Instead of supporting a new race in Cleveland, IMS did this:

[bugeyedgomer]

Ok, well it's common knowledge through the paddock, so this is what any number of people would tell you.

There's a prominent paint company in the Cleveland area. They go to RP looking to restart the Cleveland GP. Roger gives them his support of the idea
and directs them to a capable promoter, and word gets back to IMS/Indycar. Someone from that end of things tells the paint company to spend their money supporting the 100th 500 instead because they know the IRl is done after that.

if the aim of the series was to have successful events outside The Holy Yard 'O Bricks, a Cleveland sponsor for a Cleveland event would be a start.

One must conclude that H-G Klan doesn't give a $4!t about anything except their little world.

[bugeyedgomer]

Apparently Honda has had enough, too, of this wishy washy "we hope", "we are talking", "we are planning", "we want" horseshit ...

So, they asked the question:

Where is this Series Going?

Recent stories and speculation suggesting Honda has agreed to an engine supply contract extension beyond 2015 are false, according to Honda Performance Development VP Steve Eriksen.

"There are ongoing discussions; nothing has been signed," Eriksen told RACER during a meeting break at Milwaukee where this weekend's ABC Supply Wisconsin 250 takes place. "The one thing we've asked for is clarity on where the series is headed overall, and some clarity on things like aero kits."

[Starter]

Really, you expected otherwise??

[AAReagles]

... Someone from that end of things tells the paint company to spend their money supporting the 100th 500 instead because they know the IRL is done after that..

I'm surprised stateside OWR lasted this long. Once it became a spec series, it was doomed, no matter what the intentions were. If their contingency plan for success was based on Penske, Ganasis, et al to follow suit - it failed miserably.

So now, unbelievably, the bigger question is how much longer the 500 will last. Not to mention if someone with the character of Hulman/Rickenbacker integrity is still around to resurrect the event before it becomes erased from national memory.

Sort of makes me wonder if the CART/IRL would have occured had anyone been able to forecast the onslaught of social media and virtual gaming systems.

[bugeyedgomer]

I'm surprised stateside OWR lasted this long. Once it became a spec series, it was doomed, no matter what the intentions were. If their contingency plan for success was based on Penske, Ganasis, et al to follow suit - it failed miserably.

So now, unbelievably, the bigger question is how much longer the 500 will last. Not to mention if someone with the character of Hulman/Rickenbacker integrity is still around to resurrect the event before it becomes erased from national memory.

Sort of makes me wonder if the CART/IRL would have occured had anyone been able to forecast the onslaught of social media and virtual gaming systems.

Lots of family dollars and sucker city councils and track owners who believe the BS spun by likes of ASM using 20 year old CART attendance data and photos. Andretti told NOLA Motorsports Park that his races average 100,000 in attendance and he doesn't run the 500

Source: ToshPointOh
Just take a look at a few of the slides from Andretti Sports Marketing's NOLA 2015 presentation that I've put into an Imgur album:
http://imgur.com/a/P9tYP/layout/blog


That's a whole lotta BS right there

[bugeyedgomer]

Attendance for the Mile expected to be in the 'high hundreds'

[bugeyedgomer]

Reports indicate there was room for you and 40,000 of your best friends available

[AAReagles]

Well maybe... hopefully more like... things will pick up after the Dallara contract expires in 2020.

That's a long time though. Alot can happen till then. Like placing additional city races on the calendar to gain more casual and/or new fans (puke).:burn::smash:

[Nem14]

What Open wheel series isn't a spec series?
F1 is a spec series (pages and pages of specifications) but each team builds their own spec car.