Future looking
so0od for fans

of Indy

racing

Sport drawing worldwide attention

ONE THING is certain: motor
sports in general and Indy car
racing in particular, are giving
the public more of what it’s
asking for.

By Mare Rovner |
Contributing Writer

Attendance and television audi-
ences have been growing by leaps
and bounds in recent years. Total
attendance for the 1993 season was
over 3.2 million — more than double
the 1986 figure. Average race atter-
dance last year was more than
205,000 per event.

Television viewership has also
risen sharply. Races are now tele-
vised in 89 countries around the
world, with a potential audience of
408 million.

This profitable climate has

attracted the attention of manufactur--

ers and potential sponsors from
around the world, Over the course. of
ihis ‘season, we have seen the debut
of Mercedes Benz, whose engines
powered Al Unser, Jr, to his second
victory-in the Indianapolis 500.
Reyhard,.one of the world's largest
race car manufacturers entered its
first race at the start of the season in
Australia, and won!

Michae! Andretti piloted his
Reynard to a second victory July 17
in Toronto. Honda, whose success in
other forms of racing is legendary,
entered the fray this year.

Honda’s commitment to develop
an engine that was. truly its own
design has met with considerable

frustration. Hlowever, few insiders

duubt that Honda will evens: ally ze
it rignt, and will become a rorce to
be reckoned with.

Next year, Firestone Tire will
retura to Indy car racing after a 30
year absence, Prior to its departure,
Firestone had won at Indianapolis 48
times.

Locking ahead to 1996, Toyota
has plans to enter the series. On the
sponsorship side of the equation, the
changes have also been international
in scope. Not so long ago, Indy car
racing was strictly the domain of
American companies. Today. com-
panies from Japan, Germany,

Mexico, Canada and a host of other
countries have tide sponsorship in
the series.

The type of sponsor has also
changed dramatically. Oi! companies
and automobile parts and accessory
manufacturers used to make up the
bulk of the sponsors. Even though
beer and tobacco companies today
have a very strong presence, food,
chain stores, aluminum manufactur-
ers and European television chan-
nels, to name a few, are anteing up in
increasing numbers for this unique
marketing opportunity.

While all this may sound too
good to be true, there are a few
clouds on the horizon. The most
pressing concern is over the creation
of a competing Indy car style racing
series.

Tony George. owner of the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is in
the process of creating his own
series, As well as potentially diluting
Indy car audiences and participants,
George’s control of the Indy 500, the
biggest event on the racing calendar.
will have serious repercussions with-
in the Indy car organization.

Also of concern are the legislated
controls on tobacco sponsorship
being ‘contemplated in North
America and Europe.

An outright ban already exists in
many European countries, and the
U.S. Congress is currently dealing
with the issue. And if tobacco is

banned, will alcohol be far behind?-

Fortunately, Indy's new-found
appeal for a broader spectrum of
sponsors will help to minimize the
damage, should tobacco companies
be shut out.-

As for Canada’s involvement, we
have more drivers competing in the
series than ever before. Five of the
33 participants currently list
Canadian citizenship, 12 are from
the United States, four each from
Brazil and Italy, and one each from
Colombia, Engtand, France,
Germany, Holland. Japan, Mexico
and Sweden.

While there are some serious
issues to be addressed in the year
ahead, if advance ticket sales for this
year’s Molson Indy Vancouver are
any indication, the future does
indeed look bright.

Training weekend finishes
with a high-speed pursuit

From pore 37

it up a few notches and suddenly
your holding on saying: “My car
can't go this fast, we're going to
crash... how did you just do that?!”

Finally it’s your turn to drive —
slowly at first, following the per-
fect line, practicing heel and tow
downshifting and correct hand
position. Gradually you turn up the
speed as you work on tracking
technique and turn-in points.

By Sunday morning you start to
find your limits. It’s time to fine-
tune all those precise motions and
techniques that enables a skilled
race car driver to dance on the edge
of control lap after lap.

The weekend culminates with a
half hour high speed pursuit.
Dangerous driving is strictly for-
bidden and safety procedures are
rigidly enforced.

A

Slower cars are grouped togeth-
erto keep it interesting and safer.

If you have decided that racing
is in your bload, you're ready for
the next step: successfully com-
pleting your written exam and par-
ticipating in two novice races.

The SCCBC has been organiz-
ing racing events in B.C. since
1951. To date. there have been no
serious accidents in the driver
training program.

The course and training manual
costs $275. Participants must hold
a valid drivers license, use a car in
good safe mechanical condition
and have use of a helmet.

Students may be able to rent a
riace-prepared car from a private
awner. To register for the next
course front Oct. 28 to 30. or for
more information, call The Sports
Car Club hotline at 268-9555 and
leave a message.

ot
Liam

NEWS photo Paul McGrath

VANCOUVER DRIVER Ross Bentley fights off a challenge from fellow Canadian Scott Goodyear.
of Toronto. Goodyear's qualifying time won him the pole position in last year’s race, | but engine
problems forced him to withdraw before reaching the finish line. : :

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