Is that a Champ Car Death Rattle I Hear?
The current health of the CCWS isn’t the best and recent news doesn’t say much for it’s continued existence.
For example, fans, what there are of them, learned this week 4 out of 14 races would be one-hour specials, that ONLY 5 of 14 races would be broadcast LIVE, and that the rest would be tape-delayed.
Not good.
Brazilian driver Raphael Matos, who won the 2007 Atlantics championship, has turned down Champ Car’s $2 million “scholarship” for this season to drive for Andretti Green Racing’s Indy Pro Series team in the Indy Racing League.
Matos, 26, has competed in four Pro Series events, winning two street course races in St. Petersburg, Fla., in 2006. Matos will be part of AGR’s two car effort.
Also, not a good thing when a promising driver spurns 2 mil.
Team Australia Champ Car Boss Derrick Walker allegedly sent an email to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that contained an ominous sign. Walker, along with partner Craig Gore, is pondering slashing from a two car to a one car effort for the 2008 season.
Can this picture get any blacker? HELLO? IS anyone home? Is anyone in charge over there?
Guess not.
UPDATE: Tomaso seems to think along the same lines, albeit with a more lyrical touch: “Champ Car Flames Out… I Fell Into A Burning Ring Of Fire. I Went Down, Down, Down And The Flames Went Higher….etc”
UPDATE II: Here’s an interesting idea on how to save Champ Car. Dump the formula altogether and “make the Atlantic series the premier series under the Champ Car banner.”
CCWS, Champ Car World Series, Sports, AGR, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle
Turn FAtlantic into the premier series & Let F3 Dallara’s in? OK I can see where he is going with this & as an enthusiast the racing would appeal to me, only one problem…………………….it would not appeal to the masses who are already confused enough.
Yes this concept would save on costs but it is not going to put bums on seats. I am now totally convinced that AOW can never be rebuilt if a series does not includes the Indy 500. Even if Champ were to fold, or merge with the IRL, it may take decade to rebuild OW’s popularity in the states. AOW has even lost the interest of the outside world.
Over 100 thousand people turned up to Donnington last year to watch a Renault Super Cup Weekend.
Composed of WSbR, FRenault & Clio’s & a F1 car demo.Although the tickets were subsidised by Renault, 88000 people turned up on race day!! WHAT THE HELL DOES THIS SAY??
The IRL or Champ would kill for figures like that. A divided AOW can not prosper, & if Champ goes under & TG is the “victor” I’m not convinced he has the brains to rebuild the shattered mess that is AOW…………a pox be upon the house of George!
Please let this miserable beast known as Champ Car die. Please.
Perhaps then, whether because of or in spite of Tony George, open wheel racing can start the long steep climb to being in the general sports mindset it once knew.
It might be close Dude.
Real close. The laughable fact at the moment is only three, count’em… three drivers have signed for the 2008 season.
Without a viable TV package there is no way the series can continue. KK has stated he understands the need of positive pre-season publicity. If this is the best they can come up with, push into a hole and throw dirt on it. It’s over!
True enough George… makes you wonder what Alex Tagliani is thinking.
On the other hand what other options does a 35 year old driver have? There are no rides available anywhere else. Just hope he gets some kinda guarantee in his contract.