Indianapolis president hopes to make amends for Brickyard tire fiasco

By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
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Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Joie Chitwood.

Rusty Jarrett
Getty Images for NASCAR

NEW YORK – Indianapolis Motor Speedway President and Chief Operating Officer Joie Chitwood says that he hopes to talk with Goodyear and possibly NASCAR about doing something for fans after last year’s tire debacle.
 
With Goodyear’s rubber compound turning to dust and the tires failing after 12 or 13 laps, NASCAR threw the caution about ever 10-12 laps during the 2008 Sprint Cup race so the teams could change tires.
 
Michelin offered fans free tickets after all of the Formula One drivers who used its tires opted not to compete in the 2005 United States Grand Prix at the track, instead pulling off track after the prerace warmup. An extensive ticket giveaway such as Michelin’s might not be the answer, but Chitwood wants to explore ways to make amends with the fans. NASCAR estimated that 240,000 people attended the race last year.
 
“I think there is an opportunity, from a Goodyear perspective, to help us with our customer,” Chitwood said Tuesday during the Street & Smith’s Motorsports Marketing Forum. “It’s a tough spot to be in [when you have] any opportunity to showcase your product and to not do it in a way that makes sense or has a negative feeling.”
 
Making amends a year after the event has happened is a difficult thing for a customer to handle, Chitwood said.
 
“It is very frustrating just from a standpoint that in other sports, we can make things up,” Chitwood said. “There’s 82 basketball games, there’s 162 baseball games [in a season], and if someone is unhappy, you can give them tickets to the next event.
 
“We’ve only got one NASCAR event on the schedule. It’s very difficult to say, ‘We’ll make it up to you next year.’ That answer doesn’t work for me.”
 
Chitwood said he has become an expert on tire issues and expects that even with NASCAR’s moratorium on testing that there will be enough testing for the issues to be resolved.
 
Tracks need to be aware that fans might have to choose to go to fewer events in this economic client, Chitwood said.
 
“Hopefully, we can also invite our NASCAR fans back for a better event,” Chitwood said.

Comments

20 responses to "Indianapolis president hopes to make amends for Brickyard tire fiasco". Post a Comment.
  1. 1
    Darlene's Dad said:
    Dec 3, 2008 at 10:34 AM

    This should be NASCAR's exception to the 'no testing ban.' Test, test, test! Indy should expect a few years of down sales due to the disaster that was the Brickyard in 2008. Why did Chitwood wait so long to come out with this? That's great he's become an expert on tires. So what happened? How will you specifically fix it? They could give a fried chicken box meal to every fan.

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  2. 2
    Ken Matthews said:
    Dec 3, 2008 at 3:42 PM

    SIMPLE SOLUTION, all ticket holders from last year's race if that is what you want to call 10 lap sprints, get "A FREE PASS" to this year's race. Business is business, if they don't take of last year's business they might not have to worry about next year's business.

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  3. 3
    Jamie Temple said:
    Dec 3, 2008 at 3:53 PM

    I agree with his attempts to do something for the fans. I was so mad sitting on my couch watching the thing. I was mad for those fans. I can walk away and do my laundry. They were stuck with paying high dollars for those tickets and they totally got the shaft. I know these times are hard for Nascar. All their numbers for attendance and sales are down. Maybe during these economic times they should come down on some ticket prices and the stand would remain full. Loosing a little money is better than losing alot of money. INDY ticket holders deserve free passes to make up for what happened. Nascar should get the funds from Goodyear to do it. After all they are in charge of the tires and the ones who made the race such a joke

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  4. 4
    William Olson said:
    Dec 3, 2008 at 3:58 PM

    Why did Chitwood wait so long to come out with this?

    I suspect tickets sales STINK!

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  5. 5
    William Olson said:
    Dec 3, 2008 at 4:02 PM

    I did renew for 2009. However it will be for the last time as I received an email this week from Bristol Motor Speedway and now have season tickets to Bristol for the spring and fall races now.

    Been going to Indy since the inception of the Brickyard 400 in '94. I have taken many people to that race for their first experience. Not the most exciting race, especially last year, however they loved the experience.

    I am sure they will enjoy the Bristol experience even more!

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  6. 6
    terrence bridges said:
    Dec 3, 2008 at 4:15 PM

    why does everyone blame everybody but the officials of the race who failed to let the teams do their jobs and race within the conditions of the day.

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  7. 7
    C T said:
    Dec 3, 2008 at 4:34 PM

    Giving free tickets to last years ticket holder is not going to happen. They have to cover expenses of operating the track. A discount is an option that should be explored.

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  8. 8
    K P said:
    Dec 3, 2008 at 5:41 PM

    Terrence - you are on the mark. Like Carl Edwards said several time "We're paid to race no matter the conditions. If it was easy, everybody would do and it would be the great sport that it is today." (Or something similar in nature.) For example, he put the traction of his tires to the limit in that race where he tried to pass JJ on the last lap and ended up hitting the wall. I admire a driver that puts it all on the line, rather than drive around cautiously for 450 miles/laps then tries to get the best finish he can. That's not racing. That's just barely earning your paycheck.

