Letter: Media hurts the IRL

Ron@lasvegassun.com

Friday, Sept. 8, 2000 | 1:41 a.m.

Regarding the IRL leaving Las Vegas:

You really need to stop trying to imitate (Indianapolis Star columnist) Robin Miller -- one, he already has the job (as anti-IRL spokesman) filled, and two, you're not very good at it.

You write "(IRL spokesman Bob) Reif wrongly accused LVMS officials of failing to properly market and promote this year's race, but the IRL's lack of success in Las Vegas cannot be blamed solely on the track's efforts."

What did the track do to promote the race, next to a small scattering of billboards and a few late night TV ads?

I will give you that Reif's comments were ill-timed. But to say that (IRL founder) Tony George ruined the Indy 500 is asinine. The place is still sold out year after year.

Maybe if the Las Vegas media would have better supported the IRL event instead of constantly talking about the so-called war between the IRL and CART, the event would have been better accepted.

-- KENNY ALLISON

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