Brian France not willing to do a Nationwide/IndyCar joint weekend (Update)
I am willing to bet any of those Kool-Aid drinkers that NASCAR will do everything humanly possible on NBC to ensure IndyCar's failure. I agree with you guys, IndyCar should run, not walk, to ABC and ESPN and do a deal to put all their races on ABC and ESPN. ESPN is the go-to channel for all sports fans. They are what 'Kleenex' is to tissues and 'Band-Aids' are to skin wound care.
Being the only form of motorsports on ABC//ESPN they will get the attention they deserve, especially on SportsCenter and their other media outlets. They already have the Indy 500 and six other races. ABC and ESPN are also in more households, every hotel room and every sports bar around the country. And by being on one consistent network race-to-race promotion can be strong. Those Kool-Aid drinkers had better take off their rose colored glasses. Mordichai Rosen, Los Angeles, CA
07/25/13
Q: Is IndyCar a friend or foe to NASCAR?
A: “We consider it a friend. We can’t win when other people lose. We would prefer to see a healthy IndyCar Series. I know we’ll help them significantly by moving to NBC and the NBC Sports Network. We’ll give a lot of visibility to that network and that in turn will be good for them. Our hope is that they will get stronger because we run at a number of the same venues and if they can contribute to those venues that need all kinds of capital and improvements (that) would be a win for us."
Q: Are you willing to pair a Sprint Cup or Nationwide Series race with an IndyCar race at the same track on the same weekend?
A: “No. Nationwide is significantly ahead of the Indy Racing League in terms of its television ratings and attendance and everything else with the exception, obviously, of the Indy 500. We wouldn’t want to mix that. They have to stand on their own, and we have to stand on our own." Indy Star