No News Is….Bad News.
Written by George Katinger · December 9, 2005
Amidst the news of laid off team members, loss of sponsors and engine manufacturers, and historic car auctions, we are waiting for one tidbit of positive information regarding the IRL. The silence is thunderous!
theglobeandmail.com: IRL founder’s position gets weaker every day
Indystar.com: IRL’s ‘06 outlook fuzzy
Jeff Pappone’s story highlights all of the recent ills and negative publicity befalling the IRL. Nothing new here, just an excellent recap of where the league sits and what the prospects look like. Dim, to say the least.
The most telling point of Jeff’s article is the Honda money spread around the entire league. And the bigger question is can they sustain it? In addition to the rumored $30 million annual support of Andretti Green Racing, Honda’s yearly budget for the league is rumored to be in excess of $100,000,000.00! All spent in an effort to dominate (which they accomplished) Toyota, to the point Toyota has said sayonnara IRL.
What is left open is the question of what, if anything, Tony George is doing to solve the problems or at least mitigate the flow of damaging publicity? We need you the most right now, Tony, where are you?? With the Indy 500 in his pocket, many of the IRL faithfull relentlessly question the IRL’s need to merger with Champ Cars. The reason is there may not be an IRL by 2007. I think the question may reverse itself and become why does Champ Car need the IRL or the Indy 500?
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9 Responses to “No News Is….Bad News.”
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I think the Indy 500 would extremley help CCWS. But, I am bit puzzled. If Tony has so much money, why would the IRL die out? And if it does, would he sell the Indy 500 to CCWS?
A little history. Nixon may have gone to China, a southern president may have signed the voting rights act (Johnson); and NASCAR will race in China before TG sells IMS to Kevin Kalkhoven.
Not to mention hell freezing over!
George, re your Nixon analogy; I’ve tried (desperately!) to come up with one of my own, involving a AOWR “Deep Throat”, alas, I have failed!
NASCAR in China? If Mao can convert a billion people with nothing but a little red book & a long march, I’m sure the France’s can do the same.
George would burn down Indy before he lets champ car race there.
Unless of course they changed their name to IRL…
Peter: Does “AOWR” = American open wheel racing?
If that’s your reference how could you possibly overlook Danica???
Bad, no, HORRIBLE managment. Living for one race, the Indy 500. There are OTHER races than that one race!
They added two road courses this year, but you could tell they really didn’t WANT to, they felt like they HAD to.
Oval open wheel racing just doesn’t work. They can’t bump and grind like NASCAR, that’s what the fans like.
Even with the Danica rage, the pathetic IRL can’t turn the ship.
I think it’s interesting that Toyota is getting out after 2006, but there trying to get into F1, AND NASCAR even more.
Very telling if you ask me.
Peter: Does “AOWR” = American open wheel racing?
If that’s your reference how could you possibly overlook Danica???
Yes George, I did kind of leave that gag (forgive the pun) out there for you to jump on.Guilty as charged.
Thank you Peter, a comedian (or clown, in my case) is sometimes only as good as his straight man!