Stupid question..Any new CART sims coming?

It would sure be nice.. Anyone know if anybody is planning one..or anything? I hate Nascar! :)

I wish... But after being at the US 500 yesterday and witnessing first-hand the crowds getting smaller & smaller over the years, I wouldn't hold my breath about a new sim... Doesn't it suck being in the minority! ;) Warlock! > It would sure be nice.. > Anyone know if anybody is planning one..or anything? > I hate Nascar! :)

If we want things to change, we have to bombard CART with requests that they actually woo Papyrus away from NASCAR with $$$. Instead of selling the CART license, they should make it worth Papy's while to do a CART sim. At this point, CART needs games more than games need CART. Randy

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>I wish... But after being at the US 500 yesterday and witnessing >first-hand the crowds getting smaller & smaller over the years, I >wouldn't hold my breath about a new sim... >Doesn't it suck being in the minority! ;) >Warlock! >> It would sure be nice.. >> Anyone know if anybody is planning one..or anything? >> I hate Nascar! :)

Randy Magruder http://members.home.com/rmagruder

The only thing close to a sim we will get is the CART game on the SEGA Dreamcast. -- -- Fran?ois Mnard <ymenard/Nas-Frank> -- NROS Nascar sanctioned Guide http://www.nros.com/ -- May the Downforce be with you... "People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realise how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world."

There's one coming out for Dreamcast in Sept. called CART: Flag to Flag. There's a preview at http://www.digitalsports.com/ >It would sure be nice.. >Anyone know if anybody is planning one..or anything? >I hate Nascar! :)

It seems to me that Cart needs a new marketing department. Who ever is in charge, if anyone is in charge, is doing a horrible job. There is to much stuff out there to grab the attention of the consumer for a company to rely on the action of the sport alone to get fans. Cart needs to bring the sport to the fans not the fans to the sport. Look at what Nascar has accomplished. I love Cart but I fear that it may not continue if they don't start making changes. -- Jeff Murchison (Murchman) http://members.tripod.com/grandprixlegends > If we want things to change, we have to bombard CART with requests > that they actually woo Papyrus away from NASCAR with $$$. Instead of > selling the CART license, they should make it worth Papy's while to do > a CART sim. At this point, CART needs games more than games need > CART. > Randy > >I wish... But after being at the US 500 yesterday and witnessing > >first-hand the crowds getting smaller & smaller over the years, I > >wouldn't hold my breath about a new sim... > >Doesn't it suck being in the minority! ;) > >Warlock! > >> It would sure be nice.. > >> Anyone know if anybody is planning one..or anything? > >> I hate Nascar! :) > Randy Magruder > http://members.home.com/rmagruder

>I wish... But after being at the US 500 yesterday and witnessing >first-hand the crowds getting smaller & smaller over the years, I >wouldn't hold my breath about a new sim... >Doesn't it suck being in the minority! ;) I was surprised to see so many empty seats on TV. Jeez, if I had know attendance would be that bad, I'd have bought a ticket MYSELF(I'm in Detroit). Eldred __ Put your message in a modem, and throw it in the ***-sea... remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

Well a guy who used to live across the street from me (moved to Michigan I think) works for the advertising department of CART (showed me some neat commercial slides on paper for upcoming commercials). That was about 1 1/2 years ago though. I dont have his phone #, wish I did, I'd already have told him this a long time ago. -- ------------------------------------------------------------ Adam Zerlin GT Insider Webmaster www.gtinsider.com ------------------------------------------------------------ GT International Championship Organsier http;//spcargt.sports-***.com ------------------------------------------------------------ >It seems to me that Cart needs a new marketing department. Who ever is in >charge, if anyone is in charge, is doing a horrible job. There is to much >stuff out there to grab the attention of the consumer for a company to rely >on the action of the sport alone to get fans. Cart needs to bring the sport >to the fans not the fans to the sport. Look at what Nascar has accomplished. >I love Cart but I fear that it may not continue if they don't start making >changes. >-- >Jeff Murchison (Murchman) >http://members.tripod.com/grandprixlegends >> If we want things to change, we have to bombard CART with requests >> that they actually woo Papyrus away from NASCAR with $$$. Instead of >> selling the CART license, they should make it worth Papy's while to do >> a CART sim. At this point, CART needs games more than games need >> CART. >> Randy >> >I wish... But after being at the US 500 yesterday and witnessing >> >first-hand the crowds getting smaller & smaller over the years, I >> >wouldn't hold my breath about a new sim... >> >Doesn't it suck being in the minority! ;) >> >Warlock! >> >> It would sure be nice.. >> >> Anyone know if anybody is planning one..or anything? >> >> I hate Nascar! :) >> Randy Magruder >> [link lost in import]

