Today's race: Detroit Grand Prix
Course: Belle Isle street course (2.08 miles)
TV: ABC (3:30 p.m.), radio: IMS Radio Network
Today's starting grid in HTML, and in PDF
"State of the sport"
As mentioned yesterday, Brian Barnhart and Terry Angstadt held the "State of the Sport" press conference yesterday, and revealed several new concepts, both in technical nature and in scheduling/marketing. The press conference transcript below is worth a read. There will be another presser next week in Chicago.
Detroit Free Press: Grand Prix to return to Belle Isle in 2008
... and every year after that through 2011. Mike Blundell rehashes the State of the Sport address.
In Curt Cavin's Indianapolis Star notebook, the paddle-shifters on next year's cars will be optional for Indy-only teams, and mandatory for everyone else. The 17th race is a "lightly-guarded secret" in California. In his blog, Cavin says "I'll bet on Long Beach." If that comes to pass, that would be very big. Cavin also mentions the possibility of Alex Lloyd with Ganassi next year, possibly in a third car.
SpeedTV checks in with the story, as does IndyCar.com.
IndyCar.com gives us the press conference transcript.
Among the quotes from Terry Angstadt on the future schedule:
"As sanction agreements are returned and executed we will be working with the tracks individually to announce their respective dates. At this point we continue to work on a 17th date for 2008 and we have notified all of our teams that they should budget for 17. The 17th will be big news ... Looking to the near future we see our schedule growing to 20 events with the west coast a priority and the potential of events in Canada and Mexico. ... We have shared with some of you the concept of a separate international schedule and we continue to look at the merits of it. We have received numerous inquiries about taking the series overseas and while it remains a work in development we do see an opportunity to expand our business with a limited international schedule shortly after our domestic championship concludes."
A few other quotes:
Brian Barnhart on engine manufacturers: "We certainly are open to multiple manufacturers, and I think eventually that would be in the best interest of the IndyCar Series, to have a multiple engine manufacturer platform." He hopes racing in Detroit, their hometown, will help.
Brian Barnhart on car count: "Well, as Terry and I have said, I think it's priority one for us. We've got to have more and healthier teams. So it is the focus of what we're doing. That's the crux of what we're hoping to roll out next weekend at Chicago, is a system that we think is going to greatly increase the value of participation in the series. We think it will stabilize existing teams and certainly get the attention of new ones and attract them." They mentioned increased race purses, and that negotiations are ongoing to land a series title sponsor.
Today's news/features
Indianapolis Star: IRL frowns on AGR's latest bit of "teamwork"
Says Brian Barnhart about last week's blocking incident: "They're starting to encroach on the integrity of the sport and the moral character of competition. It's a very touchy situation."
The St. Pete Times takes on the same subject, through Dan Wheldon's eyes, of team tactics in racing.
SportsTicker: Hornish Jr. running out of chances on road courses
Sam begins to sound like he's headed south next year: "I don't want to get fat and end up not being able to fit into an IndyCar because I love running these cars. No matter what I do, I want to try to continue to run in these from time to time. It's always tough to fit in these cars and that's always been one of the concerns on road courses because there is no room for me to turn and shift like I need to. There is more room in the other (NASCAR) cars but I don't want to be a pig and take advantage of that. I don't want to be much heavier than I am now."
Sam also has a few words about today's polesitter: "Helio has that kind of personality where he wakes up in the morning and thinks he's going to do something great whether it's win a race or dance. The dancing thing I've heard a lot more lately than the racing thing."
ESPN.com tells us that Ryan Briscoe is, according to Tim Cindric, at the top of the list to replace Hornish.
Says Briscoe: "They would be big shoes to fill, that's for sure ... I really look up to Sam Hornish, ever since I came to the United States. When I was at Target/Chip Ganassi Racing, I was always watching what he did because I thought he was the best guy out there."
The Detroit Free Press catches up with Danny Sullivan
The 1985 Indy 500 winner talks about the race, the course, Danica Patrick and a few other things. He's impressed with Danica, and says Scott Dixon is the "quiet favorite" to win the title.
The Cincinnati Enquirer tells us, in the Kentucky Speedway recap story, that IndyCar attendance was up more than 20,000 from last year at the track. The story also states the track is trying to move the IndyCar race from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on its date (which will likely be the same weekend as this year).
Buddy Rice's car has picked up sponsorship from the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas for the final two races.
DGP qualifying stories
Helio is on the pole for the 7th time this season, breaking Billy Boat's league record.
Detroit Free Press: Castroneves takes pole at Belle Isle
Detroit News: Castroneves earns DGP pole
Windsor Star: Castroneves breaks Boat's record
AP: Helio Castroneves wins record pole
Easton Express Times: Helio trots to pole
Autosport: Castroneves takes record pole
IndyCar.com: Takin' it to the streets
Eurosport: Castroneves takes record pole
Says Helio: "I'm really thrilled and will enjoy the moment ... I always enjoy the qualifying. Since I was a kid, I always was like, 'How fast can I go?'"
Saturday's Daily Trackside Report from the IRL
DGP event stories
Detroit Free Press: Quite a site!
Mike Brundell waxes poetic about the Belle Isle track. One thought: " Take a bow, Motor City, you've nailed the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, and we still have a race left to run today."
Detroit News: Fans arrive early Saturday
IndyCar.com notebook: Mark Aug. 29-31, 2008 on calendar for DGP
Detroit Free Press: Five things to watch
Detroit News: Penske already has one win this weekend
IndyCar.com's "Pit Boss" says it's Helio's race to lose
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4 comments:
Concerning Curt Cavin's blog, I don't know what you read but what I read says nothing about Long Beach. What its says (now) is:
"I’m told it's a race in California. Read: Los Angeles."
Has the quote changed or did you put words in his mouth? The owners of Champ Car also own the LBGP so that's not likely to be the venue.
There have been a lot of rumors concerning Palm Springs and Dodger Stadium. I think either one of those are far more likely to happen than the IRL at Long Beach in 08.
Cavin changed his comments during the day, because in the morning, it *did* say "I'm betting it will be Long Beach."
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