I sat across from a source Monday silently pondering a question.
“Isn’t Izod’s sponsorship of Penske Racing a conflict of Interest?” the source asked me. “Aren’t
they the title sponsor of the [IndyCar] Series too? I mean, isn’t that an obvious conflict of interest?
The source’s business is sought by some sports properties, but it’s not directly a sports business. Sometimes
when you’re immersed daily in sports, you overlook the obvious.
I had given the conflict of interest issue a quick thought, but this type of crossover sponsorship seems to be somewhat commonplace,
at least in the world of motorsports.
My source was dogged in his line of questioning. “If a title sponsor forking over million of dollars to the series
is so directly affiliated with a team, wouldn’t the series have a vested interest in seeing that team and sponsor do
well?”
Well, I suppose he has a point. But, I answered, sports—and racing in particular—are so desperate for sponsorship
money, they’re not about to turn away a cash paying sponsor on any level. And the IndyCar Series could hardly afford
to lose Penske Racing of all teams.
The room went silent for a second, before my source, who has no skin in the open-wheel game, quipped “Sounds like a
conflict to me.”
So, what do you think? Does Izod’s growing relationships within IndyCar circles, and with Penske Racing in particular,
pose a conflict of interest?
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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.
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Laura-the festivals and tastings are free. What does is strengthen the sense of community with activities. What are those empty lots doing for the Village? it's sad you can't see the good that this progress can do for the area. No one is requiring anyone to shop there. I guess you'd rather see a Dollar store move in or no, we'd rather see the property stand empty b/c change is out of the question.
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Read down to the part about Brizzi. Someone needs to subpoena his "purchases" of Red RockPictures and Cellstar and his corresponding bank records, I mean c'mon, I'd like to see his alcohol usage records, too. http://diana-vice.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html
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Wonder if my neighborhood can advertise our "retention" pond and act like it is a beach too?
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a new record at the '11 salebration until they realized that it was a futile effort to get their crapwagon moter and crapwagon car up speed. And then they just quietly slunk off into the night and never spoke of it again. Nothing to see here folks.
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millions for putting a company's bumper sticker on one of its Lolas. But you gotta take what you can get.
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But, before the answer is generated by the Indy hype machine, let's carefully analyze this conundrum.
PENSKE brings Chevy, will build the engines by his owned Ilmor engine company, he will get Detroit street race back on the schedule and now POACHES the IZOD sponsorship from Andretti Autosport....same IZOD sponsorship that utilized Ryan Hunter-Reay as IRL posterboy these past two years and IRL series TITLE sponsor.
To parody PurdueFan and echo the famous Alfred E. Neuman...."What, me worry"?
Yup, this is the same Roger Penske that the IRL was built for...you know the IRL mantra, CART was getting too big garbage, Penaske has the nerve to exploit INDY rules to his benefit...so let's start the IRL stuff.
Looks like the CAT'S in the HENHOUSE now fellas. This is what I meant when I said the IRL is so powerless and greedy right now, PENSKE is in control at the speedway. Just look at Anthony's question above....we haters have been seeing it for YEARS. But, you have it all now, it's on Indy's clock, ENJOY!
You have gone over the top and now you are hereby sentenced to watching six months worth of Sponge Bob with only rest room and food breaks allowed.
Maybe then you'll be worth hearing from.
Ye-gods.......
That conflict has existed for years. Suspension uprights are spec, but Penske's aren't. Race-time rear wing adjustments aren't allowed on oval tracks, until Penske wants them at Indy... etc.
Ultimately it's a matter of trust in rule making and enforcement. My impression is that Barnhart is not really completely trusted in the paddock, or by race fans.
IZOD is in this to promote their brand, sponsoring a team in the series poses no conflict.
If they owned a car perhaps, but not just as a sponsor.
See, there is a conflict.
Don't be naive people. This certainly is a conflict. And Barnhart is a Penske loyalist too. The conspiracy thickens....too bad Sarah couldn't get IZOD to sponsor her.
Rich get richer, and the poor get dumped from the IRL welfare system. but, it's ok for Penske to poach sponsors and build engines EXCLUSIVELY for the league which is controlled by his former employee.
Wake up people!!
