SEPTEMBER 29, 2006

The non-logic of calendars

The calendars of Champ Car and the Indy Racing League have now been released and they create a number of strange date clashes with each other and with Formula 1. The biggest clash is May 27 with the Monaco GP clashing with the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600, one of NASCAR's biggest races of the year, at Charlotte. The logic of having the biggest F1 race, the biggest IRL race and one of the top NASCAR events on the same weekend is questionable but it seems that the racing authorities cannot think beyond their own individual turf and look at motor racing as a single entity in competition with other sports and activities.

The Canadian Grand Prix clashes with the Champ Car race in Portland, Oregon and there is an Indy Racing League event in Texas on the same weekend, while there is an insane clash on July 8 with IRL racing at Watkins Glen in upstate New York and Champ Car racing in Toronto, which will split the fans and thus reduce the spectator numbers at both races.