Today is the day. It’s the day that IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard makes his first enemies in motorsports. It’s
also the day we see just how good a CEO Bernard is.
Up until now, Bernard has been the pied piper of open-wheel, earning high marks for his behind-the-scenes and out-front work
from almost everyone in racing, including those who torched his predecessor, Tony George.
A pretty smart guy, who happens to be responsible for tens of millions in annual sponsorship deals in three major race circuits,
recently told me that right now, everyone absolutely loves Bernard. Mainly, he surmised, because he hasn’t yet made
any major decisions.
But what happens when some of those glad-handers find out Bernard isn’t exactly piping their tune?
Along with big decisions comes big controversy. So this afternoon at the Indianapolis Museum of Art when Bernard unveils
which chassis formula—or formulas—the series will adopt in 2012, he’s going to have several camps
demanding an explanation for why the formula they supported wasn’t chosen. The announcement is set for 12:30.
I applaud Bernard’s formation of the ICONIC advisory committee to help make such critical decisions, and I love the
theatrics of showing the committee vote via video at today’s media event. But make no mistake, this is Bernard’s
call. There’s no delegating responsibility here.
“As soon as Randy starts making decisions, he will start to lose friends,” said Zak Brown, founder of Just Marketing
International, which represents myriad motorsports sponsors and helped the IndyCar Series hunt for a title sponsor. “He
has to stick by his decisions and hope they prove to be right.”
In the meantime, Bernard has to make sure he manages those different camps’ expectations and ensure their continued
support for the series. If Bernard has learned anything in the four-plus months since he’s been in charge, I’m
guessing he’s learned this sport can’t afford any more chaos caused by split allegiances.
I’m betting Bernard has long been politicking all the camps involved in the new chassis—and maybe most especially
those whose proposals lost out.
For all his awe-shucks approach to his job, Bernard appears to be savvy and calculated in the moves he makes and friendships
he’s forged.
And it’s a good thing. Going forward, Bernard is going to need all the friends he can get to rev the IndyCar Series
to max speed.
- Home
- NEWS
- REGIONAL
- THIS WEEK'S PAPER
- BLOGS
- Multimedia
- OPINION
- A&E
- LISTS
- PEOPLE
- EVENTS
- Classifieds
- Subscribe
Welcome to The Score, your place for hard-hitting sports business news, fast-breaking updates and fuel-injected debate. Buckle up. I'm your host, Anthony Schoettle, IBJ sports reporter.
IndyCar CEO must keep chassis choice from splintering series
July 14, 2010
Sponsored by
ADVERTISEMENT
-
Saw the Indy Men's Chorus "Music of Gilbert & Sullivan" at the Indiana Historical Society on Sunday evening.
-
Temporary workers are not "tools" they are people and companies that keep large amounts of temp staff are cheating.
-
I miss having them around. I hope one of their stores is in the general Meridian/86th Street area. I will make good use of it.
-
The Fringe! Plus, the simple fact that there are so many local faves in such close proximity to each other.
-
I remenber, watching the toll road, being built, through South Bend, when I was 10 years old. I believe, back then that it was estimated, that the toll road, would be paid for in 20 years and then it would be free. I am now 71, what happened? Since the power is in the people, by that, I mean that, we the people are in total control of everything. I, suggest that no one ever use the toll road again, let it go broke. We the people can control the price of everything, from groceries to gas, if we would just do it. If we don't pay the asking price, the sellers will lower the price and if we wait awhile, they will lower the price to what we accept as reasonable. I would like to know why a highway like interstate 94, is so well maintained, a much better highway, than the toll road, but has no tolls. I would also like to know why, a sitting governor, with a term limit, maximum of eight years, can lease, public property, for 75 years. Even though I have transponders in both of my trucks and will not be affected by the increase, I have been and will contine to avoid using the toll road. I make many trips from northern Indiana to Chicago, every year, and I prefer the better highway, I94!
ADVERTISEMENT
Back to TopCopyright © All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.
Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing.
Additional Hosting & Delivery by
IBJ Conversations
40 Comments
Add Comment
Of course, my opinion is the speedway will probably take the most conservative approach possible which may equate to ANOTHER spec chassis and a deflated optimism for the future.
