Conference oass::racers

    This is interesting. There are at least three dates (Detroit, Denver,
    and NY) where there is some doubt as to "where" the race will be run,
    and then there is Cleveland. I was talking to some folks the other day
    and it looks like Roger Penske got skanked on Cleveland. It's one of
    his tracks and he is notorious for paying small purses - $400K in 91.
    New Hampshire came along and offered $800K, which seems like the going
    rate for purses these days, and got the date. There is still little
    info at this time as to where the Denver race will be held. It's clear
    that it will NOT be in the same downtown venue used for the first two
    runnings. There's even some talk that there will be another temporary
    circuit for 92, and then there will be a purpose built track used in
    the area. I'll believe it when I see it. (None of the existing local
    circuits could handle an Indy car race.) And where will they run the
    NYC event? Battery Park was mentioned, but I find that hard to believe.
    Any more info on these issues?
    
    Paul
    

When I was last in NYC, early 1989, Battery Park was undergoing a large change.
There was Battery Park City being constructed as well as a large American
Express building (possible world headquarters).  I could very well see a street
course being constucted.  The big problem as we all know is getting the fans
in and out of the area.  It is well served by NYC Subway lines, Staten Island
Ferry, and PATH trains from NJ.  Also it is easy to get there by bus.  As long
as they make it fairly easy to get to and/or have a special park and ride
deal it shouldn't be too bad.

Jilly who_spent_7_years_pounding_the_pavement_of_Manhattan_streets

The idea of a CART race in lower Manhattan is sort of weird to me...I can see it
now close the area up on a Friday for qualifying and practice...I'm sure
that one will fly. Saturday and Sunday the place is pretty deserted thought.
I would also imagine that alot of people would be "working" over that weekend,
possibly reducing paid attendance?. I 've gone the the Meadowlands race a
couple of times and even  thought the course is pretty weak I feel some
loyalty to the race and circuit since one of my best friends did the
paving for the course as it stands... you might remember Mario's line
"I wouldn't let this guy pave my driveway" (read bumpy) after the switch
to the present "modified" oval layout. So needless to say I'm not 
very unhappy when he breaks...Speaking of Andrettis I went to the race in
their hometown and boy what a difference in venues...I mean free parking,
cheap beer at the track and they even let you bring in your own...at
the Meadowlands parking $7 beer $$$$ and the dreaded cavity search for 
unauthorized beverages...


Vin

I heard that they were originally planning on have the course go through
the Times Square vicinity, but they later decided not to put CART before the
whores......


--PSW

    A CART race in NYC would need *a lot* of work to the roads, don't
    you think ? Could Dinkins afford that ? But then again it would be
    in NYC's interest to allow CART pay for the work 8-)

At the CART meeting in Houston this week, they voted to return Cleveland
to the schedule in 1993.  I think Roger promised a bigger purse.  They also
decided that if any openings should occur in 1992 (still a fair possibility),
that Cleveland would be the 'first alternate' location.

Tony George's proposal for a new governing organization was also discussed,
but no decisions were reached.

    Here in Denver, there has been very little news regarding the 1992 CART
    event. Much talk was heard after last summer's event. They will NOT
    have the race in 1992 at the existing site. The new mayor considers the
    downtown site too much of a hassle for too many folks. However, he did
    not want to see the race moved to the suburbs. There are two sites
    considered to be most viable - one near downtown and another in the
    southeast burbs. If I had too bet, I think there will not be an event
    here in 92 (and Cleveland will have its race). BTW, I think Cleveland
    has done a good job over the years presenting their event. They were
    just way too cheap on the purses. But they've fixed that.
    
    On another subject. Have any noters seen the article in the current
    issue of ROAD & TRACK describing the differences between F! and CART?
    The magazines tech editor, who is an engineer, does an excellent job
    comparing and contrasting these two formulae. He quotes Teddy Meyer
    extensively. Teddy points out that the biggest difference weight - an
    Indy car weighs 1550 pounds to an F1's 1114 pounds. Horsepower and
    aerodynamics about equal, though the rules governing each are very
    different. Meyer figures that a 3.5L engine rule would at least triple
    the engine budget for each CART team! Anyway, for you tech heads out
    there, the author includes a terrific chart comparing the two forms.
    Pretty nifty.
    
    Paul
    

    CART announced yesterday that the Denver and NYC races have been
    cancelled for 1992.  Cleveland is back on the schedule, on August 9.
    
    Mike

    After entering the previous note, I went back and looked at the
    original 1992 schedule.  It looks like Elkhart Lake had been scheduled
    for August 9.  Our paper didn't say anything about Elkhart Lake also
    being rescheduled, although it would make sense travel-wise to go from
    Michigan -> Cleveland -> Elkart Lake -> Vancouver.  Unless someone
    else gets better news coverage of racing than we do, we may have to
    wait for next week's Auto Week to get the rest of the story.
    
    Mike