Long-term viability of new races
With the addition of races in Las Vegas and Phoenix (hopefully), I have to ask: What do you think about the long-term viability of these races staying alive beyond the initial couple years?
I've been to San Jose both years it has been around. This year was infinitely better. Long Beach isn't going anywhere anytime soon. I know Champ Car is trying to replicate the success of Long Beach in other markets. Both Phoenix and Las Vegas have hosted open-wheel street races in the past that haven't panned out as hoped. I am a believer in the street race success of the event in Long Beach. As you are deeply involved with motorsports, why do you think these two races will be successful? Why would they fail and how does Champ Car prevent them from possibly failing? I also hate to bring the word up, but I like being optimistic: unification. If we do see a merger, would these two races stand a chance at making it on to a unified schedule that would seem to be packed full with possible races. They are "new" and may not be seen as viable as existing races. I respect your opinions and want to get input from someone who isn't going to float me a line just to make me feel better. Rob Zaebst
Dear Rob, The long-term viability of these two races is good because both races are being put on by wealthy businessman Dale Jensen, who owns major league sports teams and plans to make money from huge downtown redevelopment plans he has in both Las Vegas and Phoenix. He promises to make the races the centerpiece of his redevelopment. We also hear that Long Beach promoter Jim Michaelian is being consulted on both projects and that has to be a good thing.
With any race, it comes down to race promotion and whether fans enjoy the event enough to come back every year like they do in Long Beach. Long Beach is on the waterfront and that certainly gives them a distinct advantage. In that regard LB is sometimes called America's Monaco.
Las Vegas of course has the attraction of gambling and if worked in properly with the casinos, the race can be a huge success. Phoenix we're not so sure about. The downtown area isn't that attractive right 
now. It might be in 5 years after much of the redevelopment is done, but right now it really has nothing very compelling to make people want to come back year after year. And where the pits are located in Phoenix (according to the track diagram on their website) is downright ludicrous. For now we'll take a wait and see attitude. Perhaps Jensen has some big plans for the race that we have not seen yet.
As for the two races surviving if there is a merger, both are 5 year deals so they have to. The bigger question is whether there will be a merger, and when. As I recently wrote, I don't see it happening before 2009 or 2010 because of recent events. I hope I'm wrong and that it happens sooner, but as I understand it, Tony George wants final say (i.e. at least 51%) in a merger scenario and that isn't going to happen (50/50 or no deal), so we have a stalemate. Mark C.