The LAME DUCK 2010 and 2011 seasons will begin today at 12:30PM. That's a long time to play Pinata with the hornets nest....rumor has it certain interests are cuttin' switches for swings at that same hornets nest. Swing away.....
Not Zack.
Speaks to credibility. He's not some guy off the street, he's a player in the racing world.
If you want to be taken seriously, start with simple facts.
Just let 'em run.
Burl is in for 2012. Mark your calendars for those dates because I am sure just prior to, they will readjust them to a future year like they have done since the '90's.
And SHEESH Coyote, ZACK was a simple typo. Get over yourself.
So underwhelming was this announcement of a SPEC chassis with aero doo-dads you can craft out of balsa wood or some such materials....seriously, I wanna PUKE. What excitement for the sport left inside of me was shattered by today's announcement.
Another prediction comes true: The IRL (and AOW) is run by morAns. Now, Randy get's the official "F" grade. LAME DUCK SERIES sponsored by IZOD.
RUMOR: TORONTO attendance gonna hurt bad.
For Cryin out loud what a complete embarrassment we are to the racing world. snap on "Mr. Potatoehead Car" ideology using the time tested Dallara Dart, well, this will show the world "we mean business"! Watch out F1 and NASCAR, the mighty IRL is going to roll you over with such innovation and technology! (Will they truly snap together like Legos?)
I was kinda hopin they would pick the Trident Delta Wing, as at least we could have some fun laughing at the sophmoric attempt and differentiating themselves from the past IndyCar failure chassis, but NO!
The IRL: Making every wrong turn, AGAIN. RIP!
Seriously, this is just such a disappointment today and quite indicitive of the interest in the once mighty sport. I honestly thought that when Anton got the shaft that something better HAD to become of this, but alas....
Lemme axe the IRL faithful: Have you finally had enough? If you truly enjoy the sport of Open Wheel, why isn't F1, the pinnacle of worldwide motorsports, enough?
If i am understanding this right, this is a pretty good idea. The tub is standard and manufactured by Dallara. The aero pieces from wings, side pods etc... can be be built and adjusted by the teams and by other manufacturers. If that is true, then this coupled with opening up the engines specs takes this from being a spec series to a more open series. I like the name Mr. Potato Car. One base car, infinite combinations of design. And all this at 45% cheaper to run which gets us closer to the vision.
Lets see how it works out.
I am sorta proud of that little nickname. Mr. PotatoeCar, only Dan QuAYles and tONeY geOrGE coulda doned betterer. Shall I be callin my Patent Lawyer?!
In Quayles defense that was less about his inteligence and more about the shoddy tools schools have to work with and a politicians reliance on cue cards.
Lmao.
Is this a welfare-to-work kind of program, or just a straight-up smash & grab? Either way it's comedy silver.
As for the new crapwag... er.. car? It appears to no longer be an open wheel vehicle. Good luck with that.
code = fkn5r
Or is it Mr. Potatoe?
IRL CEO head honcho Randy Bernard made these statements in an online ESPN Q/A late yesterday.
This is vindication for the haters and there will be much praise for Randall if he can accomplish this.
"My goal is to have that in place by January 1. There is a lot of legal ramifications to make sure that can happen, because of the contracts and obligations for IRL. That needs to go away. We are known by IndyCar. The IRL has a negative connotation from the divorce in the mid-90s."
http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/33449/irl-ceo-randy-bernard
Trackforum guys, you really have some SERIOUS koolaid rockin your veins. :rollseyes:
If the IRL name goes away, it is still the same league. I am sure the haters will dance from the rooftops that they killed the IRL. Sorry, not the case. While I see no reason to lose the current moniker, if the IRL honchos feel it will appease the haters and bring them back in the fold, the so be it. Personally, as many have posted here, the haters will not be happy until they are building tract homes on the still smoking remains of IMS.
The haters hate the whole concept of the IRL. Just like many did not like cart/owrs/ccws. They changed the name, but the disasterous business plan still killed it.