On Mon, 26 Jul 1999 15:09:53 -0400, "Jeff Murchison JR" >It seems to me that Cart needs a new marketing department. Who ever is in >charge, if anyone is in charge, is doing a horrible job. Guess CART got the hint: On 27 Jul 1999 00:41:49 -0400, Motorsport News International

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>COHEN, CART REACH MUTUAL DECISION TO PART >DETROIT (July 26,1999) - Carl Cohen, Executive Vice President of Marketing, >and Andrew Craig, CART President and Chief Executive Officer, reached a >mutual decision Monday that Cohen will leave Championship Auto Racing Teams >to pursue opportunities outside the company. >Cohen joined CART in May of 1997 in the position of Executive Vice President >of Marketing. His responsibilities included the development of the company's >overall marketing strategy and the management of its advertising, promotions >and public relations activities. >"Carl has been with CART for just over two years and has made a number of >positive contributions to the company," Craig said. "We wish him and his >family well for the future." >Craig will supervise the Marketing Division on an interim basis. Andy Guest, >Director of Marketing, Nancy Miller Lewis, Research Director, and Ron >Richards, Vice President of Communications, will report directly to Craig. >No timetable has been established for a replacement at this time.

-- David Reimertz

Hmmm? It appears all those empty seats that were so obvious on tv has Carl looking for a new job. Sad to say; If Mr Craig doesnt bring more to Cart racing the organization might go under?? I too was surprised at all the lifeless seats last Sunday. Hope someone will do something but I guess you never know...eh?? Cheers Thom_j. > On 27 Jul 1999 00:41:49 -0400, Motorsport News International > >COHEN, CART REACH MUTUAL DECISION TO PART > >DETROIT (July 26,1999) - Carl Cohen, Executive Vice President of Marketing, > >and Andrew Craig, CART President and Chief Executive Officer, reached a > >mutual decision Monday that Cohen will leave Championship Auto Racing Teams > >to pursue opportunities outside the company. > >Cohen joined CART in May of 1997 in the position of Executive Vice President > >of Marketing. His responsibilities included the development of the company's > >overall marketing strategy and the management of its advertising, promotions

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> >and public relations activities. > >"Carl has been with CART for just over two years and has made a number of > >positive contributions to the company," Craig said. "We wish him and his > >family well for the future." > >Craig will supervise the Marketing Division on an interim basis. Andy

Guest, > >Director of Marketing, Nancy Miller Lewis, Research Director, and Ron > >Richards, Vice President of Communications, will report directly to Craig. > >No timetable has been established for a replacement at this time. > -- David Reimertz

