Looks like the merger has affected Pole Day crowd. Looks like a lot more people this year, than compared to previous years. Even Mr. Roger Penske commented on the larger crowd.
Looks better, at least on television. Nice group of folks at start/finish, Tower Suites are rocking on the inside of the main straight (GOOD for business, considering what those jokers pay), nice crowd in turn 4, and another nice crowd going into turn 1.
I just paid my bill for DirectTV it's not back on yet. Got any Pics for the track, its a right thing the merger brought back more fans to the speedway for the qualification day.
I'm glad they are showing at least 3 hours on broadcast channel ABC. Switching channels or being dependant on cable/satellite programming sucks. I have DirecTV and have missed plenty because of weather in the past. And yeah, my satellite was cut off yesterday, but I paid up and they turned it back on later.
I certainly think it was the best crowd in the past 4 or 5 years. It was much more crowded in the garage and infield than the past 4 or 5 years. More people in the grandstands and using the tram service. Bigger crowds around most drivers, especially helio, marco, and danica.
were you actually there today?
I have seen more people at Pole Day, since "the split". I think it was 2001, that had a bigger crowd than this one.
The crowd today was pretty pathetic, considering the weather.
I went to pole day in 2001, which was right after I moved to Indy and I agree the crowd was very big that year. I think there was a lot more excitement that year versus prior post-split years with several CART teams back competing (Penske, Ganassi, Green)including Tony Stewart in a Ganassi car.
Oh there were more people there today than the past few years. We tried to wait in line for the free pin giveaway but opted out because it was WAY too long. Longest line we've seen there for anything in the last 5 years.
Was a nice crowd. Definitely NOT pre-split but hey, what is?
There was one helluva crowd in turn 4 in the NW vista when qualifying started but after they went though qualifying the first time (til 2 p.m.) it pretty well cleared out. We went to turn one after 2.
I went today after not going since the split. I can't comment on crowds in the last few years, but I was impressed given we never will have "a new track record" which was the big draw in the old days.
I went today after not going since the split. I can't comment on crowds in the last few years, but I was impressed given we never will have "a new track record" which was the big draw in the old days.
That was the biggest draw of all, "It's a new track record." In them days, you would have people filling the stands that weren't even race fans. An awful lot of college aged kids out to have a good time.
The crowd was very good hard to guess how many people. People were coming and going all day. Turn 4 and 2 were open as well as the front straight,pit and tower terraces, and the infield mounds had people, Very good crowd. Yes the weather was good (no rain), windy in the afternoon.
The present format worked well at times and some teams gambled a few times which made it a good time to attend even without a new lap record. I think its unrealistic to expect speeds to climb every year. There is a limit and there is a point when just going faster does not add anything to the racing it just gave qualifying another storyline. I really think it was the drivers along with the speed that had people talking about Mears, Sneva, Andretti, Foyt and their competitivness to be fastest
The crowd was very good hard to guess how many people. People were coming and going all day. Turn 4 and 2 were open as well as the front straight,pit and tower terraces, and the infield mounds had people, Very good crowd. Yes the weather was good (no rain), windy in the afternoon.
The present format worked well at times and some teams gambled a few times which made it a good time to attend even without a new lap record. I think its unrealistic to expect speeds to climb every year. There is a limit and there is a point when just going faster does not add anything to the racing it just gave qualifying another storyline. I really think it was the drivers along with the speed that had people talking about Mears, Sneva, Andretti, Foyt and their competitivness to be fastest
I guy at TrackForum who was there said he saw something he hasn't seen in a long time. The infield parking was closed because the place was full. Now, the infield parking is not that big anymore since the golf course got bigger and the road course took up a lot of space. But, still.
