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Big Hands now! The Indycar MAVTV 500 from Fontana!


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#1 stewie

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Posted 24 June 2015 - 14:51

BT SPORT OFFICES

10.53am

 

IS

THAT

JOE

 

HART????

 

Joe-Hart-City-2015.png

 

Must be, says so on his shirt.

 

464324134-joe-hart-of-manchester-city-wa

 

Look at the size of those hands. You know what they say, big hands, big... errr... gloves.

 

ANYWAY!

 

Autosport Forums, in association with BT Sport advert 'Big Hands!' and our media partners 'JP's Nigerian Streaming Club' proudly present...

 

ae9f2735606c52791153b80b953d0ebc.jpg

 

500px-Auto_Club_Speedway_%28formerly_Cal

 

 

Round 11 of the Verizon Indycar 2015 Series

Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, California

 

Do you like ovals? Do you like this one? Do you like it on Saturday afternoon? Well you better like all three of these things as:

A) It's on this Saturday like Donkey Kong

B) Rumour has it Fontana might not be on the calendar for much longer

 

SO ENJOY!!

 

What's the schedule?

FRIDAY, JUNE 26TH    

-
9:45 a.m.
Verizon IndyCar Series Practice
10:40 a.m.
-
11:00 a.m.
Victory Lane Historic Champ/IndyCar Showcase
12:15 p.m.
-
1:30 p.m.
Verizon IndyCar Series Practice
1:45 p.m.
-
2:05 p.m.
Victory Lane Historic Champ/IndyCar Showcase
3:25 p.m.
-
3:45 p.m.
Victory Lane Historic Champ/IndyCar Showcase 
4:15 p.m.
-
5:30 p.m.
Verizon IndyCar Series Qualifying
SATURDAY, JUNE 27TH
9:00 a.m.
   
O’Reilly Fan Zone Gates Open to Ticket Holders *
9:00 a.m.
-
9:20 a.m.
Victory Lane Historic Champ/IndyCar Showcase
10:00 a.m.
-
11:00 a.m.
All-Driver INDYCAR Autograph Session – INDYCAR Fan Village
10:00 a.m.
-
11:00 a.m.
Live Music on Fan Zone Stage – Ronnie North
10:45 a.m.
-
11:15 a.m.
Metal Mulisha Freestyle MotoX Stunt Show
11:00 a.m.
-
11:45 a.m.
Lucha Libre Wrestling Exhibition
11:00 a.m.
   
Driver Story Time with Gabby Chaves – Lefty’s Fun Zone
11:00 a.m.
   
Tony Kanaan Walk of Fame Ceremony – location TBD
11:15 a.m.
-
12:15 p.m.
Live Music on Fan Zone Stage – TBD
11:45 a.m.
-
12:05 p.m.
Victory Lane Historic Champ/IndyCar Showcase
12:00 p.m.
-
12:45 p.m.
Lucha Libre Wrestling Exhibition
12:00 p.m.
-
12:30 p.m.
Metal Mulisha Freestyle MotoX Stunt Show
12:45 p.m.
   
INDYCAR Driver Intros
1:30 p.m.
   
MAVTV 500 INDYCAR Race (250 laps)

For all you UK fans, that's a 9.30pm start time. 9.30PM! ok?

 

What channel is it on?

 

UK: BT Sport ESPN & HD at 9pm.

US: NBC Sports Network at I don't know what time.

Worldwide: Other methods, I couldn't comment on. Might include our media partners...

 

Weather Forecast?

 

char_46063.jpg

 

HOT! Saturday afternoon in the summer, in California. What could go wrong!? Other than no-one turns up.

 

What Happened Last Time Out?

 

tumblr_inline_mo1e1g2rNz1qz4rgp.gif

 

 

Well, there was a surprising 1-2 for CFH Racing, not surprising as Newgarden has been doing well this year, but surprising as for once Filippi didn't stuff it into the wall. Castroneves and Bourdais did their usual of being ultra consistent and finishing in the midpack. Chevys went to the front, Hondas went to the back. Coletti found something to hit. Pretty text book 2015 stuff really.

