Bringing IndyCar to the Masses, Part IV

It's tough finding something to write about regularly during the IndyCar offseason.  Add in the fact that I'm on the road during the winter (perks of the sports information world), and I feel like my blog post-rate slows to a pace somewhere near Milka on a road course.

Still, I'll try and tackle a topic today that I began back in October and revisit today: how can the Izod IndyCar Series increase its exposure and either bring back fans or bring in new fans? 

One of the ideas gaining traction in Indycar circles is to begin exploring the possibility of increasing the average speed of an Indycar.  Some drivers have expressed a desire to push the envelope once again to test the limits of car speed and safety.

Tomas Scheckter alluded to it in his interview on "Trackside" with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee, that an increase of speed would not only turn some heads when reading about or attending a race, but bring that element of danger that makes racing so unique back to the sport (and let's be honest, there is a segment out there that still watches racing for the wrecks).

Ask & You Shall Receive: Ryan Hunter-Reay signs with Andretti Autosport

Over at 16th and Georgetown.com, they are confirming that Ryan Hunter-Reay has signed to drive the #37 IZOD car for Andretti Autosport.  It will start as a program for the Indianapolis 500 and go from there, according to reports.

Good for Hunter-Reay, who uttered the quote of 2009 (see our last post), and good for the Izod IndyCar Series, which finally managed to put Izod's poster child into the car featured in last year's Izod IndyCar commercial.  Helps with visibility for all parties. 

IndyCar Needs More Ryan Hunter-Reay

With the new year upon us, many people are reviewing 2009 and putting up their best/worst lists of the year. I have but one, coming in the February 2010 issue of Racer Magazine.

From Ryan Hunter-Reay, IZOD poster boy and the oft-rumored fourth car for Andretti Autosport, on his car for the 2009 Indianapolis 500 - a Vision Racing machine with which he struggled mightily to put in the field:

Oh, man, that was a gray time period, trust me. I tell you, until I'm old, I will never forget seeing Milka Duno climbing out of her car and being envious of the speed she put on the clock…and then thinking, 'How has it come to this? I'm looking at Milka and thinking, ‘Wow! You are an awesome driver.

And there you have it, the quote of 2009.  Or maybe the last three years.

With that, I wish you a Happy New Year.

The Izod IndyCar Series Takes Times Square

Here's the latest Izod IndyCar Series commercial, running in Times Square.  Not too shabby - gets the hip, young image out there.  Though the eye seems a little "Clockwork Orange" for my tastes.

Trimming the Fat

So the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is cutting down the month of May, opening the track on Saturday, May 15.  While the opening for practice is a week later than we'd come to expect, it is the shortening of qualifications, back to two days (May 22 and 23) that is perhaps the most surprising.

 

Last year, IMS was finally able to see its 11 cars per day plan work out over four days, as the weather cooperated enough to see the format through.  In all honestly, it was fairly exciting too (except for the cold weather), as Alex Lloyd capitalized on the format to pick up the last of the first 11 spots for Sam Schmidt's team as the gun went off on that Saturday.

 

Still, the new format will work for both IMS and fans, in my opinion.
From the fans' perspective, attendance had been down during qualifications for a myriad of reasons:

An IndyCar Christmas List

With the holidays approaching, I figured it would be a good time to take a look at some of the gifts to give the IZOD IndyCar Series fan in your life.  So, without further ado, here are a few items that might bring some smiles around the Christmas Tree (or Menorah).

Gird Thy Loins

Mentally prepare yourself, IndyCar fans.  And maybe physically prepare yourself, as well (I'd recommend earplugs and possibly one of those nighttime covers for your eyes).  Word on the street (mainly from ESPN) is that Danica Patrick will announce her signing with JR Motorsports (it's a merry band of winners who don't actually win, but are extremely popular, so it works well with Danica) to drive 9-12 ARCA and Nationwide races in 2010.

Whoopdie-dingle.

So while other racing news has been relatively buried by Mickey Mouse Sports, just prepare yourself to hear how this is the greatest thing for motorsports since some forward-thinking, NASCAR-loving caveman (and has much changed there? Ok, that's a cheap shot.) invented the wheel.