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Pending dissolution of A1GP may be rationale for delayed IndyCar Brazil GP announcement…
Abnormal User
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I would think with 5 months left to go, they would have some sort of venue lined up already.
Ultimate Insider
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I'd rather see IndyCar race at Interlagos (Autódromo José Carlos Pace) instead of a street course. Bring on Interlagos!
Abnormal User
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This is exactly why the sisters little power trip (and the thought of them losing their little nest egg) is such a bad thing for the ICS. The perfect scenario would be for the ICS to go to the events that will lose dates whwn/if A1GP fails to answer the bell and offer some of them dates for 2011. You could do this:
Indycar International Series:
Germany Mid October
Japan beginning Nov.
China mid Nov
Malaysia begin Dec
Bahrain mid Dec
New Zealand mid Jan
South Africa early Feb
Mexico mid Feb
Brazil early March
Start regular Indycar Series at the beginning of April and end it in September.
Now........ why, you might ask, would this be a good thing? Well let's think about it for a minute...... What does this series need? Engine manufacturers? Which is more attractive (to a manufacturer), a series that runs 7 months out of the year or almost year round? Which is more attractive (to a manufacturer), a series who runs 90% of it's races in the US, or a Series who runs the majority of it's races in the US, but also runs 9 races around the world in other country's? Talk about bang for your buck!
You also open yourself up to other sponsors for the International Series. Let's say it costs $2.5m to run these 9 races (it costs $4m+ to run 17 races right?). I don't think it is out of the question to find sponsors for something like this. Maybe RBS or ING has an interest in something like this since they are no longer interested in spending tens of millions in F1? Obviously Indycar is not a replacement for F1 and is no substitute, but the sanctioning fee is also probably 15% of F1's.
IMO, it would be a win-win for the Series. The teams are working year round but with time between races. The manufacturers get more bang for their buck because they now have a year round schedule and world wide exposure. You gain the opportunity to bring in new sponsor dollars. Teams don't lay off employees in the 5 month off season.
There are probably more.........
Unfortunately I can't see Indycar, IMS and mostly the sisters being willing or able (depending on which of the above we are talking about) to pull this off. It obviously wouldn't be as straight forward as I'm making it sound, but it is VERY doable IMO........ the beginnings are already in front of you in the remnants of A1GP if it does fold.
Indycar International Series:
Germany Mid October
Japan beginning Nov.
China mid Nov
Malaysia begin Dec
Bahrain mid Dec
New Zealand mid Jan
South Africa early Feb
Mexico mid Feb
Brazil early March
Start regular Indycar Series at the beginning of April and end it in September.
Now........ why, you might ask, would this be a good thing? Well let's think about it for a minute...... What does this series need? Engine manufacturers? Which is more attractive (to a manufacturer), a series that runs 7 months out of the year or almost year round? Which is more attractive (to a manufacturer), a series who runs 90% of it's races in the US, or a Series who runs the majority of it's races in the US, but also runs 9 races around the world in other country's? Talk about bang for your buck!
You also open yourself up to other sponsors for the International Series. Let's say it costs $2.5m to run these 9 races (it costs $4m+ to run 17 races right?). I don't think it is out of the question to find sponsors for something like this. Maybe RBS or ING has an interest in something like this since they are no longer interested in spending tens of millions in F1? Obviously Indycar is not a replacement for F1 and is no substitute, but the sanctioning fee is also probably 15% of F1's.
IMO, it would be a win-win for the Series. The teams are working year round but with time between races. The manufacturers get more bang for their buck because they now have a year round schedule and world wide exposure. You gain the opportunity to bring in new sponsor dollars. Teams don't lay off employees in the 5 month off season.
There are probably more.........
Unfortunately I can't see Indycar, IMS and mostly the sisters being willing or able (depending on which of the above we are talking about) to pull this off. It obviously wouldn't be as straight forward as I'm making it sound, but it is VERY doable IMO........ the beginnings are already in front of you in the remnants of A1GP if it does fold.
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Remembering the coming back and not crying about the leaving. And remembering the falling down and the laughter of the curse of luck, from all those son’s of $%^&*# who said we’d never get back up - Robert Earl Keen
Ultimate Insider
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I agree that there's potential in an "off-season" international series, but it'd take a *lot* of capital to get it going. The freight costs for shipping everything from Indianapolis to the other side of the world would be really huge.
The advantage that IndyCar has is potentially you could have Brazil, Motegi, China, and Surfer's all as successful events to build the rest of the schedule around by 2011, with them working on India for 2012. Pretty solid start to the schedule when you add a race in the Netherlands (where both A1GP and Champ Car have been successful) and in Great Britain.