 

Points after Toronto:

1 Juan Pablo Montoya 374 
2 Will Power 347 
3 Scott Dixon 329 
4 Helio Castroneves 322 
5 Graham Rahal 283 
6 Sebastien Bourdais 274 
7 Marco Andretti 272 
8 Josef Newgarden 268 
9 Tony Kanaan 244 
10 Simon Pagenaud 232

Joe Hart's guide to 'Who's driving for Dale Coyne this week?'

 

tumblr_m4zxjdbmc11qi95r4o1_500.jpg

 

18: Pippa 'I always have an excuse for finishing last' Mann

19: Tristian 'The Indycar Comeback Kid' Vautier

 

Is it me or is are the puns a bit cheesy this week?

 

joe-hart.jpg?w=590

 

My bad.


Edited by stewie, 24 June 2015 - 14:58.


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#2 Ross Stonefeld

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Posted 24 June 2015 - 14:58

Jesus, Fontana already? Season sure went quick.



#3 LuckyStrike1

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Posted 24 June 2015 - 15:29

Thanks to Boston Consulting Group. They gave us the growth-share BCG matrix and a compressed IndyCar-season. Everyone leaves their mark. Some worse than others. 



#4 H0R

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Posted 24 June 2015 - 15:35

Fontana about to be dropped?

 

To be honest I am waiting for this place to be firebombed since November 1999. :(

 



#5 jonpollak

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Posted 24 June 2015 - 15:49

 

To be honest I am waiting for this place to be firebombed since November 1999. :(

 

 

Yeah...nothing but bad vibes left in my mouth after that one H0R...

 

That said I will prolly decide at the LAST FRICKIN' MINUTE whether to watch live or FF through the Joe Hart show after the Japan-Austrailia match...

 

PS..The pub @ BatterseaPark does NOT have ESPN so no use staying there to watch it either.

Jp
 
 



#6 Prost1997T

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Posted 24 June 2015 - 16:34

The track president of Fontana is reportedly a fan of Indycar, but it does need the October date back. As for the racing itself, you forgot the entry list: http://www.imscdn.co...y list 6-23.pdf

#7 WhiteSGPlayer

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Posted 24 June 2015 - 16:36

I have nothing to add, and I still have to watch the Fort Worth and Toronto races, so here's JPM making an appearance on TNA Wrestling, back in his Nascar days, including a bonus chairshot!

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=KLdZDLbISdw


Edited by WhiteSGPlayer, 24 June 2015 - 16:37.


#8 SR388

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Posted 24 June 2015 - 17:02

I'm a fan of Takuma Sato. I have high expectations because I'm not very bright.

#9 greenman

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Posted 24 June 2015 - 17:11

Fontana was the best race of 2012 and 2013 seasons if you ask me. But yeah sadly with the already low attendance and Indycar moving the race up and down the schedule, this race doesn't seem to have a long future on the calendar. I don't imagine lots of people will show up saturday afternoon. Shame. At least this hour is more pleasant for us Eurolanders.



#10 Ross Stonefeld

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Posted 24 June 2015 - 17:12

Be interesting to see what we make of the race without a title battle. And I'm sure it will be different with no transition to night.



#11 Prost1997T

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Posted 24 June 2015 - 17:59

Be interesting to see what we make of the race without a title battle. And I'm sure it will be different with no transition to night.


Could easily cause a big swing in the championship though (Montoya's advantage is less than the points spread between 1st and 9th). Ganassi were strong in similar conditions at TMS.

Edited by Prost1997T, 24 June 2015 - 18:00.


#12 paulb

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Posted 24 June 2015 - 18:09

Well its going to be freaking hot out there so that will reduce attendence.  There has not been much promotion locally that I have seen.

 

I greatly enjoyed the night race last year, its too bad they are not doing that again. I will not be able to make it this year, however. *shame*



#13 Prost1997T

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Posted 24 June 2015 - 18:15

Well its going to be freaking hot out there so that will reduce attendence.


I thought the forecast was about 89F? That's cooler than Mid-Ohio has been in August.

#14 loki

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Posted 24 June 2015 - 18:18

Pffft, that's not hot....       :lol:

 

it's been 112* F here all week.  We're going to the race get in a cooler environment for a couple of days.

