Lack Of Attention For IndyCar Finale Not A Good Sign For Series
 |
Lack Of Coverage Surrounding Franchitti's
Championship Win Not A Good Sign For IRL |
IndyCar's season-ending Firestone Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway Saturday "should have been a showcase for open wheel racing," but the lack of coverage surrounding Dario Franchitti's second IndyCar Championship in three years suggests the sport is "headed in the same direction the [NHL] is in the U.S. -- oblivion," according to Dean McNulty of the TORONTO SUN. Franchitti's series win over Scott Dixon and Ryan Briscoe came in a race that was caution free, making for a "compelling story" after Franchitti spent the '08 season in NASCAR. The race "had everything but an audience," as it aired on Versus against college football broadcasts. McNulty: "It pointed out that IndyCar racing is in real trouble if it doesn't soon find a way to get back on the sporting world's radar" (TORONTO SUN, 10/14). RACINTODAY.com's Mike Harris wrote it is a "shame" that the race "made virtually zero impact" outside of the track. With Versus airing the race, "hardly anybody was watching," which is also a "shame because Versus did a very decent job of covering the series -- much better than ABC/ESPN have in recent years." Meanwhile, Ryan Hunter-Reay was the last American to win an IndyCar race -- Watkins Glen in July '08 -- and Harris wrote, "To have any chance of national success, the series must have an American driver or two racing for wins." Graham Rahal and Marco Andretti "could make a difference if they became regular winners," but it is Danica Patrick "who could be the big difference maker." Harris: "She has the potential to draw plenty of national and international attention if she can finally become a series contender" (RACINTODAY.com, 10/13).
DANICA NEEDS TO STAY PUT: YAHOO SPORTS' Dan Wetzel wrote Patrick, who has just one career IndyCar victory, "needs to win to remain relevant." Wetzel: "Without winning races ... and without racing for a championship, her draw remains unnoticeable. Fans aren't filling the seats, viewers aren't tuning in and the media still stops paying attention to the IRL once the checkered flag flies on the Indy 500." While Patrick has talked about racing a limited schedule in a NASCAR series in the coming years, she "needs to appreciate the chance to grasp glory right in front of her." Wetzel: "With Michael Andretti re-assuming full control over his IRL team, her best chance at a championship is right where she is" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/13).
|
Related Stories By Company
|
Related Stories By Sport
|
IMS Corp. Lays Off 10 More Employees
November 13, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Izod Deal Could Help IRL Build Awareness
November 12, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Izod Deal Important For IndyCar Series
November 6, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Gossage: Danica Needs To Promote Sport
November 6, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Off-Track Activation Key To Izod-IndyCar Deal
November 5, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
Jimmie Johnson Falling Short With Fans
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Power To Compete In IndyCar Full-Time In '10
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Mercedes' Brawn Takeover A No-Brainer
November 17, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Ashley Force Hood Becoming Big Brand
November 17, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Wheels & Deals
November 16, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
|