Cool it looks like posting here does get results, in my dreams ;). Well hopefully this will be a good thing and they will get someone in there who has had great success with other products. Who was the people behind the NBA, NHL, Nascar and other sports that haven risen to great fame in the 80's and 90's. The need to pick up those people and get them to work. -- Jeff Murchison (Murchman) http://members.tripod.com/grandprixlegends > On Mon, 26 Jul 1999 15:09:53 -0400, "Jeff Murchison JR" > >It seems to me that Cart needs a new marketing department. Who ever is in > >charge, if anyone is in charge, is doing a horrible job. > Guess CART got the hint: > On 27 Jul 1999 00:41:49 -0400, Motorsport News International > >COHEN, CART REACH MUTUAL DECISION TO PART > >DETROIT (July 26,1999) - Carl Cohen, Executive Vice President of Marketing, > >and Andrew Craig, CART President and Chief Executive Officer, reached a > >mutual decision Monday that Cohen will leave Championship Auto Racing Teams > >to pursue opportunities outside the company. > >Cohen joined CART in May of 1997 in the position of Executive Vice President > >of Marketing. His responsibilities included the development of the company's > >overall marketing strategy and the management of its advertising, promotions > >and public relations activities. > >"Carl has been with CART for just over two years and has made a number of > >positive contributions to the company," Craig said. "We wish him and his > >family well for the future." > >Craig will supervise the Marketing Division on an interim basis. Andy Guest, > >Director of Marketing, Nancy Miller Lewis, Research Director, and Ron > >Richards, Vice President of Communications, will report directly to Craig. > >No timetable has been established for a replacement at this time. > -- David Reimertz

Ok I need to proof my post better. It should have been something like this: Who were the people behind the NBA, NHL, Nascar and other sports that have risen to great fame in the 80's and 90's. The need to pick up those people and get them to work no matter what the cost. -- Jeff Murchison (Murchman) http://members.tripod.com/grandprixlegends > Cool it looks like posting here does get results, in my dreams ;). Well > hopefully this will be a good thing and they will get someone in there who > has had great success with other products. > -- > Jeff Murchison (Murchman) > http://members.tripod.com/grandprixlegends > > On Mon, 26 Jul 1999 15:09:53 -0400, "Jeff Murchison JR" > > >It seems to me that Cart needs a new marketing department. Who ever is in > > >charge, if anyone is in charge, is doing a horrible job. > > Guess CART got the hint: > > On 27 Jul 1999 00:41:49 -0400, Motorsport News International > > >COHEN, CART REACH MUTUAL DECISION TO PART > > >DETROIT (July 26,1999) - Carl Cohen, Executive Vice President of > Marketing, > > >and Andrew Craig, CART President and Chief Executive Officer, reached a > > >mutual decision Monday that Cohen will leave Championship Auto Racing > Teams > > >to pursue opportunities outside the company. > > >Cohen joined CART in May of 1997 in the position of Executive Vice > President > > >of Marketing. His responsibilities included the development of the > company's > > >overall marketing strategy and the management of its advertising, > promotions > > >and public relations activities. > > >"Carl has been with CART for just over two years and has made a number of > > >positive contributions to the company," Craig said. "We wish him and his > > >family well for the future." > > >Craig will supervise the Marketing Division on an interim basis. Andy > Guest, > > >Director of Marketing, Nancy Miller Lewis, Research Director, and Ron > > >Richards, Vice President of Communications, will report directly to > Craig. > > >No timetable has been established for a replacement at this time. > > -- David Reimertz

WOW! Whatever we post he comes true? Rob Swindells should have lots and lots of money. Say, 50,000,000 for starters? And a 5 yr contract to drive for Mclaren in Formula One starting next year. Rob Swindells 4th in Goldline Bearing FFord Championship (12 Points); 8 points behined Championship Leader (as of round 3 of 6)

apparently you could have gotten some for free. lots of places and companies were giving tix out as promotions (i think toyota was giving 2 tix with any dealer service), or to their employees. i heard stories of people being able to get 10 or more tickets at a time. real shame; the race was exciting. attendance would be that bad, I'd have bought a ticket MYSELF(I'm in Detroit). Eldred

Doomsday crap. CART isn't going to go under overnight. Not to mention, I wonder how many seats may not have been filled because of the incident at last year's US 500.