That would also bolster the car count for the 500 greatly if there were some international teams that just run that part of the schedule + the 500.
The advantage that IndyCar has is potentially you could have Brazil, Motegi, China, and Surfer's all as successful events to build the rest of the schedule around by 2011, with them working on India for 2012. Pretty solid start to the schedule when you add a race in the Netherlands (where both A1GP and Champ Car have been successful) and in Great Britain.
That would also bolster the car count for the 500 greatly if there were some international teams that just run that part of the schedule + the 500.
Abnormal User
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If you read Bruce Martins little talk with the SISTERS it seems that they are very interested in building not only IMS but the ICS for the future.
Ultimate Insider
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If anyone saw the F1 race at Sao Paulo today you saw a great race with some amazing overtakes. IndyCar would be a perfect fit there. Much better than a street parade.
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Abnormal User
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I agree that there's potential in an "off-season" international series, but it'd take a *lot* of capital to get it going. The freight costs for shipping everything from Indianapolis to the other side of the world would be really huge.
The advantage that IndyCar has is potentially you could have Brazil, Motegi, China, and Surfer's all as successful events to build the rest of the schedule around by 2011, with them working on India for 2012. Pretty solid start to the schedule when you add a race in the Netherlands (where both A1GP and Champ Car have been successful) and in Great Britain.
That would also bolster the car count for the 500 greatly if there were some international teams that just run that part of the schedule + the 500.
I'm not really sure how it would take a lot of capital from the ICS...... venues pay the sanction which pays the transport costs. Your already shipping to Motegi, the only difference is that instead of shipping home, your shipping somewhere else. Obviously the sanctions couldn't be dirt cheap, but they also wouldn't be anywhere close to an F1 sanction. The reasoning I heard for the ICS wanting to piggy back Surfers and Motegi was because it would actually lower both sanctioning fees because you would be making 3 plane rides instead of 4..... so in essence your taking out 1/4 of the transport costs. You would have to ship more stuff because the cars wouldn't come home so there would be more maintenance before leaving the track and before the next race, but it wouldn't be drastically higher.
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Remembering the coming back and not crying about the leaving. And remembering the falling down and the laughter of the curse of luck, from all those son’s of $%^&*# who said we’d never get back up - Robert Earl Keen
Legend
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I'd like to add ratings to the mix. Wich is usually pretty high over here in the Netherlands. I haven't checked last weeks race yet but we averaged at about 200-250k per race on a fraction of the total households compared to the usa.
Also let's see IMG teaming up with A1GP as a sign that there is a need with broadcasters globally for a alternative openwheel series at the highest step of the ladder.
On top of that there is a overall need inside the indy spec for multiple engine or maybe even chassis suppliers. You also need to ask your self where they are located and showing your face might just push them in the right way.
Let alone all the traditional openwheel sponsors located in europe. With budgets related to international audience and technological advances. Can anybody name a Apex Brazil product yet?
Also let's see IMG teaming up with A1GP as a sign that there is a need with broadcasters globally for a alternative openwheel series at the highest step of the ladder.
On top of that there is a overall need inside the indy spec for multiple engine or maybe even chassis suppliers. You also need to ask your self where they are located and showing your face might just push them in the right way.
Let alone all the traditional openwheel sponsors located in europe. With budgets related to international audience and technological advances. Can anybody name a Apex Brazil product yet?
Abnormal User
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I think that is a good point Peter. If the ICS were to actually pull this off, and I'm not holding my breath that they have even thought of it at this point, all of a sudden the series is open to a whole lot more than the strictly US sponsor and fan base. Maybe there are companies who would only be interested in the international series and companies who are only interested in the US series. ABC Supply would have little interest in the International Series....... so lets say Foyt finds someone who wants to sponsor the International Series and they roll it into an asociate for the ICS too and they're better funded.
I also think the price tag on an International Series could be interestingly low. If you think about it, what's your additional overhead? You already have employees on the payroll right? So it's tires and fuel etc. but your not adding an equivalent amount of payroll.
I also think the price tag on an International Series could be interestingly low. If you think about it, what's your additional overhead? You already have employees on the payroll right? So it's tires and fuel etc. but your not adding an equivalent amount of payroll.
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Remembering the coming back and not crying about the leaving. And remembering the falling down and the laughter of the curse of luck, from all those son’s of $%^&*# who said we’d never get back up - Robert Earl Keen
Ultimate Insider
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Maybe Terry is preparing a PowerPoint presentation as we speak 