No matter the name, it sounds like they are still staying with the vision of the IRL. Lower cost racing, ovals, the opportunity for grass roots American drivers to compete and high quality competitive racing without having to resort to the gimmicks of NASCAR, push to pass not withstanding.
The more I hear of the Mr. Potato Cars, or transformers as some are calling them, I like it. The best of both worlds. Lower cost of spec tubs with the innovation and creativity of one offs. This goes way back to the roots of racing when in 1911 they were taking factory cars and bolting on accessories to gain advantages. Be it the rear view mirror to eliminate riding mechanic or sloping the front ends in the begining of aero science. This should be good for all.
Stan,
Tax credits and rebates are not welfare. Very common in business today. I bet your current employer benefits from some form of credit or rebate. It is a very smart move to boost the racing enclave in Indiana and to give small start up teams the opportunity to go racing.
It may be smart economic development on the part of the State of Indiana....BUT the teams that do this will be accepting funds from government to assist in financing this "transition". That is WELFARE.
This is truely a sign of VERY desperate times at 16th and Jonestown. In the past the Speedway financed these "transition" funds....then they backed loans....now they are getting the government to help out.
Nice. Great plan there IMAN...when you add in the government funding for the current crop of streets circuits and future ones, you have a series you can be proud of as it leeches for survival from the taxpayers. For god's sake, why don't the state just kickback $5 million to the Hulman-Georges and keep this hush-hush?
"If the panel thinks different bodywork is all thatâ??s needed to pull back the fans they lost to NASCAR, they are sadly mistaken. This is a huge miscalculation."
http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/marshall-pruett-indycar-iconic-thud-or-thunder/
http://espn.go.com/racing/blog/_/name/hinton_ed/id/5380658/irl-nuts-too-ambitous-maybe-both
The IRL: Failure on an ICONIC level.
Dahooey, I am sure you will be missed.
Tax credits are offered to entice economic development...which are taxes that the business is given a break on by NOT PAYING or paying LESS taxes. Who makes up the shortfall when businesses or individuals don't pay taxes?
Open your wallet taxpayers....the IRL needs your ca$H to cover expenses for running the sport into the weeds.
the amount of new taxes, payroll, property, sales etc.... created by the new business brought in by these credits will more than make up for the credits themselves. It is basic economic development 101.
I am sure you knew this, but as typical the hater cannot like anything good that happens to the IRL.
And, isn't there a $125K incentive too for the first 28 indianner based teams?
So yes, taxpayers are fronting the IRL $$$ to dream on.
The incentive is the tax credit if I read it correctly. Again, a credit against their future taxes that we would not collect if they did not locate/stay here. Very common in economic development circles. the revenue Indiana will get from the businesses that locate here will far exceed any lost revenue from the credits. But of course you knew that.
Free Friday's ain't gonna cut it and neither will giving the fans less and less for their money. The IRL has whittled their racing down to almost a one day event. we can do everything to lure the great unwashed to the IRL, but at the end of the day FREE attendance and low tix prices aint even doing it.
so, like others, there is considerable skepticism as to whether any of this will pay off in the long run. The Speedway is in dire straights to have to turn to the government for assistance to get anything done.
Bottom line: IRL sucks and everybody knows it.
Bottom line is you need to get over the loss of your dear cart and either support OW or move on. Spewing your hatred and frustration with losing your series 15 years later seems a little extreme.
The IRL is a gamble, a BIG gamble right now. Who's to say anyone will even BUY a safety cell? Or step up to make aero-bits?
Look, sometimes the gamble pays off...sometimes not. I'm all for Indianapolis being the center of the racing universe again, but, seriously, the actions of the Speedway over the past 15 year yield no confidence in fans and businesses. I wish them the best of luck...but this is tough uphill run they are against.
Seems pretty successful so far and just getting better.
Who's been hired so far? How many mystery safety cells have been produced? Who are the aero-bit maunfacturers? Chip Ganassi hasn't even seen the rule book yet or the specs. Wadkins Glen off the schedule...Toronto attendance in dumper...no TV ratings to brag about on ABC.
Yep, seems to be paying off.