The exodus of talent continues with current IRL and Indy 500 champion Dario Franchitti heading to NASCAR along with former Indy 500 champions Jacques Villeneuve and Buddy Lazier.  In fact, the IRL has sunk so low that it should now be considered a feeder series to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series given that two former Indy 500 champions are stepping into truck rides in order to establish themsleves in NASCAR.  I still remember the pre-IRL days when an Indy 500 victory would open the door to a good seat in any top level series.

http://www.racingone.com/article.aspx?artnum=38164

On a positive note for the IRL, Tony George seems to recognize that his league is slowly dying and has put in place a reduced race schedule in 2008.  No use wasting too much time running races in  a series no one cares about.

http://www.racingone.com/article.aspx?artnum=38162

GearHead:

The exodus of talent continues with current IRL and Indy 500 champion Dario Franchitti heading to NASCAR along with former Indy 500 champions Jacques Villeneuve and Buddy Lazier.  In fact, the IRL has sunk so low that it should now be considered a feeder series to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series given that two former Indy 500 champions are stepping into truck rides in order to establish themsleves in NASCAR.  I still remember the pre-IRL days when an Indy 500 victory would open the door to a good seat in any top level series.

http://www.racingone.com/article.aspx?artnum=38164

On a positive note for the IRL, Tony George seems to recognize that his league is slowly dying and has put in place a reduced race schedule in 2008.  No use wasting too much time running races in  a series no one cares about.

http://www.racingone.com/article.aspx?artnum=38162

I for one don't want it too die They need not have two U.S. Open wheel series that are ghosts of what they once were.

Bandman:

And let's not forget the revenue sharing.  No purses in '08, except for the winner's share of the 500.

The elimination of prizes for race winners is actually a step in the right direction for the IRL.  Soon all who drive in IRL races will get a nice shiny Participation Trophy for their efforts.  Once this happens wins and losses in IRL races will no longer be counted and a driver's record will no longer matter.  This gets TG and the IRL out of the credibility gap caused by the promotion of Danica "0 for a Lifetime" Patrick as the greatest race car driver ever and the formation of the Vision Racing team so his untalented stepson can pretend to be a race car driver. 

Louie:

What about my hemroids Doc?  

GearHead:

Danica "0 for a Lifetime" Patrick

I just can't get crude enough to do it.  I want to, I just can't.  Where's Rahal when you need him?