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> Hmmm? It appears all those empty seats that were so obvious on > tv has Carl looking for a new job. Sad to say; If Mr Craig doesnt > bring more to Cart racing the organization might go under?? I too > was surprised at all the lifeless seats last Sunday. Hope someone > will do something but I guess you never know...eh?? > Cheers Thom_j. > > On 27 Jul 1999 00:41:49 -0400, Motorsport News International > > >COHEN, CART REACH MUTUAL DECISION TO PART > > >DETROIT (July 26,1999) - Carl Cohen, Executive Vice President of > Marketing, > > >and Andrew Craig, CART President and Chief Executive Officer, reached a > > >mutual decision Monday that Cohen will leave Championship Auto Racing > Teams > > >to pursue opportunities outside the company. > > >Cohen joined CART in May of 1997 in the position of Executive Vice > President > > >of Marketing. His responsibilities included the development of the > company's > > >overall marketing strategy and the management of its advertising, > promotions > > >and public relations activities. > > >"Carl has been with CART for just over two years and has made a number

of > > >positive contributions to the company," Craig said. "We wish him and his

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> > >family well for the future." > > >Craig will supervise the Marketing Division on an interim basis. Andy > Guest, > > >Director of Marketing, Nancy Miller Lewis, Research Director, and Ron > > >Richards, Vice President of Communications, will report directly to > Craig. > > >No timetable has been established for a replacement at this time. > > -- David Reimertz

lol -- Jeff Murchison Jr HTTP://members.tripod.com/grandprixlegends

I'd say the heat had a lot to do with it. The midwest is HOT right now and the idea of sitting in the sun for several hours plus the drive to/from the track might have deterred some 'casual' fans. -Paul

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>Doomsday crap. CART isn't going to go under overnight. Not to mention, I >wonder how many seats may not have been filled because of the incident at >last year's US 500. >> Hmmm? It appears all those empty seats that were so obvious on >> tv has Carl looking for a new job. Sad to say; If Mr Craig doesnt >> bring more to Cart racing the organization might go under?? I too >> was surprised at all the lifeless seats last Sunday. Hope someone >> will do something but I guess you never know...eh?? >> Cheers Thom_j. >> > On 27 Jul 1999 00:41:49 -0400, Motorsport News International >> > >COHEN, CART REACH MUTUAL DECISION TO PART >> > >DETROIT (July 26,1999) - Carl Cohen, Executive Vice President of >> Marketing, >> > >and Andrew Craig, CART President and Chief Executive Officer, reached

a

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>> > >mutual decision Monday that Cohen will leave Championship Auto Racing >> Teams >> > >to pursue opportunities outside the company. >> > >Cohen joined CART in May of 1997 in the position of Executive Vice >> President >> > >of Marketing. His responsibilities included the development of the >> company's >> > >overall marketing strategy and the management of its advertising, >> promotions >> > >and public relations activities. >> > >"Carl has been with CART for just over two years and has made a number >of >> > >positive contributions to the company," Craig said. "We wish him and >his >> > >family well for the future." >> > >Craig will supervise the Marketing Division on an interim basis. Andy >> Guest, >> > >Director of Marketing, Nancy Miller Lewis, Research Director, and Ron >> > >Richards, Vice President of Communications, will report directly to >> Craig. >> > >No timetable has been established for a replacement at this time. >> > -- David Reimertz

> Hmmm? It appears all those empty seats that were so obvious on > tv has Carl looking for a new job. Bear in mind that the total capacity for Michigan Speedway is 112,000 seats so even if half of them were empty that still means 66,000 of them were full. Hardly, Andrew Craig has brought a level of professional management to CART that was sorely lacking in the past. Under his direction CART became a publicly traded entity so all one need do to check on the fiscal health of the series is enter 'MPH' in any online stock research tool. Doing so will show quarter after quarter of increased revenue and record profits. - George

