Here....enjoy...Insights & Analysis - Robin Miller's Mailbag for July 27, presented by Honda Racing / HPD I can see the future.....and its going to mimick NASCAR. Now where are the fake wood paneling walls going to go??
Well, it remains to be seen during the final five races of the year how things go with Indy Car. They had a strong Indy 500 this year with full grandstands and a popular surprise winner but the rest of the season has been so-so at best. Now, with the news that Target is pulling out, it makes other sponsors (or potential new sponsors) question why a company with such a long involvement would pull out now. A team just doesn't go out hat in hand to find a replacement for a top level sponsor like Target or Marlboro. I quit reading Robin Miller's mail bag a while ago. Too many crackpots asking and/or pontificating about how Indy Car should be run. If Miller really fields all this, it certainly must take up a major part of his time as it seems endless. If Indy Car can finish the season on a strong note and provide some real interest without shooting themselves in what is left of their foot without a bunch of nonsense, they may have a shot at a legitimate future. If Indy Car follows NASCAR's lead, that will only mean the eventual take-over will happen sooner than later. The change of CoB at the top of the Hullman/George family is a clear indication that some big negotiations are coming up. BHW
What do you mean, 'going to'.... it already does, it's even worse. 1) ALL teams lose sponsors, it comes with the territory, and hits ALL teams regardless of how good they are. STP anyone? 2) nascar doesn't need the headaches of indycar, nascar would let them just die off, like they are currently doing. The Indy 500 was big THIS YEAR because it was the 100 year anniversery, that's all.
Your tax dollars at work. Your Sheriff's office cars: More technically sophisticated than NASCAR! Something like that, I'll keep working on it. BHW
Worst case scenario, lets say the current Indycar series dies...what becomes of the 500? Could it survive as a one-off, big purse, minimal regulation, run-what-ya-brung type race? I have to admit that would be infinitely more interesting, but I wouldn't want to lose open wheel racing in America to achieve it.
To answer this question....YES YES YES !!!!!!!!! I think I love you!!!! Turn the clock back to the mid 1970's with that type of rule book and watch us come running out of the wood work! I don't think you will lose it...you will save it!!! Adavanced ticket orders to watch Turbopanzer take a wack at Indy on sale now in the lobby. look for the guy in the black cowboy hat.
We've discussed this before and to think that we're even talking about the end of Indy Car (or open wheeled racing in the U.S.) is difficult to imagine. But, the way things have been going the past several years, we see clearly that the wrong side won the CART/IRL war as it seems the series has been on a downward skid ever since. This is not to criticize the competition, teams or drivers. Actually, the racing has been quite good with close competition and interesting races. Rather, its a critique of the leadership (or lack thereof) in Indianapolis and how it is affecting the series as a whole. NASCAR has made it clear, time and time again, that they want to control a monopoly over all of racing. They made a big stride in that direction by taking over our sports car racing and they must be watching Indy Car's implosion with interest. As I've predicted, may as well hang it out there again, should Indy Car go on the block, NASCAR would likely step in and buy what is left for pennies on the dollar. The gem in this deal would be the ISC's acquisition of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and whatever is left of the Hulman/George family motorsport empire. So, it would be in the ISC's interest to keep the Indy 500 alive. But, we may shudder to think what NASCAR's version of open wheeled racing would entail as we most certainly know that it would become an even further watered down version of what we have today, if their GrandAm charade was anything to go by, and the Indy Car series as a whole would be further reduced to red headed step child status. It certainly won't be anything innovative (we can't have any of that innovation stuff deep in the fake wood paneled walled offices in Daytonner) as they're certainly happy to keep technology in the 1950s and any series under their umbrella is reduced to third tier status as their only concern (is) promoting NASCAR. Interesting to note that Tony George has recently been named board chairman as Mari Hulman-George is in failing health. It would appear Tony will be kept on a short leash by the family but this development surely comes at an interesting time with the 500 on somewhat of an upswing but the rest of the series mired in mediocracy and a virtual spec formula that by their own admission, they have no intention of changing until 2020 or later. BHW
'Agree with all except the "500 on somewhat of an upswing". Where's the upswing? 'Barely filled the field. A spike in the attendence due to it's 100 running. I see no upswing in the race itself. But again, it's everywhere. Methinks the world's economy has more to do with all of racings decline than anything else. Then again, I know nothing.
Let's put it this way, at least the 500 registers a pulse. There is still enough of a fan base to fill the place (100th Anniversary surely helped) but the rest of the series with the possible exception of perhaps Long Beach is barely a blip on the map any more. BHW
'Off by a decade. The 60s were the years. Offies, Novis, Ford cammers, stock blocks, front engines, rear engines, side engines, 2wd, 4wd, turbines, (heck...almost steam in '69.....)
Shoot! 'Was gonna watch Pocono, napped 'cause of the rain delay, came back to check on delay and Indycar is on. I missed half the race. Nice turn out tho'....
post 320 ^^^^^ Pocono was postponed so NBC was nice enuff to air Mid-Ohio live which moved up the replay of this morn's German GP. Race fans. I love it.
No... NBCSN had Pocono at 2 (eastern), followed by a replay of Mid-Ohio, followed by a replay of the German GP. CNBC had Mid-Ohio sched'd at 2 live. It was moved over to NBCSN when Pocono was rained out, followed by Germany replay. I never tried CNBC so I guess CNBC showed a replay of Germany when Ohio went to NBCSN. Get with the program. A good guide that wouldn't have helped today: TVRacer.com - TV Racing Schedule
