2318 replies to this topic

[PayasYouRace]

I wonder what myth they're busting

[Prost1997T]

Pull your head in. It is a legitimate possible reason for a fall in viewers now that she's gone. I'm far, FAR from a fan of hers, but there's no denying she has marketing pull (if only due to the hype the media give her).

Neil

Sorry if I sounded harsh, I'm just getting tired of seeing her mentioned in Indycar threads. She left - end of story. I don't think it's a bigger factor than the rubbish TV deals and coverage.

[billm99uk]

They need to somehow get out of that contract with NBCSN.. With their 0.2 ratings, they were still the top rated show on the network of that week. How does the sport get the "casual fans" to watch it then?

Of course, that's not to say that the ABC ratings were that much better.. But at least there's bigger exposure, and a chance for the fanbase to grow.

Is it really that hard to get NBCSN in the US? Or is it just too much of an expense if you just want to watch the Indycars (like ESPN is if you just want NASCAR in the UK)?

[Peat]

I wonder what myth they're busting

That with years of experience and development of technologies, Dallara can build evermore hideously inefficient racing cars.

[PayasYouRace]

A bit more on the Mythbusters thing, plus some other news http://www.indycar.c...all-Mythbusters

[Ross Stonefeld]

Is it really that hard to get NBCSN in the US? Or is it just too much of an expense if you just want to watch the Indycars (like ESPN is if you just want NASCAR in the UK)?

I think it's just too much 'effort'. You'll get NBCSN if you're a diehard Indycar fan and want to watch it. Most people just want to be able to turn the channel and watch something. If you make them jump through hoops their interest is going to be cut in half with each additional step.

Here's the other side of the NBCN contract argument...

I think it's accepted wisdom they get a decent amount of money from the NBC deal, more than they would other places.

So do you:

1. Take the upfront and guaranteed money that comes from NBC, or
2. Take your chances on another network where higher ratings *might* lead to more sponsorship

[Prost1997T]

That with years of experience and development of technologies, Dallara can build evermore hideously inefficient racing cars.

Dallara chassis have been everywhere for decades though. Are you saying they got deals in all those series by being ****?

Edited by Prost1997T, 26 September 2012 - 14:21.

[whitewaterMkII]

Dallara chassis have been everywhere for decades though. Are you saying they got deals in all those series by being ****?

Whatever the case is with their past, they sure pulled a fast one on the irl this time around. Not only is the car bizarre looking, it's costs far more than what they said it would and they must have taken a page from Carl Haas' playbook on the Lola parts list of old, when Haas's prices for Lola spares nearly caused riots in the pits. It was also a nice move by dallara to somehow talk the teams into postponing their own aero packages for a number of years in order to sell more of their own aero packages. No doubt Dallara will introduce new aero tweaks for next year so everyone will have to buy them, whether they have a new chassis on order or not.
Aren't spec series wonderful?
For Dallara they are!

[Jim Thurman]

All the talk about the TV contract is unrealistic. First, how many networks are waiting in line for Indycar?

I shake my head any time anyone indicates (or implies) ESPN would be better.

Going back to ESPN would be like going back to a girlfriend that treated you badly, but...this time you know it will be different. You can make it work.

Also, please note the ratings drop while on ABC/ESPN. All the comparing of NBC Sports to ABC/ESPN is a moot point (and, see above).

[Prost1997T]

Whatever the case is with their past, they sure pulled a fast one on the irl this time around. Not only is the car bizarre looking, it's costs far more than what they said it would and they must have taken a page from Carl Haas' playbook on the Lola parts list of old, when Haas's prices for Lola spares nearly caused riots in the pits. It was also a nice move by dallara to somehow talk the teams into postponing their own aero packages for a number of years in order to sell more of their own aero packages. No doubt Dallara will introduce new aero tweaks for next year so everyone will have to buy them, whether they have a new chassis on order or not.
Aren't spec series wonderful?
For Dallara they are!

Which other manufacturers are interested in producing Indycar chassis then? Swift?

[Risil]

Look up the ICONIC committee's new-Indycar-tender-process. Swift, Lola, and this collection of technical guys called BAT Engineering all applied to build a spec chassis. Interestingly only Delta Wing were prepared to allow open competition. There were grumbles at the time that the selection process wasn't exactly a level playing field.

The problem with the aero kits is that it's difficult to measure what benefit they serve, or indeed whom they benefit. No amount of bodywork styling is going to make a Penske-Chevy look like a Camaro. Fans want to be able to visually differentiate the cars and engine manufacturers, but that reduces the aero development to the level of expensive paintjobs. No one wants to admit that the gut-instinct desire for aero kits is "we want to let the teams spend money to beat each other, even if it drives smaller teams to the back of the field and makes it harder to overtake and makes handling on ovals difficult to police. Because that's what racing's about."

[Prost1997T]

Look up the ICONIC committee's new-Indycar-tender-process. Swift, Lola, and this collection of technical guys called BAT Engineering all applied to build a spec chassis. Interestingly only Delta Wing were prepared to allow open competition. There were grumbles at the time that the selection process wasn't exactly a level playing field.

For 2013?

The problem with the aero kits is that it's difficult to measure what benefit they serve, or indeed whom they benefit. No amount of bodywork styling is going to make a Penske-Chevy look like a Camaro. Fans want to be able to visually differentiate the cars and engine manufacturers, but that reduces the aero development to the level of expensive paintjobs. No one wants to admit that the gut-instinct desire for aero kits is "we want to let the teams spend money to beat each other, even if it drives smaller teams to the back of the field and makes it harder to overtake and makes handling on ovals difficult to police. Because that's what racing's about."

The F1 crowd like that kind of thing, but I guess the financial realities don't factor into their opinion.

[Andrew Hope]

Hot damn. IndyCar and Mythbusters are two of my three favorite things.

[Risil]

For 2013?

There's no question of anyone except Dallara selling chassis for 2013. So I don't know how you'd find that out, short of canvassing the management of other chassis builders. Let's assume Lola is out though.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Mythbusters better drive the damn thing upside down in a tunnel. That video would be bigger than anything Ken Block puts out.

[whitewaterMkII]

Look up the ICONIC committee's new-Indycar-tender-process.

What one is that?
The one that says Dallara and a one eight hundred number after it?

[Lemnpiper]

Mythbusters better drive the damn thing upside down in a tunnel. That video would be bigger than anything Ken Block puts out.

Hopefully "Pancho " Carter will be the driver then

[Xpat]

Look up the ICONIC committee's new-Indycar-tender-process. Swift, Lola, and this collection of technical guys called BAT Engineering all applied to build a spec chassis. Interestingly only Delta Wing were prepared to allow open competition. There were grumbles at the time that the selection process wasn't exactly a level playing field.

The problem with the aero kits is that it's difficult to measure what benefit they serve, or indeed whom they benefit. No amount of bodywork styling is going to make a Penske-Chevy look like a Camaro. Fans want to be able to visually differentiate the cars and engine manufacturers, but that reduces the aero development to the level of expensive paintjobs. No one wants to admit that the gut-instinct desire for aero kits is "we want to let the teams spend money to beat each other, even if it drives smaller teams to the back of the field and makes it harder to overtake and makes handling on ovals difficult to police. Because that's what racing's about."

I disagree completely. I think the sole reason for aero kits was that they didn't want the cars to look like spec cars (all alike).

[Risil]

What one is that?
The one that says Dallara and a one eight hundred number after it?

That's the one. It'd be great to know what really happened in there, but they were pretty canny about picking a load of insiders for the committee. Now, if they'd tried to make use of the developmental and racing experience of, say, Paul Tracy...