George, There was a time when Apple computers was recording steady profits thanks to the price tags on their machines and the business they did in certain kinds of markets (academic and graphics). We know what happened to them as a result. Profitability is not the only measure of the health of an organization. Those low TV ratings are noticed by the sponsors. Have you seen Valvoline ditch Mark Martin in NASCAR? I haven't. I was actually relieved that Tony Kanaan won because it meant McDonalds was given some reason not to regret their decision to go to CART. I don't recall feeling this concerned about sponsors in NASCAR or F1, but in CART I worry about every one of them. If enough sponsors jump ship because the sport is lacking in eyeballs, the profits and the stock will follow. Randy

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>> Hmmm? It appears all those empty seats that were so obvious on >> tv has Carl looking for a new job. >Bear in mind that the total capacity for Michigan Speedway is >112,000 seats so even if half of them were empty that still >means 66,000 of them were full. >> Sad to say; If Mr Craig doesnt bring more to Cart racing the >> organization might go under?? >Hardly, Andrew Craig has brought a level of professional >management to CART that was sorely lacking in the past. >Under his direction CART became a publicly traded entity >so all one need do to check on the fiscal health of the >series is enter 'MPH' in any online stock research tool. >Doing so will show quarter after quarter of increased >revenue and record profits. > - George

Randy Magruder http://members.home.com/rmagruder

> There was a time when Apple computers was recording steady profits > thanks to the price tags on their machines and the business they did > in certain kinds of markets (academic and graphics). We know what > happened to them as a result. Their profits fell and so did their stock price. Lately, their profits have been real strong and their stock price has been on the rise. So what is your point, danger lurks around every corner? Past performance doesn't indicate future profits? The long term future is always murky, but we are talking about the past, present, and immediate future and in that time period CART is doing quite well. True, but it certainly beats: 1) 'I heard ratings are down so the series is in trouble' 2) 'I saw a bunch of empty seats at the last race so CART is near death' 3) 'Sponsor X is pulling out of team Y so something must be up' With a trivial amount of research you can answer each and every one of the above and draw an INFORMED conclusion about the true health of the series: 1) TV revenue is given in each quartly report, for the year it is slightly down indicating either fewer races have been run this financial period compared to last (the revenue is collected on a per-race basis) or the per-race TV revenue is less (strongly suggesting that the ratings have gone down). Best to wait for the annual report on this one unless you want to pay for TV ratings (ouch, they cost a bundle). 2) Sanctioning fees are up a bunch which indicates that track owners and promoters are in general happy with the series and therefore willing to pay more. Of course, Cleveland did opt out rather than pay more so you have to take that into consideration as well. You can also check the progress of the big track conglomerates as most of them are traded publicly as well (last I checked they are doing fine [TRK, SPWY, ISCA]). 3) Team sponsors are seldom static (ask Ricky Rudd about that), the whole concept is based on marketing and marketing is a bit of an odd bird. More related to CART itself sponsor revenue is also up big time. So the series looks in pretty good shape to me so why the doom and gloom? If anything I think Andrew Craig should be praised, having watched this series most of my life I can remember when things were truly on the brink of collapse. Until that starts to happen you are just guessing, which is fine, you are entitled to an opinion, however with the amount of information available on the Internet why not strive to do better than that? - George