 

Mega long walk to the garage.  Once you are there the catwalks down the middle of the building make for some great mechanic/car prep watching.  It's not that crowded, in fact I'm surprised they still have it.  We skipped last year but in 2013 there must have been only 20k or so, if that.  Great seats, cheap.  And in the shade.  And the most important part...  King Taco at the track.



#15 jonpollak

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Posted 24 June 2015 - 18:24

I'm a fan of Takuma Sato. I have high expectations because I'm not very bright.

Something must be awry...Is that Ree Anna in your avatar??

 

If so, anyone up for a story about wardrobe malfunctions and bad tattoo scars?

 

Jp


Edited by jonpollak, 24 June 2015 - 18:25.


#16 SR388

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Posted 24 June 2015 - 18:31

Something must be awry...Is that Ree Anna in your avatar??

If so, anyone up for a story about wardrobe malfunctions and bad tattoo scars?

Jp


Janelle Monae. Probably the best thing going in R&B.

Sure, tell your story.

#17 Alfisti

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Posted 24 June 2015 - 19:14

Only on Sportsnet here or is a major US network covering this? 



#18 Imperial

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Posted 24 June 2015 - 19:27

To be honest I am waiting for this place to be firebombed since November 1999. :(


It is one of my favourite tracks....exactly for the reason that I always feel the **** could hit the fan at any moment.

Rather Fontana than Yas Marina, but then I don't have to race at either...

#19 HeadFirst

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Posted 24 June 2015 - 20:07

I'm a fan of Takuma Sato. I have high expectations because I'm not very bright.

 

Admitting your shortcomings makes you strong.



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#20 Prost1997T

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Posted 24 June 2015 - 21:12

Only on Sportsnet here or is a major US network covering this? 

 

NBC Sports Network as usual.



#21 prommer

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Posted 24 June 2015 - 21:44

Welp, looks like I'm actually going to this one.  I wasn't planning to, but at the last second I began to feel great pity and fondness for a series I love very much and figured... well, there may be only 5,000 people there and 75,000 empty seats, but the least I can do is make it 5,001.  Because... Indycar.

 

I can't help but feel weird about going, though.  My last race was Las Vegas 2011.  :well: If the sh*t does hit the fan, well... :well:



#22 Imperial

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Posted 24 June 2015 - 22:04

I know I can barely make sense of Formula Indycar start times as it is, but I take it this isn't a dusk/night race as with the past few seasons?

I merrily went into my Sky planner last night to set this to record to watch with brekky on Sunday morn...to be met with the revelation the race shows starts 9pm Sat night here in ze UK.

#23 Imperial

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Posted 24 June 2015 - 22:09

I can't help but feel weird about going, though. My last race was Las Vegas 2011. :well: If the sh*t does hit the fan, well... :well:


I realise I am likely to be pilloried for this and I of course do not like death (I have experienced deaths via accidents of people close to me), but....I think I like Indycar more than anything else because it is pretty much still as F1 seemed to be in the 60s/70s.

People moan about how shittingly safe and thus dull F1 is. Well...we have Indycar...

Having said that...I am supposing being pilloried yet at the same time perhaps not. Every one of the Indycar thread posters appear to be actual race fans, so may agree with me.

#24 paulb

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Posted 24 June 2015 - 22:54

Nuts, I am sadder now that fellow Atlas IndyCar fans will be there.

 

As for the weather, we all have our definitions of freaking hot. VIP seats are shaded more than for commoners.



#25 MattPete

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Posted 25 June 2015 - 00:07

Indycar seriously needs a Laguna Seca race in September followed by Fontana in October.  This short season sucks (despite the consultants' suggestions).



#26 Prost1997T

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Posted 25 June 2015 - 00:30

I realise I am likely to be pilloried for this and I of course do not like death (I have experienced deaths via accidents of people close to me), but....I think I like Indycar more than anything else because it is pretty much still as F1 seemed to be in the 60s/70s.

People moan about how shittingly safe and thus dull F1 is. Well...we have Indycar...

Having said that...I am supposing being pilloried yet at the same time perhaps not. Every one of the Indycar thread posters appear to be actual race fans, so may agree with me.

 

Texas had some close racing yet no crashes. Fontana last year wasn't as exciting, but again, no crashes (just one yellow for Hunter-Reay spinning).



