The honeymoon in Australia between the Indy Racing League and locals ended almost before it began.
The day after local newspapers published huge sections featuring the IRL race and drivers, local stories came out criticizing
series officials for not moving quickly to sign a deal to bring the race back to Surfers Paradise.
The crowds this year were solid, with more than 60,000 turning out to watch practice sessions. Almost 84,000 fans turned out to watch qualifications, which was reported to be down about 6,000 from last year, when the race was held under the Champ Car banner. Race day attendance is not yet available.
The newspapers weren’t the only ones criticizing the IRL and its founder, Tony George. Team Australia principal Craig Gore also let loose on George while talking to local reporters.
“I think Tony George’s management has a huge influence over his decision-making process and in business you employ people to give you advice so you can understand the path forward. I just don't think he has the best people advising him,” Gore said. “I just hope that Tony George and the rest of his boys of the IRL see sense and recognize that this is probably like throwing away the Indy 500. It is far and away their second biggest race. They ... probably need to hand out corn cobs at some of the races to get people to some of them. This (Surfers Paradise race) is an already made up and set up race for them.”
Given scheduling difficulties, the cost of getting to Australia and the payoff—or lack thereof—to IRL sponsors, the series’ race appeared dubious even before the negative press.
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Still, no one should be surprised that this was going to happen. The only reason FTG bothered with Australia this year was to placate KK as part of the buyout. He won't care if KK's team and the Australia race disappears now.
I don't care if it disappears either. They should do the exact same thing with the rest of the earl schedule.
Right, James, like the city has the economic prosperity to even consider such a purchase, let alone guide it successfully.
Just today I got a promotional email from the Long Beach Grand Prix organizers. When I explained that I could no longer attend since the IRL was now stinking up the place I actually got a reply saying they understood and that SADLY they were stuck with the irl until 2013. Everyone now realizes what a mistke the IRL is and the murdification has become.
That's the IRL message. YOU ALL SUCK. Everyone other than indy sucks.
When you get the message you'll know.
E
having witnessed many CART/Champ Car races live and via TV since 1979 and to have attended every CART/Champ Car race at my home street course of Vancouver...all I can say to the long suffering Aussie fans is...Don't hold your hand over your asses waiting for FTG and his band of Morons to save your great race.
He only serves to divide and conquer and leave total destruction in his wake.
Sadly...I have no answers for the great Aussie racing fans...Perhaps there is something better that will come of these difficult Global economic times....One must hope for the best.
This total destruction of quality openwheel formula racing can be blamed not just on a bad economy, but directly on the likes of FTG, FKevin Kalkoven and lying cheats like Craig Gore.
Take heart Aussie race fans...at least you still have excellent racing in the V8 Super Cars!!
Cheers Jake.
i created a new series so *snort coke* i could control indycar (tm) (r) racing (tm).
Surfers is a race (tm) (r) but one day it won't be. I rule. You drool.
Peace out.
Tony
There is a lot to like about the IRL. We have fart festivals at our family reunions. Listening to those IRL cars at the Iowa Speedway is just like a huge family reunion where everyone participates. My wife (the one that is my sister) can bugle a fart that will call in a moose. It sounds just like the lap one at Iowa!! Yee haa...
Don't think I'm just some NASCAR watching, bacco chewing hick from Iowa. I'm way to sophisticated for that. Tony George and his IRL is the elite side of our state. That's why Nikon sponsored the race in Australia. They know the real market is here in Iowa. Not that any of us would buy one them foreign made cameras. But we do know what Indy means!!!
Wait I'm not dead.
of open-wheel racing in this country! Don't make us go back to the future.
-E