More accurately, they had high margins, thus high profits, and then as their marketshare dwindled in comparison to PC clones their profits dived. Then they reduced their prices and opened up their architecture but it was too late at that point. The relevance here is that rather than look strictly at the short term, determine whether you can project growth into the future, regardless of what current profits are. I don't see CART projecting real growth into the future. If they were, you wouldn't see the 4 engine manufacturers at IMS talking to Tony George and saying they wouldn't rule out just about any kind of compromise to get back to Indy, and people like Bill France Jr saying there should be only ONE open wheel series. Yes, and the ratings are stagnant at best. If attendance continues to fall, the "happy" promoters are going to do what Cleveland did. I cannot believe that only 45,000 people showed up at Michigan. That's AWFUL and I don't care what spin you want to put on it. Why do you think they are running NASCAR trucks alongside CART events if CART is so strong by itself? How many of those sponsor CART alone? Most of them are doing fine largely because of NASCAR or its support events, not because the stands overfloweth with CART attendees. The biggest draws for CART in terms of crowds are still the road & street circuits (fine by me...I'm a Laguna Seca attendee every year and always will be!) We'll see how long that holds out. Many sponsors have indicated a strong desire to return to Indy and get the series' reunited. They may very well be continuing the status quo with CART while they wait this thing out. If CART goes back to Indy and the series either re-unifies or gets together at Indy again once per year, then their loyalty will be worthwhile. If attendance and TV ratings continue to drop, they will re-evaluate. Because every indicator of long term growth is DOWN while the money itself grows. It's simply common sense to look at where the money is coming from and ask WHY that money is coming from those places, and once you know that, you want to know whether the other non-fiscal trends are going to cause those money sources to begin to dry up. When you see a company like Valvoline, who has been with CART for years, abandon ship, you have to ask yourself WHY? They don't bail if they think they are getting their money's worth from sponsoring a Champ Car. The trend the past couple of years in terms of TV ratings and attendance has been down at most of the tracks (particularly the ovals), and THAT trend is more worrisome than any short term profits can offset, because THAT trend will eventually cause those profits to shrink and vanish. I have. I've read all the interviews with CART's engine manufacturers, I've read the statements about Cleveland and by Valvoline about pulling their support, the continued dismal TV ratings and progressive attendance drops. I've also heard CART's public comments and those of people on the teams. I don't know everything and don't claim to, but I do know that I'm not "just guessing", and I'm FAR from being the only one who is looking beyond the near term profits at the signs of trouble ahead. Clearly some of those included in that list along with me are engine manufacturers and sponsors who are currently trying very hard to reunify the series. The writing *IS* on the wall, and most of the people in the industry know it. CART has a window of time in which to grow their fan base, or they will become even more marginalized than they already are, and I for one do not want to see that happen. CART is easily the best, most entertaining racing in the world (second is British Touring Cars, IMO) and I would like to see CART stop acting like a money-collector and start paying for some marketshare (and yes it can be bought). Let me ask you something: How does Microsoft bury a competitor? Answer: They sacrifice short term profit for long term marketshare. If that means undercutting on price, they do it, if it means GIVING something away, they do it. If it means paying off people to prevent them from going to a competitor, they DO IT. CART's problem is they are still trying to make money in the short term, and they are doing so at the expense of investments they could make into making their marketshare bigger. Another example: How does McDonalds boost the number of hamburgers they sell? Do they make a better hamburger? No. Spend more on advertising? Not really. No, they figured out beanie babies, and they figured out movie tie-ins. They found a way to LURE a customer in, getting them to buy their products in order to get the glitzy stuff that was cheap to offer. I could list off a ton of fairly little things that CART could do to get eyeballs on the screen and fans in the stands....but they do NOT do them. Anyway, I'm probably boring everyone so I'll stop, but I see a profitable Apple in decline here, not a baby AOL in growth. Randy Randy Magruder http://members.home.com/rmagruder

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>apparently you could have gotten some for free. lots of places and companies >were giving tix out as promotions (i think toyota was giving 2 tix with any >dealer service), or to their employees. i heard stories of people being able >to get 10 or more tickets at a time. >real shame; the race was exciting. >>>I was surprised to see so many empty seats on TV. Jeez, if I had know >attendance would be that bad, I'd have bought a ticket MYSELF(I'm in >Detroit). >Eldred

Yes, it WAS exciting. I've been to the Detroit Grand Prix 3 times, including F1, but I've never seen an oval track race. A friend of mine went last year. The tire landed in the next section away from him... Eldred __ Put your message in a modem, and throw it in the ***-sea... remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

>WOW! Whatever we post he comes true? >Rob Swindells should have lots and lots of money. Say, 50,000,000 for >starters? For STARTERS?!? What's your GOAL? Well, there may be an empty seat... <g> Eldred __ Put your message in a modem, and throw it in the ***-sea... remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

