Posted on 06/20/2005 6:38:49 AM PDT by GulliverSwift
Sunday's events at the track left race fans from around the world shocked and angry.
News 8 talked to dozens of people and the common theme was that they may have came here as die-hard F-1 fans but they left not wanting to ever watch another race again.
Thousands of other fans shared that sentiment and were not shy about expressing their anger.
Most fans blamed the fiasco on F-1 rules, others on the company responsible for the faulty tires.
One fan explained his sentiment, "I drove all the way from Nashville with my boy and this is a terrible, terrible travesty. And we won't be coming back, renewing anything, and we're done with formula One."
Swat teams, sheriff's deputies, and dozens of state police were all on hand after the race started with plans in place in the event of a riot. Fortunately, fans staged non-violent protests.
Many were chanting, "Refund! Refund! Refund! Refund!" While others lined up outside the speedway administration building demanding refunds, "Somebody has to pay for the time and the money that we have spent. Some people have flown from around the world just to see this race and Americans as well," an outraged fan told News 8.
Others returned memorabilia for a sport they say they love no longer, "I want to return this t-shirt. I want my money back for it. I don't want to support F-1 anymore. This is a joke. This is a joke," one fan said.
Another fan agreed, "If they can't do the right thing, then cancel the race. Don't bring people in for something like this. This is stupid."
As for the future of F-1 racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway? Fans say don't hold your breath. Some fans think that after this contract's run out, it will not be here. They say next year's the last year and they think attendance will be down because of Sunday's events.
Speedway officials say no word yet on whether fans will get ticket refunds but one fan said even if that happens he's still never coming back
F1 is a joke? Why?
WRONG!!
They weren't protesting Michelin Tires.
Get your facts straight.
Yawn...
Watching oval track is like watching a cat chase it's tail for hours at a time.
Road course racing is 100Xs better than oval track. F1 drivers can turn left AND right. Imagine that...
In white broncos?
bridgestone also got a HeadsUp from firestone about the track resurface job too...
no, they don't... that's what this is all about.
I'm no fan of Bob Kravitz (the Indy Star's "ace" sports columnist), but he hits the nail on the head squarely in this AM's 6/20 column:
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050620/SPORTS0103/506200369
sorry...
Yah, I typed too fast and didn't proof it (mutter, grumble...). Sorry for misleading you.
They've run there 6 previous times without tire problems. One would think they would have had all of their European ducks-in-a-row by now.
Spellchecker is your friend....
The track was recently resurfaced which added to the problem.
Personally, I still think the track stinks.
Best line in the article. He makes some very good points.
I love all forms of racing, but things like this make F-1 my least favorite. I agree that the Indy road course stinks. Indy is made for one thing only -- High speeds on the oval. They should have taken that race to Don Panoz's Road Atlanta track in the first place.
Who won?
Never mind.
Sears Point, Watkins Glen, Mid Ohio....Laguna Seca, Sebring,
Plenty of nice places for a road race...
Herman the German won.
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