There was a conflict of emotions in the paddock at Assen last weekend, scene of Champ Car's inaugural Dutch Grand Prix.
On the one hand, there was a huge thrill at the crowd, the quality of the facility, the quality of the companies already wishing to be associated with this first-time event, and its promotion.
On the other hand, many of the long timers, the people actually involved in the series, were as gloom laden as in the autumn of 2003, when CART was going through its death throes.