#27 SKL

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Posted 25 June 2015 - 00:49

Thought about driving over from Scottsdale but my son can't go and don't want to go alone-  the drive over is nothing to crow about... unless you like seeing millions of wind generators... still have bad feelings about that place since the race in '99 as well.

 

Feel kind of bad though as it will probably be a ghost town, and ticket prices aren't bad and parking is free.

 

Robin Miller has a video trying to get people to show up-  probably won't be around much longer, but why the hell they'd do it on a Saturday afternoon in the MIDDLE of the summer?????

 

And still, NO Road America... :down:



#28 StraightEdge

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Posted 25 June 2015 - 05:06

Best for the track is to close and tear it down. It was built for open wheel cars, not for NASCAR like France family want fans to believe. It's SoCal where they look at new places as new toy only discard like garbage. Too bad because Indycar have always stole the show at the track.



#29 Peat

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Posted 25 June 2015 - 07:15

Fontana last year wasn't as exciting, but again, no crashes (just one yellow for Hunter-Reay spinning).

 

Don't forget ALOTION diced his DW12 into a million pieces in practice. 



#30 jonpollak

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Posted 25 June 2015 - 08:46

Janelle Monae. Probably the best thing going in R&B.

Sure, tell your story.

WOW..Janelle sounds really good..I like it.
Thanks for turning this old fart on to new stuff.
 
The story can wait.
 
Now,
More importantly..
 
Jp

Edited by jonpollak, 25 June 2015 - 09:54.


#31 Prost1997T

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Posted 25 June 2015 - 12:31

Don't forget ALOTION diced his DW12 into a million pieces in practice.


He said he lost track of the white line during sunset (because of the glare). That's why the 2013 race started later than the 2012 edition. Also, spinning directly into traffic at full speed tends to be nasty at any oval, not just Fontana - ask Mr Zanardi about that.

Edited by Prost1997T, 25 June 2015 - 12:33.


#32 JHSingo

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Posted 25 June 2015 - 12:59

Much like the people of California, I'll be giving this one a miss, unfortunately. Holiday calls.

 

And no, it isn't a Californian holiday.



#33 Peat

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Posted 25 June 2015 - 14:08

This race is the perfect case study of how the series loves to attack it's own feet with a hammer. 

The last 2 MAVTV500's have been sensational, I would hate to see the event lost. But unfortunately, the driver's will need extra tinting on their visors to block out the glare from the empty aluminium bleachers. 



#34 Risil

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Posted 25 June 2015 - 21:37

I totally agree with the person above that said the 2012 and 13 editions were the best races of the year. And they had competition!

 

Looking forward to the photos Prommer. :up:

 

For fans of industrial history here is a picture of the Kaiser Steel Mill which used to stand where the race track is now. You may recognize the mountains from many an establishing shot.

 

File-CF-432-Kaiser-Steel-Mill-1940s.jpg

 

It was the first steel mill west of the Rocky Mountains and was responsible for a significant proportion of the heavy floating metal things that supplied the 1940s Pacific war. Serious history here! Apparently the T-1000 was also destroyed on that site, saving the free world once again. It's been a bit downhill since, with the caveat that it's currently impossible to say what bearing Ryan Hunter-Reay and Will Power will have on the future course of history.



#35 prommer

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Posted 25 June 2015 - 22:02

Hmm, I just remembered that Fontucky is where I lost my SD card for my actual camera camera during an Indycar open test a couple years ago, and since then the camera has never worked properly.  Failing bringing my camera camera, I'll have to use my phone camera which has the resolution of a Jennifer Ringley nude screencap from 1997.  Failing that, maybe I'll try to procure some sort of prize for Vitesse2 the fantasy league winner of the week, in the honored tradition of whitewaterMkII.

 

Didn't someone last year say that part of the problem with all the debris pitting the cars, filters and helmets is that a lot of it is iron dust, debris and metal filings left over from the days of the steel mill?  I still remember this picture Ed Carpenter posted of his helmet after the 2012 race:

 

BhgVtrWCQAAWjrZ.jpg



#36 Peat

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Posted 25 June 2015 - 22:22

You're correct, Prommer. Extra measure are taken for the radiators and airbox to combat the metaliic filings floating around.

The paint damage at Indy is pretty bad too. Conor Daly showed me a picture (yeah, on his phone, because i'm THAT cool) of his lid after the 2013 500. Looked like it had sat infront of a sandblaster.



