IndyCar hoping stunt attracts more attention

INDIANAPOLIS — Randy Bernard would do anything to get more fans watch races from IndyCar. fantasy driver Intros? Double-file restarts? Celebrity feature? Check, check and check.Next month, even the Indianapolis 500 will try something different during its traditional prerace festivities — sending an unnamed Hot Wheels stunt driver down a huge ramp in an attempt to break the world record for a four-wheeled vehicle.Crazy, Yes and fun, too. "" I'm a big believer that you have to give the fans a great experience and you do so with enthusiasm and value, said Bernard. "This isn't some Fly operation. (Father of hot Wheels) Mattel has invested millions of dollars, and I think he can offer somewhat younger demographic for our series. "This is not the first time that a savage blow has been associated with auto racing.Thrill shows were common in prerace fodder 1940s and Humpy Wheeler NASCAR upped the ante with some of the more outrageous promotions in race history. His stunts included everything from a recreation of the invasion of Grenada, 1980 with commands of the army helicopter rappel to the attempt to break world record for longest jump by a school bus.Wheeler, apparently nothing was off-limits and almost everything worked.My show stunt family played in Charlotte and Texas, and I remember walking around Loudon, NH, on two wheels, "President of Daytona International Speedway Joie Chitwood said. "Humpy always did crazy things to blow up the show in Charlotte".Wackiness uncanny Wheeler helped transform NASCAR regional player in one of the premier sports leagues in the nation, and now the IndyCar Series is expecting the same Foundation will help attract more young fans to open-wheel racing.The stakes are high.Hot Wheels has a multi-million dollar training center in an unknown location in the Western United States is hoping that stunts will add older buyers for a market traditionally reserved for children. The investment also means that Hot Wheels is looking to make more than one show.He won the interest of other sports tours where they have motorcycles, BMX, performing this kind of thing, "Vice President of marketing, Simon Waldron said. "But no other race still control".IndyCar, which has a partnership with Hot Wheels, hopes to tap a market for positions and improve the television ratings that have been delayed for years younger.While there is no guarantee of stunt next month will increase the frequency of the most prestigious race of the series, which is already with guides most visited sports event of single-day of the world, the speedway is selling tickets to get a panoramic view of the jump in the fourth round.Beyond collusion — which features a ramp coming out on a 100 ft drop, something that a child can do with your little metal cars — generated conversation about race more than a month before drivers are said to start their engines. "You certainly have their traditionalists who don't like him, and, Yes, there are people who will tell you that, but there are also many people who will say that this is fun, is pure and we're excited to see him," said Jeff Belskus, CEO of the Indy speedway. "I would say that more people are excited and interested than those who aren't, and for a long, 4 to 1 5 to 1, 6-1, something like".The nonscientific indicates interest across lines of race and runs deeper than fans of IndyCar hard-core. Waldron told the Associated Press this week that ABC will carve a postrace slot of 30 minutes to broadcast the collusion between the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600. NASCAR Count Chitwood, predecessor of Indy Belskus, among viewers. "I definitely will want to see what happens with this coup," said Chitwood, part of the Show Can family Joie Chitwood Thrill stunts alone rekindle interest in IndyCar racing?Probably not.Eddie Gossage, President of Texas Motor Speedway and another sponsor master, believes daredevils have less appeal in the world of sports today because the lack of big names and fans who want something different that flocked to extreme sports.But the biggest problem may be the limited capacity of most of the tracks to keep these events in the race weekend. "My understanding is that this is more like a car rally, which is really hot among younger people, "said Gossage, which hosts NASCAR and IndyCar racing and wants to see the jump. "But it is not something that your average strip may withdraw because it is very expensive, and most of the tracks, you would get all ramps and other things outside of the track before the race. It is not easy to do, in short order. "Instead, Gossage believes most of the race organizers should focus on bringing great talent for concerts or adding quick-hitting, intriguing promotions that do not affect the start of the race.Bernard claims stunts can help a series that has struggled to hold and attract viewers. Last year, only one race drew a television rating of more than 1. 0. the Indianapolis 500 had a 3.63 rating and only 4 million viewers — total race since she was the first live broadcast in 1986. Clearly, something that needs improving and Bernard thinks he knows how to do it.Before becoming IndyCar, he led the Professional Bull Riders a niche Organization for national Entertainment Player. Pilots went through a ring of fire during presentations and cowboys were evacuated from 120 feet over a wire Guide. Yes, even stunts have been used to attract and keep fans.And Bernard believes he can work here, too. "Bernard Humpy Wheeler and Bruton Smith have done things like this for decades, and it should be part of the show, "he said. "I think he can offer in a slightly younger demographic, so let's see."