No, the 1970s haven’t returned at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Still, there are a few signs at the Brickyard
today that indicate a nice sized crowd has arrived on the west side of Indy—despite the sagging economy. And no, the IMS has
not reversed an age-old practice of withholding attendance figures. So that leaves us with reading the signs and tea leaves
to gauge the crowd.
The first significant sign is this: IMS announced the earliest closing of infield and north 40 parking since moving Carburetion Day to Friday in 2005. As the IRL drivers were out practicing today and the Indy Lights drivers readied for their race, the Pagoda Plaza and garage areas were very crowded and buzzing with activity.
Traffic earlier this morning was backed up on 16th Street beyond Longs Donuts. I hope you got your pastries early. Longs officials were reporting a sell-out. Don’t worry race fans, the pastry and doughnut fryers are working overtime to re-stock the shelves.
The Coke lot looked like it had been the scene of a pretty big party last night, and it appears a much larger crowd will be there tonight and Saturday.
Inside the track, the Tower Terrace seating area was quite full, with fans eager to get a good seat for the pit stop competition. There also seemed to be a fairly diverse crowd at the track, with a fair bit of activity in the corporate hospitality area. IMS officials still expect high-end corporate hospitality traffic to be down a bit this year due to the economy. Speaking of the high-end corporate set, Conrad Hotel today signed a sponsorship deal with Conquest Racing and will put its logo on Alex Tagliani's car for this year's Indianapolis 500.
There were also lots of families and children at the track today as well as scads of hardcore race fans and a fair number of people just looking for a party or who came to enjoy the concert this afternoon. Again, it’s not the heyday of the 1970s and 80s, but today's crowd certainly would be measured in the tens of thousands range.
There also seemed to be quite a bit of activity at the merchandise booths and tents, with Hot Wheels replica cars selling well. Not surprisingly, the hottest selling products are Danica Patrick related items, according to those manning the booths. Sarah Fisher items also are selling well.
Other items reportedly selling well are those commemorating the centennial celebration of the track. I’ll try to get more specific information on sale figures after the race concludes.
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I was out at the track today and it was packed. One of the best ideas was moving Carb Day to Friday. Makes for a big party weekend without an extra day of down time. A lot of people do the old 4 day weekend.
I agree, it was a diverse crowd with a lot of people jamming the infield. It was hard to tell there is recession on. Of course it is a cheap day with great entertainment. Pagoda Plaza was another great idea. Great gathering place for concerts and partying. It seems all big events have a central gathering area and IMS is no different.
F1: http://www.motorsport.com/photos/f1/2009/mon/f1-2009-mon-xp-0821.jpg
Earl: http://photos.indystar.com/photos/2009/5/22/269663/show.jpg
:lol:
It did look like a big crowd. Too bad it won't un-suck the 'league'.
The traffic was crazy, the infield was insane, and the crowd was pushing over 40K by the looks of it.
Anything that lasts 100 years and puts hundereds of thousands of butts in the seats is remarkable. It will always have a following and it will always be America's most prestigious race.
That is the problem. how many people there even know where the next race is? :lol:
Indy 500: No one cares past sunday
Oh, and diverse is putting it lightly.......
Dahooey,
Why would anyone care about the 500 past Sunday unless it was rain delayed? Well the drivers picking up their checks would. After Sunday, it is on to the next track.
I meant to say IRL: No on cares past THIS sunday. :lol: but you knew that.
The 'name calling' is an essential and vital part of internet communication. People and Hulmanistas who try to claim some idiotic attempt at fictional moral 'high ground' over such issues show themselves to be essentially lacking in anything of merit. I know, that's a shock.
It's rather obvious DH was invoking sarcasm, yet I'm convinced it's beyond the comprehensive skills, as such, of the Hulmaista gomerati filth to actually look up what that means.
Why are comments with links to pictures of well-established websites of known journalistic merit (ok, the earl star is questionable.. still...) suddenly subject to 'moderation'?
Da Hooey > Name calling. :lol;
Stan if you feel that name calling is the only way to get your argument out, then you do not have much of an argument. But I think your posts prove that out. Have a good race day guys, I am going to join hundreds of thousands of my friends to watch the Greatest Spectacle in Racing at the most attended single day sporting event in the world.
Later.
How very gomer of you to completely make things up in typical Hulmanista fashion.
Comprehension, do you even grasp the concept? (Do not bother replying to obvious rhetorical sarcasm, yet you will be unable to dissuade yourself.)
It's pretty stupid. Somehow I'm not surprised. Grate spelling.
The IRL: Danicle wonned third.
:lol:
That pretty amusing coming from a lunatic Hulmanista shill that's notorious for making up 'facts'. :lol:
Pretty much everything you post, with special mention going to anything involving the history of CART, and how grate the earl is.
You're an abject fraud, a liar and a shill.
Nothing like resorting to vicious name calling. So full of hate..........
You'd think that the CART fans would love the 500 now. They won the split. The current 500 is an exact copy of the early 90's. Only two teams have a chance to win, American drivers are relegated to also-ran status, the race is getting back to just being a big drunken party, and the 500 is soon to be the only oval in the series. Everything that CART fans love.
My excitement for the 500 pales in comparison to what I felt from '97 to '99 when I had fifteen to twenty favorite drivers in the field each with a chance to win. But again, it's the 500 and I will love it and support it until the day I die.
Have you been taking fiction lessons from earlman? Just pathetic.
I did find it funny that Robin Miller pointed out that there were only 11 Americans in that steaming pile pretending to be an Indy 500. That's the lowest number ever. Ever.
Grate job from the inheritor and his enablers like you filth! :lol: Roll around in your own mess, you deserve it.
Oh well, nothing we can do about it.
still waiting for you to show where I am wrong.
How many Americans were in cart in its last season? If that is the example you want OW to be, then you have to realize it was a parody of itself.