Will Champ Car return to Road America?

Another matter that came up at Newman/Haas in Denver was the subject of Elkhart Lake. As Robin Miller said on our audio roundtable this week, if Milwaukee doesn't produce a much bigger crowd next year Champ Car should forsake the venerable old oval and put every effort into returning to Elkhart Lake.

It's a well-known fact that Road America is the USA's greatest road course, a rare road circuit where the drivers can pass and race and put on a great show. Unfortunately, events at Road America are very poorly promoted, resulting in the absence this year of the great track from the Champ Car schedule. Robin and I agree that a renewed effort to return to Elkhart Lake, complete with some vigorous promotion in the nearby Chicago market could make Road America a valuable round in the series. Racing in rural Wisconsin would also support the sport in all its many forms down to the grass roots of club racing including the track's Skip Barber school.

"I agree," Carl Haas commented. "It's a beautiful track and there are some great golf courses and hotels nearby. People say it's too far out in the boonies, but you know I sold the biggest sponsorship deal I ever made for Formula 1 and CART back in the eighties at Elkhart. Jim Dutt from Beatrice came to Elkhart and he just fell in love with the place and with racing there." ChampCar.ws