Ever wonder what it costs to race in the Indy 500?

[bishir]

I found this interesting, perhaps you will too?

http://www.indystar.com/article/20130512/SPORTS0107/305120026/Want-run-an-IndyCar-Speedway-month-Open-your-wallet

[Barry Donovan]

that is some hefty costs.. but very publicized.

I was reading local, long term racers at very small tracks, like speedway 95 or unity (ricky craven raced there)

I was at unity when I was 15, watching some crazy ass driving, cars could cartwheel, they all looked like crap. I still wonder if ricky craven was there when I was watching with my family. middle 1980s. crazy place.

cost was everything back then. gas was less than a buck.
I wanted to be a driver, I was 140 pounds at 17yrs old. I even helped install a roll cage into a 70 something cutlass..showed up at a race night to check it out. Never went ahead with anything.

I saw a decent comparison which makes it possible..
too young to be golfing, but with the same funds as a well to do retirement, an abyss to feed easily.

[bishir]

If I hit powerball I'd drive a car.

[Mr4Speed]

Spec racing is expensive-it costs a lot to be boring.

[pdub]

If I hit powerball I'd drive a car.

Many years ago I was at Mama and Daddy's house and we were all downstairs watchin the NACAR race at Talladega. They had the Big One, the 32-car pileup that always happens.

Mama said, "They were just going too fast, all of them."

I did NOT say, "Mama, that's why it's a race." I did NOT say that.

And Mama could have never fathomed open wheel cars, where if you touch wheels, oh my.

From my infinitely finite wisdom I think two things are inherently dangerous - open wheel cars and helicopters. Both of those things will work well, long enough for you to think everything is alright, but time will catch up with ya. Either way.

[SpiderGearsMan]

Indy cars are freaky looking these days
they have always been too expensive

[pdub]

Indy cars are freaky looking these days
they have always been too expensive

Can you spell "carbon fiber?" I can't. It's too expensive to even spell.

[Scott Liggett]

It doesn't sound crazy expensive considering other major motorsports. The race is not just one weekend either. Between practice qualifying, and the race; its three weekends.

A Nascar team costs $20,000,000/year. That's $555,555/per race.

[pdub]

It doesn't sound crazy expensive considering other major motorsports. The race is not just one weekend either. Between practice qualifying, and the race; its three weekends.

A Nascar team costs $20,000,000/year. That's $555,555/per race.

Haulers, driver(s) for that, guys in the shop, the pit crew guys at the track are a pittance compared to that, airplanes to move the driver around....money money money

I sure don't understand it. Watched a few minutes of the Nationwide race at Charlotte today while surfing channels. The cameras wouldn't show it, but the best I could figure, maybe about 1000 fans were there, by my wrong guess, as what the cameras showed. Like they were being careful to not show the empty grandstands but sometimes they messed up and did. A lot more haulers and vehicles in the infield than in the parking lot.

No, I don't get it.

[Scott Liggett]

Haulers, driver(s) for that, guys in the shop, the pit crew guys at the track are a pittance compared to that, airplanes to move the driver around....money money money

I sure don't understand it. Watched a few minutes of the Nationwide race at Charlotte today while surfing channels. The cameras wouldn't show it, but the best I could figure, maybe about 1000 fans were there, by my wrong guess, as what the cameras showed. Like they were being careful to not show the empty grandstands but sometimes they messed up and did. A lot more haulers and vehicles in the infield than in the parking lot.

No, I don't get it.

Yes, they are careful not to show empty stands.

[SpiderGearsMan]

stands at indy are thin ...funny since most of the tickets are comped

[oletrux4evr]

I noticed that too, Jim. Lots of folks (like us) let their tickets go back after the B-team and their V-6s showed up. At least Chevy has engines back in the game.......

[SpiderGearsMan]

those rear wheel fairings are disturbing to look at

[Scott Liggett]

those rear wheel fairings are disturbing to look at

Cant say that I am surprised they have them after how Dan Wheldon died.

[oletrux4evr]

Open wheel racing has always been a dangerous sport......Wheldon's accident was a shame, but not the first. The new fairings suck.