Early May 2005

Today concludes rookie practice for the Indianapolis 500. So far Danica Patrick has been the fastest of the group with Patrick Carpentier and Ryan “Disco” Briscoe close behind. Tomorrow the whole group will take to the field and we will be looking for any surprises that might creep up. Probably most won’t occur until next week.Today I am going to look at the impact FTRG has on US open wheel racing and if he is good or bad for the sport.Back in 1994 Tony George approached the powers that be in CART seeking a board membership. Depending on whom you believe, George was offered a token, non-voting position and laughed out of the meeting. Keep in mind this was the man who for all intents and purposes owned the Indianapolis 500 which CART was still anxious to participate in as it was the key to their season.As we all know, George left that meeting and formed the IRL. Now I have documented the various versions of TG’s “vision” when he created the Indy Racing League and how it has veered more and more off course as time has gone by. IRL fans can sneer when their league is called “CART II” but how can anyone really argue the point?But for all of George’s bluster in the early days of the IRL, I honestly thought he had the best interests of open wheel racing in mind. Nowadays, I have a pretty good idea he not only does not have the best interests in mind, but is focused squarely on killing Champ Car. Now FTRG and his lieutenants rarely ever speak of Champ Car, and boy do his supporters like to bring that up. But do we really have to look any further than what has happened over the past few years to be convinced. Engine leases, an influx of foreign drivers and finally street and road courses. On top of this, is there any doubt that more road courses are on their way? Already there is talk about Toronto and Montreal as well as what will probably be an attempt by the IRL to take Long Beach and then even doing Road America.As they say, actions speak louder than words.Then there is last years fiasco at Portland. The contract with Champ Car was up and it looked like they were going to struggle to get back together. The IRL swooped in and entered discussions for a race in the Rose City. As it turned out, FTRG simply bid on the race in an attempt to raise the price and keep CC out. I have no doubt that FTRG never intended to race at Portland and his intentions were just to injure an already bleeding competitor.The same can be said about the CART bankruptcy hearings where George was intent on buying CART and killing it. The judge saw this and awarded the assets and the bankruptcy to the Three Stooges, Gerry Forsythe, Kevin Kalkhoven and Paul Gentilozzi. George thought he could throw some money around and get his way.You see, there are ways to kill your competition without being an ass or by just throwing money around. What he did in court was make an ass of himself and strengthened what became Champ Car and solidified its fans. If there was a chance they would ever be back at the Speedway, it was gone then. Same with Portland. It also gave CC a bunch of free publicity which they seized upon. Granted they probably aren’t going to make it, but they would be gone by now had George been patient.He is so bent on the end of CART or CC that he can’t see the problems with the IRL. I don’t mind the foreign drivers, but it would be nice if some Americans could get in. I’d like to see diversity in products and equipment. More of a run what you brung mentality. FTRG will continue to be in bed with the Honda’s and Toyota’s until they tire of his series. He’ll continue to add street and road courses until he has all but squeezed out the ovals. He will continue to stomp on tradition at Indy where a steady downturn in interest and attendance have occurred over the past 10 years. The fans who have left because of the change of vision or because they are CC fans aren’t ever coming back, no matter how many road courses he runs. He not only is bad for open wheel racing, he probably will be the one credited with killing it in America.