My Plan for the IRL Part II
3) As a follow-up to suggestion number two, I would write an open letter to every car manufacture in the world asking them and encouraging them to compete for glory in the oldest and most prestigious race in the world. I would tell them that the 500 and the IndyCar Series is going back to the ways of yesteryear when it was basically a “run what you brung” event. If a car or chassis company has a better idea on how to create and develop an open-wheel car, than hell, not only I will tell them to come on out and see how they stack-up against everyone else, I’ll greet them at the gates of the speedway welcoming them with open arms. Let’s not forget there was a time when a rear-engine IndyCar was considered outlandish. Let’s encourage and promote freethinking. Who knows, it might even lead to some good racing.

4) I would immediately fire Brian Barnhart and hire a competent race director who has the respect of the drivers. I’m not knowledgeable enough to tell you exactly who that person is, but what I can tell you is whoever I hire to call the shots on raceday can’t possibly be any more incompetent than who you currently have now.

5) I’m not privy to the exact and precise economics of IndyCar racing, but what I can tell you is people are sick and tired of seeing the same four red cars competing for wins week after week. In racing there will always be the haves and the have-nots. There’s little you can do to ensure that every team is competing on an equal playing field and each with the same amount of resources available to use, but there is no denying that right now the gap between the rich and the poor is as large as it has ever been at any other point in open-wheel history.

What can be done you ask? I’m not 100% sure. I have some ideas. The first thing I would do upon being named president of the IRL would be to talk to the teams firsthand and see what they say about ways we could cut costs and trim the fat. I know for sure that by bringing in more car companies there would be greater opportunity for some of the smaller teams to get a piece of the pie. Remember how Chip Ganassi’s team became so dominant? Yes, he had put the pieces in place, but it wasn’t until he hooked-up with Honda that his team became the dominant force that we know it as today. Don’t you think the same thing could happen today if say, Audi entered the sport and poured money and resources into a team that has shown promise, but just needs that missing ingredient to put itself over the hump? I guarantee you that you would see more equality in the sport if we opened our doors to other car manufactures.

Yes, the economy is down and the auto industry has been ravaged, however, there are car manufactures out there that still see motor racing as a wise investment and as way to market and develop their name and product. Take Toyota for example and their continued support of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Let’s welcome these companies with open arms and embrace the fact that they are willing to spend money with us. In turn our product would become more competitive, this I promise.
Posted: 7/2/2009 8:26:19 PM
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