Alan Jones: Surfers Paradise Rescuer?
Alan Jones, Formula 1 world champion in 1980, confirmed yesterday that A1GP had made a pitch to the Queensland Government should, as expected, the Indy Racing League withdraw from the Gold Coast.
“Sources” said the fact that the Government had started talks with rival events was the clearest indicator yet that this year’s Indy would be the last.
Mr Jones, the A1 Team Australia director, said yesterday that A1 was “ready, willing and able” to comply with the Government’s October date, which the IRL did not want.
“I have made no secret of the fact that we would love to take their place,” Mr Jones told The Sunday Mail yesterday.
The former V8 Supercar driver said people were fed up with the aggravation from IRL bosses, and A1 would offer a “better proposition”.
“Our cars lap three to four seconds quicker than the IRL cars going around the Gold Coast this weekend,” he said.
“The whole idea of an Indy race on the Gold Coast was to promote the Gold Coast and Queensland to the world. But the race isn’t even telecast in the US. “We have 25 countries competing, we have . . . the race being shown on television in 155-plus countries.
“And many of the countries are in the preferred trading area for Australia – Asia and the Middle East.”
Mr Jones said previous A1GP events had been held at Sydney’s Eastern Creek raceway, but he described that as a “shocking location”.
He said the NSW Government had also refused to put up money for the event.
Mr Jones said he believed the Queensland Government and A1GP organizers could come up with a deal to suit everyone.
Premier Anna Bligh yesterday confirmed other open-wheel motor racing bosses want to hold their events on the Gold Coast, but would not elaborate on a specific event.
But the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport – a nation against nation event featuring equal Ferrari cars – is looking for an Australian event to add to its calendar.
Ms Bligh said she remained hopeful of keeping Indy cars on the Coast, but confirmed to The Sunday Mail there had been “expressions of interest” from elsewhere.
“If the IRL is not part of it next year, then we will be looking for another event,” Ms Bligh said. “We will be doing everything in our power to keep Indy here.”
Ms Bligh said IRL bosses promised to make a decision within two weeks.
But she acknowledged there was conflict with the date – which clashes with the early part of the American football season – and the IRL wanted an earlier event, if one at all.
Ms Bligh said she did not think the IRL had already made their minds up. “We remain optimistic.”
She said she did not want the weekend to be a purely V8 event, saying the success came from a combination of supercars and open-wheelers.
EDITORS Notes: Whether any of this comes to fruition is debatable. A1GP’s first priority is to survive the current economic conditions that place a heavy burden on the series owners RAB Capital.
The recent difficulties in the launch of the series’ new “Ferrari Powered” car that resulted in the first scheduled event being tossed aside and the second having a less than full field hasn’t helped their credibility in any way.
As for Alan Jones, I’m not sure what the hell he’s thinking.
Or rather not thinking, is the operative phrase. TV coverage of the series in Australia, while available via Fox Sports, is on a delayed basis and American coverage is nonexistent. The single North American link to A1 is Team USA’s ownership by Andretti Green Racing.
True, live streaming video is available, but I have yet to see any ad space streamed with the event streams, and that is the Jones point is it not, to promote not only the Gold Coast as a tourist destination but as an accommodating location for business?
Ironic isn’t it, Peter (my resident Aussie), with the reunification of U.S. Open Wheel the Gold Coast sees one of its deepest talent-laden starting fields in years and the buffoons on both sides of the Pacific Ocean can’t cut through the BS long enough to ensure the series return in 2009 and beyond?
Cross posted @ Asian Motor Sports
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_c.png?x-id=5d394782-3172-4486-8b40-8f0c5c002f1b)
Ironic? Tragic would be a better word. A full quality grid of Indycars/drivers & it looks as if TG will pull the plug.
A1 may well be in need of serious life support, a few seasons back I would have welcomed the swap of series, but not now. To be very honest, with the huge disparity of driver ability in A1, I fear a A1 race would be a smash-fest of concrete & carbon fibre.
If they want a quality OW feature they should look at GP2Asia (cant see it happening though), if anything, I think will end up a stand alone V8 weekend.
For the first time (Ever) I think I can side with TG on this. He inherited this date from the defunct Champ Car series. Regardless of how popular on either side of the ocean, Australia needs to accommodate the sanctioning bodies available dates. If Australia can’t hold the race within the window of the IRL schedule, what’s the point?
This year’s race was great but in what context? The IRL season is over!
If they are mutually intractable as to the race date then there will be no IRL race in Oz. Sad but true.
George - “This year’s race was great but in what context? The IRL season is over!”
Well golly-gee George why was the season over. Maybe because the “Caeser” you praise made it so, AND had too shell out big bucks to teams just to have a representative field of cars.
