I don't know what it is about this guy that sets me off. Maybe it's because I can't quite write him off to any reason yet. Pistone you write off to his own bias and being a company mouthpiece.

Mondaca writes

The Milwaukee Mile date change to the week after the Indy 500 is also very positive. It is not only a nod to tradition, but it also keeps the fan excitement level up as IRL cars will go from oval-to-oval, which should make for great racing.

The question for the 2007 schedule was whether to go to Milwaukee, Texas or Fontana for the date following Indy. The attempt to hijack road course history not of their own by going to Watkins Glen following Indy in 2006 was a failure (surprise).

Now in an attempt to revive history at an antiquated facility that holds only 40k people of which you can't sell out or  as many seats as you can at Homestead (30k) you are goint to Milwaukee instead of Texas (90K-100k) passing on the opportunity to have your two biggest races on the two fastest tracks in a row.

It does not make any more sense today than when the dummies at IRL/NASCAR/ISC came up with it in the first place.

Mondaca again.

Finally, the addition of road course events at Montreal and possibly Belle Isle could bring the schedule a total of five road-course events. That would make the Series more balanced and also make next year’s champion show proficiency on both ovals and road courses – since the outcome of five races definitely makes an impact on the title fight.

First off .Attendance wise outside of St Pete. The IRL on road courses has been a joke. There were only 22k people at Infinion last year and fewer there this year. Watkins Glen was worse.

Competition wise, as bad as the attendance was. The competition was worse. First it's the wrong car despite the big brake package. Second the field except for a handfull or less, are incompetent on road courses.

Given another car and enough time. The latter could repair itself but the public won't be around to watch.

Mondaca confirms our worst fears that The IRL is going to Montreal. Since Racing One is an extension of NASCAR via Brian France.

To a certain extent since Roger Penske is a board member of ISC and it was  Racing One I believe who ran the story on RP wanting a second Michigan date as well as Bell Isle. We can presume for now Roger is going to get his way. That might not be bad. Because Mondaca writes.

Michigan did not have the best attendance figures this season, which is odd considering that the track puts on one of the best shows of the season. With NASCAR NEXTEL Cup events in June and August – maybe there is too much racing in a short time span? The IRL they should look at an early spring date – possibly a switch with the Texas date is in order?

Michigan did not have the best attendance figures last year either. Or The year before or the year before... So how is this some sort of surprise? The racing is good? last year Bryan Herta nealy lapped the field and then through one of the most questionable incidents in racing history was allowed to keep the lead when caught on pit road under caution.

But go ahead. Divide those 35k fans of which the number of bundled tickets is undetermined between two more races. We dare you.

The nice thing about Belle Isle would be that given the small size of the crowd. The facilities would not need improvement.

I am sure that Eddie Gossage would be just thrilled to switch his date with Michigan so it can be held in the hottest part of the Texas summer.

Mondaca writes

Japan. I know that this is an important event for the IRL and its two main partners (Honda and Firestone), it still baffles me that a race is scheduled in the middle of the season outside the continent

What baffles me here is why they have never fixed this races broadcast coverage by rebroadcast here. Motegi has better attendance than 70pct of The IRL schedule. You can race outside of the continent if you make the arrangements for coverage.

Mondaca again

Finally, and most importantly, the season finale date. As our very own Pete Pistone can attest to, Chicagoland offered a great race that came down to the final lap, for both the win and the overall championship – but it was grossly overshadowed by the opening weekend of the NFL season.

As great as open wheel racing is, it cannot compete with the NFL – especially in a city where football is so important. They should move the date back a week to Labor Day Weekend or push it over to Week 2 of the NFL season – when more media and fans can focus on the final race of the year.

Now that makes no sense what so ever.

First there were probably 50k people there. That means it sold twice as many seats as Milwaukee. 15k more seats than Michigan, 20k more seats than Homestead. At least 10k more seats than Richmond and twice as many seats as Kentucky.

Only to watch one of the ten worst races in open wheel history where four cars nearly lapped the dilluted field with the fourth then unable to keep up as well.

The series championship already determined and Sam Hornish under explicit orders not to race for the win.

Nobody else in the field racing for position..

The difference between this years crowd and last years crowd may have been if the Bears were playing at home.

 Should they end the season earlier? Probably. They could start later as well. Homestead needs to be dropped. Mondaca tells us however that will not be the case as other races are added.

In total, the 2007 schedule should include 16 or 17 race dates (depending on Belle Isle) – which should all be confirmed in the “next week to 10 days” according to Indy Racing League President Brian Barnhart.

Well the word from Fontana season ticket holders is that prices are being raised because The IRL is returning.

This brings up an interesting question. If the sanction fee is 2-3 million dollars. Race naming rights 500k dollars. That leaves  1.5-2.0 million dollars un accounted for. Since only 20k fans show up at Fontana and of those the bundled amount and promotional amount are undisclosed. How is this race or 3/4 of the IRL schedule profitable?

I suspect that ISC in fact is subsidizing The IRL.

Its time for the Department Of Justice  and IRS with an army of forensic accountants to do a complete endoscopy of the NASCAR/ISC/IRL relationship.