Post by schumacher180 on Oct 19, 2012 22:23:09 GMT 1
Hey schumacher180,
Besides your position as the #1 driver at Team Penske, many would forget that you're also the founder of this league. We are curious about how you do think about how the league is doing and it's future. We'd like it very much that you gave us the possibility to ask you a couple of questions.
Q: How was the first ever IRL season?
A: "It was a great one. We had more participants than we expected and with the exception of the opening round at St. Petersburg and the season finale, everything went as planned during all the race weekends. The season finale was an issue already before the season started, because we had canceled the race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway but luckily we found in Auto Club Speedway a great replacement."
Q: Is season 2 going to be as successful as the first season?
A: "In all my honesty, I doubt it if we talk about participants but if we talk about organization and events; It definitely will."
Q: There are rumors flying about the season 3 schedule already, what can you tell us about it?
A: "The rumors are very much true, we are working on getting 3 double header weekends at Belle Isle, Toronto and Houston. We are also working on a return to Kentucky Speedway and we want to race at Pocono Raceway and Chicagoland Speedway as well. Houston should have been on this years' schedule but discontinued due to some circumstances. We are looking forward to have a 22 race schedule in season 3. Another note is that season 3 will be the first ever IRL season to happen in one year (2014)."
Q: What races are going to have a bright future and which not?
A: "Almost every race which is on the season 2 schedule is going to have a bright future in the IRL, with a couple of exceptions. For Michigan, Daytona and Cleveland it is not likely that they will return in 2014 but we think we will have a long future with venues such as Belle Isle, Houston, Fontana and Pocono."
Q: Can you tell us something about the Dan Wheldon IndyCar Challenge?
A: "Yes, I definitely can. The Dan Wheldon IndyCar Challenge will be introduced in 2014 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. If the driver who qualified last on the grid, will manage to win the race, he will get awards such as the pole position for the season finale and pole position for the next Indianapolis 250 in season 4 as well."
Q: Could you give us an indication about the balance between road/street courses and ovals for season 3?
A: "Yes, it's likely that season 3 in 2014 will feature 13 road/street races and 9 oval races."
Q: Are you as a driver, going to defend your championship in season 2 successfully?
A: "I cannot say anything about it at the moment, I expect to win at least 2 races and to finish in the top 3 in points. Hopefully we will defend our championship successfully, but it's hard to give an indication about this already."
Okay, thanks for your time!
"No problem, you're welcome as always!"
Besides your position as the #1 driver at Team Penske, many would forget that you're also the founder of this league. We are curious about how you do think about how the league is doing and it's future. We'd like it very much that you gave us the possibility to ask you a couple of questions.
Q: How was the first ever IRL season?
A: "It was a great one. We had more participants than we expected and with the exception of the opening round at St. Petersburg and the season finale, everything went as planned during all the race weekends. The season finale was an issue already before the season started, because we had canceled the race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway but luckily we found in Auto Club Speedway a great replacement."
Q: Is season 2 going to be as successful as the first season?
A: "In all my honesty, I doubt it if we talk about participants but if we talk about organization and events; It definitely will."
Q: There are rumors flying about the season 3 schedule already, what can you tell us about it?
A: "The rumors are very much true, we are working on getting 3 double header weekends at Belle Isle, Toronto and Houston. We are also working on a return to Kentucky Speedway and we want to race at Pocono Raceway and Chicagoland Speedway as well. Houston should have been on this years' schedule but discontinued due to some circumstances. We are looking forward to have a 22 race schedule in season 3. Another note is that season 3 will be the first ever IRL season to happen in one year (2014)."
Q: What races are going to have a bright future and which not?
A: "Almost every race which is on the season 2 schedule is going to have a bright future in the IRL, with a couple of exceptions. For Michigan, Daytona and Cleveland it is not likely that they will return in 2014 but we think we will have a long future with venues such as Belle Isle, Houston, Fontana and Pocono."
Q: Can you tell us something about the Dan Wheldon IndyCar Challenge?
A: "Yes, I definitely can. The Dan Wheldon IndyCar Challenge will be introduced in 2014 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. If the driver who qualified last on the grid, will manage to win the race, he will get awards such as the pole position for the season finale and pole position for the next Indianapolis 250 in season 4 as well."
Q: Could you give us an indication about the balance between road/street courses and ovals for season 3?
A: "Yes, it's likely that season 3 in 2014 will feature 13 road/street races and 9 oval races."
Q: Are you as a driver, going to defend your championship in season 2 successfully?
A: "I cannot say anything about it at the moment, I expect to win at least 2 races and to finish in the top 3 in points. Hopefully we will defend our championship successfully, but it's hard to give an indication about this already."
Okay, thanks for your time!
"No problem, you're welcome as always!"