A rumor rated as 'speculation' is one that has no supporting information
A rumor rated as 'strong' is one where we received information from more than one source.
A rumor rated as 'fact' is one that has proven to be true
A rumor rated as 'false' is one that has proven to be false based on new information
These rumors are just that, RUMORS, and are not to be taken as 'fact'
unless so noted. Please visit our Hot News page for news. If you have a rumor, or can supply
more information about one listed here,
e-mail us with as
much supporting information as possible and we may post it. User Agreement and Disclaimer.
Newer rumors supersede older ones of the same topic. Go to our
forums to
discuss any rumor.
Ticket sales for this year's Brickyard 400 are lagging behind last year's pace, and race organizers worry it could produce a second straight record-low turnout for the July 31 race.
"We don't disclose numbers, but you saw a lot of empty seats here last year, and I think you're going to see more here this year," Indianapolis Motor Speedway president and CEO Jeff Belskus told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Declining ticket sales have already hit two of NASCAR fans' favorite tracks this season - Bristol and Talladega. And Dover, which has traditionally drawn smaller crowds, had empty sections at Sunday's race.
Indianapolis could be the next to see declining numbers.
Last July's attendance estimate was 140,000 - nearly half of the 270,000 that came to the track in 2007.
Belskus concedes that the poor economy and high gas prices have made an impact on ticket sales, but he believes the tire fiasco of 2008 and too many stock car races in the Midwest have also played a part in the decline.
"I'm in the camp that there's oversaturation, too," Belskus said. "It's truck events, it's Nationwide events, and it's Sprint Cup events. When we started this (race) in 1996, we didn't have a Sprint Cup event 120 miles away in Kentucky or 150 miles away in Chicago."
Copyright 1999-2013 | AutoRacing1 is an
independent internet online publication and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed
by IndyCar, NASCAR, FIA, Sprint, or any other series sponsor.
This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without
permission.