#37 Ross Stonefeld

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Posted 25 June 2015 - 23:05

I see Sato's mastered parking...

#38 scheivlak

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Posted 25 June 2015 - 23:16

You're correct, Prommer. Extra measure are taken for the radiators and airbox to combat the metaliic filings floating around.

The paint damage at Indy is pretty bad too. Conor Daly showed me a picture (yeah, on his phone, because i'm THAT cool) of his lid after the 2013 500. Looked like it had sat infront of a sandblaster.

OT: Conor Daly -> Cool Randy - THAT cool  :D



#39 prommer

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Posted 25 June 2015 - 23:49

I see Sato's mastered parking...

 

That guy was hoping for shade from the "tree".



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#40 Prost1997T

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Posted 26 June 2015 - 11:22

First practice starts in 4 hours.

#41 Sheepmachine

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Posted 26 June 2015 - 11:41

Great OP stewie. :up:

captain-america.gif

For fans of industrial history here is a picture of the Kaiser Steel Mill which used to stand where the race track is now. You may recognize the mountains from many an establishing shot.

File-CF-432-Kaiser-Steel-Mill-1940s.jpg

It was the first steel mill west of the Rocky Mountains and was responsible for a significant proportion of the heavy floating metal things that supplied the 1940s Pacific war. Serious history here! Apparently the T-1000 was also destroyed on that site, saving the free world once again. It's been a bit downhill since, with the caveat that it's currently impossible to say what bearing Ryan Hunter-Reay and Will Power will have on the future course of history.


Wasn't there (or didn't there used to be) a big tower in the middle left over from the steel mill days or am I getting mixed up with somewhere else?

#42 OvDrone

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Posted 26 June 2015 - 12:11

Stewie, nice OP dude.

 

Indycar! Goddamn it! Get your damn schedule straight. Another missed race for me.

 

*dejected scorn*



#43 Imperial

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Posted 26 June 2015 - 13:33

Eerie parallel with the current Rockingham (UK) thread....in which I pointed out was also built on an ex-steel mill.

Who needs jobs when there are empty grandstands to be built!

#44 Prost1997T

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Posted 26 June 2015 - 14:12

Eerie parallel with the current Rockingham (UK) thread....in which I pointed out was also built on an ex-steel mill.

Who needs jobs when there are empty grandstands to be built!


Fontana lost its second Nascar weekend a couple of years ago. It essentially only has two significant events, Cup\Xfinity in March and Indycar later in the year. Pretty sure the Auto Club sponsorship of the track requires those events to be retained.

#45 paulb

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Posted 26 June 2015 - 15:11

So I had an impromptu, really interesting discussion yesterday with a guy at HPD.

 

Expect some new bits for Hondas at this race. :up:



#46 Prost1997T

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Posted 26 June 2015 - 15:14

Live streaming is online: http://racecontrol.indycar.com/

#47 king_crud

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Posted 26 June 2015 - 15:55

Every time I read Steel Mill on this thread I keep thinking of the gay steel mill from the Simpsons

200_s.gif

#48 jonpollak

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Posted 26 June 2015 - 15:59

Live streaming is online: http://racecontrol.indycar.com/

OR..

Jp

Edited by jonpollak, 26 June 2015 - 17:48.


#49 loki

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Posted 26 June 2015 - 16:26

Fontana lost its second Nascar weekend a couple of years ago. It essentially only has two significant events, Cup\Xfinity in March and Indycar later in the year. Pretty sure the Auto Club sponsorship of the track requires those events to be retained.

The Cup event is safe because it's an ISC track and it's the only date in the So Cal market.  The last couple of years they've been reporting it as a sell out.

 

The Indycar date could be in jeopardy.  The Auto Club naming of the track isn't tied to an ICS date.  The facility is rented quite a bit with track days and club sports car racing throughout the year.



#50 Option1

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Posted 26 June 2015 - 19:30

Note to self:  Get fantasy picks in.  And await Jp's story - for fantasy reasons only.

 

Great OP, Stewie.  Edited to add:  The thread title immediately brought this back from nefarious past:

 

 

Neil


Edited by Option1, 26 June 2015 - 19:58.