Allstate 400 renewals ‘way off’
Troubles this year for the Indy Racing League—and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway—that led to layoffs last Friday, started with a NASCAR event.
“We started seeing a downturn in revenue with the Allstate 400,” said…
Speedway/motorsports
Articles
IRL, IMS making staff cuts
If you’re an open-wheel racing fan, should you be concerned that Detroit cancelled its 2009 Indy Racing League race, reducing the IRL schedule to 17 races? You bet.
Sure, Detroit—with all the tumult surrounding…
IMS, Foyt ink sponsor deals
Four companies signed deals to be presenting sponsors for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Centennial Gala: Just Marketing International, Old National Bank, the Indiana Pacers and Honda. Financial terms of the deal were not…
Dallara comes to aid of IRL
In an effort to reduce costs for Indy Racing League teams during the 2009 season, Dallara will lower the price of parts for its IRL chassis.
The manufacturer plans to reduce the cost of general…
O’Reilly Raceway Park upgrading
O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis officials recently announced a plan for the next phase of the ongoing facility improvement project that has been underway for much of the last decade at the historic…
Outreach pays off for Sarah Fisher
Indy Racing League team owner and driver Sarah Fisher will step away from her office at her race shop to guest co-host the Smiley Morning Radio Show on WZPL-FM 99.5 along with Dave…
IRL inks global broadcast deal
The Indy Racing League today announced an extension of its long-time association with ESPN International for worldwide (excluding the United States and Brazil) distribution of IRL broadcast rights until 2010, with a further…
IRL star makes “inappropriate” ad
Indy Racing League driver Danica Patrick last week finished filming a pair of Go Daddy TV commercials in Los Angeles that will air during Super Bowl XLIII on Feb. 1. The Arizona-based domain…
Danica tops Tiger, Manning
Indy Racing League driver Danica Patrick topped golfer Tiger Woods, quarterback Tom Brady and Super Bowl champion Eli Manning and his brother Peyton as the most searched for athlete in 2008, according to America Online’s…
Ethanol debate still burning hot
Debate over the Indy Racing League’s decision to partner with a Brazilian ethanol provider is still burning white hot. The one thing the IRL might have overlooked is that the in-fighting in the…
NASCAR sponsors lead IRL
The newly released Joyce Julius sponsorship value numbers for NASCAR are pretty sobering. They dwarf those of the Indy Racing League.
Lowe’s, the primary sponsor for this year’s NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, garnered television exposure valued at $200 million….
Local firm brokers huge F1 deal
When I first met Zak Brown in 2001, it was to interview him for a story about his mostly unheard of company, Just Marketing. At the time, I was writing a “Small Business…
Tony Stewart stops horse slaughter
Say what you want about Tony Stewart, he’s OK in my book. His foundation does lots of good work for causes benefiting children and animals. So if he sometimes gets a little caustic after races,…
Target wins IRL exposure race
Target, the primary sponsor of 2008 Indy Racing League champion Scott Dixon and his teammate Dan Wheldon, secured $16 million of exposure value during race broadcasts this past season, more than twice the…
’09 title sponsor hopes evaporate
Efforts to land an Indy Racing League title sponsor have turned to 2010. Just two months ago, IRL officials said a deal appeared imminent. In October, the economy stifled negotiations. Now, almost all…
IMS moves might spur development
It’s been a big year for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indy Racing League. The IRL has seen some growth in this season of unification, with more viewers overall for the IRL and…
McCain loss a hit to motorsports
John McCain’s loss to Barack Obama in Tuesday’s presidential election is a loss not only for staunch Republicans and conservatives, it’s also a loss for motorsports.
I know, there are more pressing presidential issues,…
Engine makers await IRL specs
While most Hoosiers are headed for the polls this election day, Indy Racing League teams and officials are headed to Las Vegas for their post-season banquet at The Palms Casino Resort tomorrow.
Word coming from series officials as they get ready to…
Tony George ripped in Australia
The honeymoon in Australia between the Indy Racing League and locals ended almost before it began. The day after local newspapers published huge sections featuring the IRL race and drivers, local stories came…
Aussies petition IRL to stay
The Indy Racing League is being greeted with much fanfare in Australia this week, but it remains doubtful the open-wheel series will return to race at Surfer’s Paradise next year.
The first two days…