivers to be able to do both the IndyCar Series race and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, think again. Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corp. President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Belskus, who oversees both the IRL and the race track, said Tuesday during a news conference at the track that he has had no discussions about changing the start time since taking over the position three weeks ago. The Indianapolis 500 start time likely would have to change from its recent 1 p.m. EDT slot for it to be possible for a driver to do both events. It would be hard for Lowe's Motor Speedway to start the NASCAR race later than 5:45 p.m. because of the length of the 600-mile race, which takes more than four hours to complete. With the crossover of open-wheel drivers to NASCAR - such as #14-Tony Stewart, #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, #7-Robby Gordon, #34-John Andretti and #77-Sam Hornish Jr. - heavy interest could be generated if drivers could do both races and rumors have circulated that the start time could be alteredOf course I think this is pretty stupid. Chip and Roger could easily field extra cars for JPM and Sam, and Robby has said several times that he'd run the 500 again if given the opportunity, Junior has expressed interest as well. I think pushing back the start time would generate more buzz for both series, and far and exceed than make up for any lost audience that the hour-later start time gets.
It's probably also costing the IRL a team too. I'm a fairly decent aquantence with Robby and see him a couple of times a year. We were talking about going back to the Brickyard and he said if the start time were at noon his ideal would be to run a full time team or two with him running a partial schedule. So this year we probably would have seen a full time team and Robby in a car at places like Long Beach, Toronto, and Chicago, which certainly could have helped ratings.
Good call IRL management!