Paul Tracy said it all.
"Good rating on the first race, that’s a good sign for sponsors," he wrote.
Canada’s best racing driver currently not driving racing cars was commenting on the news that Sunday’s INDYCAR Grand Prix of St. Petersburg delivered the series’ highest U.S. overnight rating in Nielsen metered markets for a race since 2007 – a 1.4.
Except for the Indianapolis 500, the last time ABC recorded a rating that high for an Indy car race was in 2007 when the race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course attracted a 1.7.
Of course, Sunday’s IZOD Indy Car Series race had just about everything going for it – beautiful weather in Florida, a three-time series champion winning it (Dario Franchitti), upside-down crashes and a woman battling right to the wire with a series veteran for a podium position (Simona de Silvestro vs. Tony Kanaan).
Final ratings will be announced on Thursday.
Two injured
Both drivers for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing suffered broken wrists in Sunday’s race.
Ana Beatriz , who finished 14th, will undero surgery today (Tuesday) to repair damage done on a restart when she collided with Graham Rahal. And Justin Wilson, who finished tenth, broke his wrist in a collision with Canadian Alex Tagliani.
While Wilson is expected to be ready to race at the series’ next event at Alabama’s Barber Motorsport Park in April, there is a question mark hanging over Beatriz. Perhaps Tracy, who’s signed to drive a third D&R entry in May’s Indy 500, could be pressed into service as her replacement.
Somebody please put *The Thrill From West Hill*, Paul Tracy into a seat so we can see one of the best ever In Indycars. Can you just imagine Tracy being in that crashfest derby last weekend in St.Petersburg ? If it takes an injury (like a broken wrist)then an opportunity exists right now. Get Paul Tracy into a seat and watch TV ratings blossom.
Posted by: John JR Revelle | 03/29/2011 at 01:34 PM
How about Hinch as a stand in????
Too many over the hill gang already there!
Posted by: David White | 03/29/2011 at 02:20 PM