Would you stretch and rearrange ALL of your other pre-committed racing dates to accommodate OZ??? TV, advertisers, sponsors, and all of the other related parties associated with racing dates? Even if it was feasible, I think not. Oz is a great venue, but it’s like the tail wagging the dog. Surely even you can see that, no?
Sorry Peter, this one’s going down and it is a shame, but for logical scheduling reasons.
In point of fact, I’m not even sure why TG went to the trouble and expense of subsidizing this years race? Unless it was a binding point in the merger agreement to save KK some face.
Wow George, straight from the Bernie E book of how to lose friends & alientate people.
“Australia needs to accommodate the sanctioning bodies available dates”…you failed to state why?
“…this one’s going down and it is a shame, but for logical scheduling reasons.” Well clearly you can see a “logic” Marc & I can’t.
BTW George, your claiming scheduling reasons, TG is stating that the IRL season has to end on U.S soil, if you :- “For the first time (Ever) I think I can side with TG on this”, at least get on board with your new AOW master & sing from the same hymn book.
In TG’s defence (unlike jackboot George Kattinger) at least he has recognised there is a f’ing reason as to WHY the date can’t be moved.
Goodbye Indycars on the Gold Coast, it was great while it lasted. Best of luck to AOW on U.S soil, on a diet of Italian chassis, Jap engines & driver line-up, ironically, mostly made up of furriners.
Don’t worry George, I’m neither angry or bitter, I’m to busy shaking my head as to why anybody would throw overboard an event that should be used as the model for all venues, excluding the 500.
God forbid that tht TG - or the now “back flip” George Kattinger -would accomodate Surfers. I’m let’s face it, there is pack of cities beating down TG’s door to host a event.
Out of curiosity George, what’s your feeling on Berie axing Canada & France on the F1 schedule? Does your new found faith in TG extend to Bernie?
That is a hell of a conversion George, from Tg critic to IRL standard bearer in just a few weeks.
Christ Peter, every despot has done some good somewhere during their tenures, even Bernie, Max and TG.
Defend Canada’s F1 expulsion? Why should they keep their date if they didn’t pay the agreed to sanctioning? The French GP was canceled by the promoter, couldn’t afford to pay the vig. That’s called business.
So you think that the IRL should revamp their entire schedule and race until the end of October, because Champ Cars committed to a similar schedule? Well Champs are dead and TG’s driving the bus. Pay the fare and get on board or find another series to come to paradise.
Repeat, I don’t like it, I don’t like TG, but you’re playing in his sand box with his toys; he can go away and take the game with him. To the victor go the spoils. Add any other cliche you think apropo.
I have an alternative: Why not get some wealthy entrepreneur to start a competing series; start in Oz and race at various tracks all over the world; road courses, ovals, street courses. Oh yeah, that’s been tried and dun blowed up!
“….but you’re playing in his sand box with his toys; he can go away and take the game with him. To the victor go the spoils.”
Well George at least, in your opening sentence, you had the decency to use the word despot. And while you may be content to bend over & grab your ankles, it doesn’t mean the rest of us cant speak out about tyranny, something in motorsport. you used to condemn.
BTW, why the cheap shot at KK? Why would you criticise a guy who had the courage to attempt to save Champ? Would you, like Michael Andretti, have been happy to just see the whole thing die & TG march on? What’s that old adage? When good man stand by & do nothing tyranny triumphs.
Sorry George, but I’m not prepared to mouth toothless (& contradictory) platitudes like ” I don’t like it, I don’t like TG,”.& then just accept it. I will gladly voice protest & participate in debate with those that may differ with me, on sites such as yours & Marc’s.
I hope your new found acceptance for motorsport dictators has only confined itself to AOW, if you have surrendered to Bernie & Max as well, fear not, Marc & I will continue the noble cause of justice for motorsport fans as a double act.
Come back to us George, it’s never too late
Finally George, my correct title is not Christ Peter, but thanks for the compliment. You may, however, address me as Peter G….possibly self rightious, but right
Tilting against windmills has never been my strong suit Peter G. Fight the fight as long as there’s a chance of having an impact. Pragmatists know when to run away to fight another day.
I loved the Canadian GP, the USGP, as well as your race, but when circumstances and dick heads converge to make them go away there’s no point in fighting any more.
The “Christ” comment was not a reference to your religious stature or beliefs but a cheap curse on my part. If it offended I apologize.
But you never addressed the one point I was attempting to defend on TG’s behalf: Should the IRL reinvent their entire schedule to suit and accommodate Surfers Paradise? For next year when all of the other races are committed? Please address this one point in your next response, if so inclined.
There is always hope that if TG is as impressed by the event as he professed, that it could come back in 2010…….if you’ll have him.