80,000 turned out for the Austrian GP. One could look at this two ways - F1 is superior (as the zealots sometimes declare) or CART is still pulling similar numbers as FIA's premiere series. Stephen :> Hmmm? It appears all those empty seats that were so obvious on :> tv has Carl looking for a new job. : Bear in mind that the total capacity for Michigan Speedway is : 112,000 seats so even if half of them were empty that still : means 66,000 of them were full. :> Sad to say; If Mr Craig doesnt bring more to Cart racing the :> organization might go under?? : Hardly, Andrew Craig has brought a level of professional : management to CART that was sorely lacking in the past. : Under his direction CART became a publicly traded entity : so all one need do to check on the fiscal health of the : series is enter 'MPH' in any online stock research tool. : Doing so will show quarter after quarter of increased : revenue and record profits. : - George

For STARTERS?!? What's your GOAL?<< Nothing, I'm just incredibly greedy. Maybe I could buy the nurburgring.... :-) Rob Swindells 4th in Goldline Bearing FFord Championship (12 Points); 8 points behined Championship Leader (as of round 3 of 6)

> 80,000 turned out for the Austrian GP. One could look at this two ways - > F1 is superior (as the zealots sometimes declare) or CART is still pulling > similar numbers as FIA's premiere series. The actual number was 55,000, so it was at less than 50% capacity. That sounds bad until you look up the figure for the previous CART race at Michigan (the U.S 500 where three spectators died) which was 50,000. For those of you out there that claim the attendance for CART is exhibiting a downward trend I offer the following excerpts from the last three Goodyear Racing Attendence reports: 1996 The PPG Indy Car World Series (renamed PPG CART World Series in 1997) raced in two new locations in 1996, at the Homestead Motorsports Complex in Florida, and at the Nelson Piquet Raceway in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. According to Nielsen Sports Marketing, 38.5 million households tuned in to watch the 16 races and support programming on ABC or ESPN. Overall, more than 2,366,000 fans attended PPG Indy Car events in 1996. "In the past, we have always included the USAC sponsored Indy 500 in the PPG Indy Car World Series totals," said Grant. "Since we pulled that figure and put it under IRL's totals, we can not compare last year's total to this year's total. Nonetheless, the series saw attendance increases at a majority of its races in 1996. Next year's figures will allow us to more accurately gauge CART's growth." 1997 The PPG CART World Series (now CART FedEx Championship Series) also experienced record attendance in 1997, as it crowned its new champion Alex Zanardi. Including debut races at California Speedway and Gateway International Raceway, a record 2,491,050 spectators filled the stands at the 17 events, an increase of 5.3 percent over 1996. With additional races in Houston and Japan planned for 1998 and a new title sponsor in FedEx, the series is in position to continue with strong growth. 1998 The Championship Auto Racing Team's (CART) Fedex Championship Series saw a season of attendance growth in 1998, even though rain impacted 37 percent of its events on the four continents the series visited. The addition of two races, in Motegi, Japan, and in Houston, helped propel weekend attendance estimates to 2,529,995, an increase of 1.6 percent over 1997. CART will continue to expand its reach and exposure in 1999 when its Champ Cars race at the newly constructed Chicago Motor Speedway in the third largest metropolitan statistical area in the United States. - George

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>>Rob Swindells should have lots and lots of money. Say, 50,000,000 for >>starters? >For STARTERS?!? What's your GOAL?<< >Nothing, I'm just incredibly greedy. Maybe I could buy the nurburgring.... >:-) >Rob Swindells >4th in Goldline Bearing FFord Championship (12 Points); >8 points behined Championship Leader (as of round 3 of 6)

Well, at least you're HONEST about it. I can respect that... :-) Eldred __ Put your message in a modem, and throw it in the ***-sea... remove SPAM-OFF to reply.