Congrats to Gil and all of Penske for their win at Indy yesterday! But after attending, I felt like the real winner was the fans who were there, in person or spirit because for the first time in a long time, for me at least, it felt like RACE DAY!
From where I sat I could see no “blocks” of empty seats as predicted by the CARToids. The field had the names that were alienated in the split and it was great to have them back. Hopefully Mr. Judd will be able to race next year. But there was something special about race day this year. Sure the previous days of May had rain, no bumping and not a lot of drama. The new rules I feel contributed mostly to that. But for at least one day, the whole thing seemed like the ‘good old days'!
So Tony George, you won. You own the landscape that is open wheel racing in America. Forget about CART. Your aim is to take some of NASCAR's share of fans. But I beg you…It ain't no longer broke, so don't 'fix' it!
Monday, May 26, 2003
Sunday, May 18, 2003
No Bumping at the Speedway
Well here we are a scant 2 days from Bump Day and the word “bumping” is most likely not going to be uttered around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this year. Instead we are going to be lucky to have 33 starters at all. Gee thanks Tony!
The 500 has been reduced to just another race. It no longer carries any distinction with the possible exception of the largest purse. The field will struggle to fill, tickets at this late date are still available. What a mess.
To make matters really bad is the lie that has been perpetrated on the fans. Seven years ago this IRL thing was supposed to bring the best open wheelers into an all oval, all American series. The only thing that is remaining is that the races are all still on ovals, but one wonders how long that will be true.
The fact is this, Tony Georges' massive ego wouldn't allow him to sit idly by while CART toured the world and garnered fans far and wide. He had to be “the Man”. Well I have news for you, he is too stupid to be “the Man” and he has just about killed the greatest race in the world.
Sure the CART drivers are back and I for one am glad. The ones that are here are the best drivers, or close. But it's the hypocrisy that George and Brian Barnhardt spew that this was all they ever wanted. Bullshit! He tried to make it with a bunch of no name wannabes and ended up with Buddy Lazier as a winner of the 500. I don't know Buddy and he may be a hell of a guy but this was a pud driver who usually ran the 500 only. He couldn't cut it as a driver in CART and any bullshit about money is just that. If he were good enough he would have had a ride.
So all of the side-by-side racing the IRL does at all of its other tracks in front of about 20 fans doesn't mean shit to me. It's fun to watch, but it doesn't diminish the fact that George has lied to all of us for 7 years and his civil war with CART has ruined open wheel racing in America.
The 500 has been reduced to just another race. It no longer carries any distinction with the possible exception of the largest purse. The field will struggle to fill, tickets at this late date are still available. What a mess.
To make matters really bad is the lie that has been perpetrated on the fans. Seven years ago this IRL thing was supposed to bring the best open wheelers into an all oval, all American series. The only thing that is remaining is that the races are all still on ovals, but one wonders how long that will be true.
The fact is this, Tony Georges' massive ego wouldn't allow him to sit idly by while CART toured the world and garnered fans far and wide. He had to be “the Man”. Well I have news for you, he is too stupid to be “the Man” and he has just about killed the greatest race in the world.
Sure the CART drivers are back and I for one am glad. The ones that are here are the best drivers, or close. But it's the hypocrisy that George and Brian Barnhardt spew that this was all they ever wanted. Bullshit! He tried to make it with a bunch of no name wannabes and ended up with Buddy Lazier as a winner of the 500. I don't know Buddy and he may be a hell of a guy but this was a pud driver who usually ran the 500 only. He couldn't cut it as a driver in CART and any bullshit about money is just that. If he were good enough he would have had a ride.
So all of the side-by-side racing the IRL does at all of its other tracks in front of about 20 fans doesn't mean shit to me. It's fun to watch, but it doesn't diminish the fact that George has lied to all of us for 7 years and his civil war with CART has ruined open wheel racing in America.
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