Jesus,Mary,Joseph & the Donkey!!! My “Christ Peter” gag was a attempt at humour. But hey, if you want to call me Christ Peter I’m up for it.
Wow, from motorsport blogger/troll to OW mesiah in the space of a day, at this rate Max will have me crucified.
To annswer your question, “Should the IRL reinvent their entire schedule to suit and accommodate Surfers Paradise?”
Yes they f’ing well should, that is if they want to keep the event!
The date can’t be moved, I’ll spare you the complexities of balancing the V8’s, two codes of football finals & a quiet period in the tourist haven at Surfers. There is a brief lapse between the end of high school crowd & the family vaction pre-Xmas crowd. It would not be possible to host & event & shut down the city at any other time in the summer.
Unless it was moved to the early part of the new year, March?, & this would have to include the V8’s &, presumably, Motegi then it can’t happen.
Well there you go! Reinvent an entire series to keep YOUR interests in the limelight and preserved. I’d say you’ve studied and learned at the knee of Bernie Ecclestone very well indeed. “Everybody can piss off as long as I can get what I want”; the primary difference between you and Bernie is he has the juice to get his way and all you (we) can do is squeal over injustices, perceived or real. So endeth the lesson.
By the way, I’d have cited Max Mosley’s self centered interests as well, but even a reformed TG ass kissing numbskull like myself can’t quite go that low. Not yet anyway. There are unexplored depths to my personality I’ve yet to plumb.
Marc! Transformed site!! Very nice indeed. Congratulations.
Nice hand pass George…..but it wont work.
Bernie has venues stampeeding him for the honor of hosting a event. Exactly how many cities are beating a path to TG’s door?
Look, if TG wants to throw the Gold Coast race overboard I say let him. As I said, best of luck AOW with its new “vision”, maybe it’s better to be racing at ovals with stands that are often empty.
I surrender, TG has won & can have his way, & just as soon as he can ditch Honda, he can kill off the Motegi round as well. It appears his original idea of a U.S based, low tech, oval-only (well not quite, but give him time) series is his goal.
I’m still struck by the irony that TG’s “stars & stripes” series is littered with furriners & actually struggles to find American shoes.
Oh well, life moves on, & I have GP2ASIA to keep me entertained over the F1 winter.
Peter,
Your self centered contradictions never fail to amaze and befuddle me. Granted, befuddling me doesn’t take much, but I offer:
Wanting the race, but then mindlessly criticizing the chassis, engine package and “furrin’” drivers as well. Sour grapes, to say the least. Not to mention racist. I expected more from my friend “Christ Peter”!
Who gives two shits which cities are beating a path to TG’s doorstep? Oz ain’t one of them, and that’s the root cause of your angst. Stop blaming me for defending TG’s business decisions.
It’s obvious your bitterness cannot be overcome by attempting to rationalize business decisions or logic, especially when passion is intermingled with an overwhelming feeling of loss. Find a way to sooth your soul, other than attacking those who can sympathize with or understand the logic of why such crappy decisions are reached. I didn’t do it, I don’t agree with it. But for “Christ Peter’s” (haha) sake, I can understand it. If it’s still contrary to your offended sensibility of what’s right or wrong, I can’t help you. Go elsewhere for your relief, you won’t find it within me.
Hummm… I sense a bit of hostility, should I call in my special guest referee Stone Cold Steve Austin?
Not hostility Marc, just frustration in receiving our friends misplaced anger. But that’s what friends are for isn’t it? Allowing a buddy to vent without truly getting one’s nose out of joint is, to me, a prime function of friendship.
“Nuff said on this topic, at least by me. Thanks for allowing us both to rant.
I love you too George.
In closing, my “attack” on the crapwagon chassis, Japanese engines & foreign drivers is ANYTHING but racist, but you knew that & you know me. Call me anything but prejudiced …..unless it involves TG, Max, Bernie, Ron, Todt, Luca & a flexible list of others, frequently updated, but never based on race, colour or creed.
I was highlighting just how far TG’s series is from its “All-American” vision that Tony originally promoted.I NEVER encouraged the anti-furriner b/s that so often came from the IRL zealots. Why would I, I’m not American.
Regardless, I can either turn my back on AOW (unlikely) or continue to be amazed by the idiot who is running it. Bitter? No. Annoyed? Initially, now I’m just ambivalent.
Roll on AOW…..I’ll still be watching the on-track action, whilst shaking my head at the promoter. Funny, I do the same thing with F1.
Ah, saner heads have prevailed. I think.
But I have to say with the amount of comments in this thread I have to think of a way to post more things that get you two fired up.
Marc, on behalf of George & yself.
BITE ME/US!!!
oops, that was myself, not yself.
I don’t do snacks!
Full meal or nothing at all!