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  9. 9
    K P said:
    Dec 3, 2008 at 5:42 PM

    Sorry for the typos. It's late and time to go home :-)

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  10. 10
    Werner Boehmert said:
    Dec 3, 2008 at 5:44 PM

    William Olson...is this the first time for you for Bristol season tickets?...just wondering if people are starting to give up their Bristol tickets...i noticed alot of empty seats at his year's spring race...went to Indy once...not the greatest place to watch a race, but sitting in the Penske suite was great!!!...

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  11. 11
    Mike Hutton said:
    Dec 3, 2008 at 6:55 PM

    I have been an Indy 500 customer for 30+ years, and a Brickyard 400 customer since inception. I have already renewed my seats (again), and in fact was contacted by the IMS ticket office this week to explain that I have been upgraded. The rep said renewals are at an all time low, partially due (I'm sure) to last year's race plus the economy.

    My question is, since I've already paid for my '09 seats, and now actually owe them a bit more money for the upgraded location (which I'm happy to pay), what will they do for me?

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  12. 12
    Erin Holbert said:
    Dec 3, 2008 at 9:13 PM

    I was there and I haven't renewed my seats yet but will be contacting them after the New Year. I was very disappointed after seeing other terrific races there. I felt as though the race was handed to Jimmie because he had that first pit and easily got out to lead but at the end he did not have the best car Denny and Carl did and one of those two would have won if not for all of the"competition" cautions. I am going to ask for a discount and maybe I'll have even better seats than I had on the Pit Terrace. Those were great seats getting to see the stops up close but was disappointed my daughter, her significant other and his dad didn't get to see a better race for their first time at IMS.

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  13. 13
    Faye Chadwick said:
    Dec 3, 2008 at 9:48 PM

    I was at that race (if that's what we're calling it) and it was a comlete joke. NASCAR, Goodyear and IMS should have done something way before now. They can keep their money & free tickets, I won't be back.

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  14. 14
    Erin Holbert said:
    Dec 3, 2008 at 10:03 PM

    Faye I have to agree it wasn't much of a race--it was a debacle as Carl called it. I left with a sick feeling in my stomach and then had to walk two miles back to the car because the trams weren't running and we had handicapped parking but they sent us clear out north of the speedway. Usually we can get right in at the museum or tower. I should have been happy as I was the other years I have attended but I was left feeling no one really won even though Jimmie got the trophy, kissed the bricks which I got to see,and I got to see them fix Kevin's and Matt's cars up close which was very interesting. Jimmie truly is a good champion for the event but it wasn't really a race.

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  15. 15
    Anonymous said:
    Dec 4, 2008 at 12:10 AM

    Excuse me, Jimmie won the pole and had the first choice of a pit selection...I was there too and THRILLED that my driver won...and have renewed for next year...Go Jimmie! Jimmie was NOT haned the race win..he won it fair and square...

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  16. 16
    terry ruth said:
    Dec 4, 2008 at 4:26 AM

    It is sad when the tires are a big interest than the drivers and the show....I quit on this race half way through out of frustration

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  17. 17
    GO #99 said:
    Dec 4, 2008 at 9:30 AM

    I have been attending the races at Indy since 1962 to include every Brickyard 400. Initially I was one of the complainers about the lack of racing during the 2008 Brickyard... Then when I had time to think about it a little the thought came to me that this was the first time I HAD NOT taken a short nap somewhere during the middle of the race. Yes, I was disappointed they didn't allow the teams to "race the conditions" but I also must admit there would have been a lot of torn up race cars and possibly several drivers in the hospital if NA$CAR had not mandated the pit stops. I viewed the race much like I do the local Saturday night dirt track as a series of heat races where they raced as hard as possible for 10 laps at a time. Bottom line, I'm going back in 2009 but as usual I will attend the Brickyard for the "spectacle" and IRP for the racing!

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  18. 18
    RONALD J OLSON said:
    Dec 4, 2008 at 12:21 PM

    It's too late for me. My brother and I have had tickets for the Brickyard 400 since its inception. We started with tickets across from pit 40 and have slowly moved down the frontstretch. Indianapolis is not the best track for watching racing but we have always enjoyed the "sights and sounds and smells" of being at the track. But no more! We've decided to give up our tickets to Indy and start attending races at Iowa Speedway.

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  19. 19
    William Olson said:
    Dec 5, 2008 at 2:50 PM

    Werner, Doubt you will check, but yes, this is the first time I have purchased tickets on my own. A friend has had tickets forever so I usually buy his.

    These are seats in The Earnhardt terrace. When I looked they had tickets anywhere in the track. You just have to commit to all four races.

    What I find interesting, is I know someone who has been waiting for years to get tickets and is on the list and he has heard nothing. I bought a shirt online 4 years ago and I received the buy now email! Go figure.

    All tickets will be on sale to the general public Dec 19th. And Bristol has a payment plan also.

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  20. 20
    Rich Crist said:
    Dec 13, 2008 at 3:12 AM

    WOW!! Only 4-5 months after the fiasco, and they're already actually thinking about doing something!!! You'd have to be a total idiot to ever think about going to this track.

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