Indy Racing League officials seem to be pretty excited about this prospective race in Brazil, especially when word comes from TrackSide Online that teams traveling to the race will each get north of $125K each - and that's on top of the TEAM money which already pays teams around $1.3M for a full-time entry. But how does this phrase strike you?
"For Indy, Ribeirão Preto pay $ 20 million and will have a street circuit."
Furious Wedge has more from a Brazilian news article, translated from Portuguese, but as he notes "With that money (likely somewhat dispersed to teams as well in sponsorship & travel costs) this race could be even better for the IndyCar Series than a title sponsor."
Seriously. Twenty meeeeeeeellion dollars! That's F1 money.
A Void at the Yard of Bricks This May
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I hate to admit it, but I am delinquent in writing this. I should have
written about this in March; but I wanted to finally acknowledge this
today, before ...
1 day ago
was the IRL underestimating its market all this time?
could the series' success be simply a case of moving to areas that might be deemed to have a better demographic??
Most likely Leigh - go where your product is desired, don't force it down peoples throats.
One reason not to love (the race in) Brazil: "street circuit." At least the time zone is good so all 18 of us who care can watch the parade live.
Pressdog,
You are spot on. I've given up pulling my hair out at the thoughts of yet another street circuit with no overtaking points at all.
I haven't seen the circuit yet but I am willing to bet that it will be about as wide as this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLKR9tCiwvA
And almost as annoying.
Dex
it's a shame that they can't (or won't) use either interlagos or rio for that matter
In light of the picture you selected, I think you mean 20 million and ONE reasons.
What no chassis jokes yet? I guess that is a bit juvenile.
Regardless, forget the new engines and chassis for 2012. I have a proposed rule that should be implemented immediately.
All cars must maintain a minimum of 2 nikon ready models within frame distance of the cars, at all sessions, at all times other than when the car is on track.
I don't think the george ladies would go for that though.
$20 million?!!? *picks jaw off floor* If they do a good job with the circuit, that would mean one less thing for us to complain about. I don't know if I can handle that, lol.
F1 has had at least 2 Nikon-ready models within frame distance of the cars for years now. Look where F1 is now.....
Leigh, Rio was demolished so its not an option. But Interlagos did show interest and Brasilia who has a very cool and fast road course (http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Brasilia) really wants it, but Apex wants the race to be in Ribeirão so will gonna get another street parade.
damn shame - would love to have seen at interlagos at least...
:(
as an aside, nelson piquet jr's F1 stint could be up at the end of this season.
With little interest from other teams over here, is there any word of little Nelson making the jump to IRL??