This is all a bunch of doesn't matter. The sport is, for all intents and purposes, dead. Disagree? Look at all the sports buzz over Rog getting Izod? Wowwee! So much cahtter on sports talk radio and columns in the papers! See? It does not matter. Rog is King. But the empire is dying. What's funny is he has come full circle, no pun intended. He started at in an amateur series and he will end in one.
I think IZOD should sponsor a car. I think it is IZOD activating the sponsorship; now they have a face to promote the the IZOD brand not just a series. Many people pointed out that no one cried foul when IZOD was sponsoring Ryan Hunter-Raey...would we be having this conversation if IZOD was sponsoring Dixon or Dario? Those guys win as much or more than the Penske guys.
Oh yeah, almost forgot Chief, I'm sorry!
The IRl is DESPERATE for $$$, and will take it anyway they can. IMS is POWERLESS against the former CART owner PENSKE. Next to the physical plant, PENSKE is Indy...nothing else. Not Randy or Belskus or the sistas. Just Roger, and he wouldnt take advantage of a situation in the post-split world, would he?
And now, let us deal with actual reality:
-The Ilmor Chevy will be available to anyone who chooses to run it.
-He has not been able to get a Detroit street 'race' back on the schedule yet.
-How do you know IZOD did not look Penske up?
-Is IZOD sponsoring the series and a team now a BAD thing for the quaint little haters?
"Yup, this is the same Roger Penske that the IRL was built for...you know the IRL mantra, cart was getting too big garbage, Penaske has the nerve to exploit INDY rules to his benefit...so let's start the IRL stuff."
That's a fairly new spin. Here is the only thing we confirmed for sure: Neither cart nor Penske amounted to much, much less survived, without the Indianapolis 500.
"Looks like the CAT'S in the HENHOUSE now fellas.
Does that fairly ignorant statement mean that you stupidly believe the end of the IZOD IndyCar Series is at hand?
PENSKE will do as he pleases and the speedway has no recourse BUT to appease it's title sponsor (and demigod, Roger Penske). CONFLICT of interest.
It's so easy to understand even a CAVEMAN could understand it's a conflict of interest and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night either.
AND, if the media wasn't so darn SOFT on Indy right now, they'd call the speedway out on this and make it right.
PENSKE has TOO much power always....it once challenged the speedway, now they roll in it gleefully.
How many times did your mother drop you on your head when you were a baby?
Answer-one too many.....
The answer - he has SIDS.
Surpressed Indycar Desire Syndrome
Chief - You are now CEO of the speedway and the League, assuming it's dead and your only job is to bring it back to prominence, how do you do it?
Same with Ford, same with Dodge.
I am sure all the other teams will now be watching for the "special" P on the engine crates.
Chief can't face the reality of the IRL's success so he now is inventing conspiracy theories. since Penske has been winning races since Chief was in short pants, i am really doubting the conspiracy thing.
I think there's a conflict of interest. Your "NASCAR does it so the IRL can too" is flat-out idiotic. PENSKE is in bed with IZOD which is the series sponsor. PENSKE owns the company that will make the Chevy engine.
IRL's SUCCESS? With what? There is NO new chassis yet (just a hologram), NO engines (just a bunch of PR hoopla and groundbreakings), NO engine spec, NO body kits. There's NO $$$ yet, NO fans in the stands, NO TV Ratings.
How do you measure success Iman? IF 2012 gets here, and the first car rolls I will be the first to say "hey, they made it". But I guarantee you there's rough road ahead.
So, stop acting like the AOW world is NOT tipped on it's axis due to the damage caused by the IRL's existance...and now that PENSKE is in control of everything at the speedway I'm SURE everything will be alright. NOT.
I said this before...the sport today (to me) is like someone murdered it and left it laying on the sidewalk. Passerby's just gently nudge it out of their way and move by like they don't even see it. Even police and EMT's go by like it's not even there.
Yet, you and me, and everybody know how this sport was killed...but no one does anything about it. The killers run free, not even trying to conceal the fact they killed it. I believe the fans deserve justice, even if it comes in the simple form of an apology.
It really is that simple. The passion was stripped and can't come back until culpability assessed. I would do that as the first step to restore prominence of the sport. Randy has done everything else BUT what I mentioned...he alluded to doing it, but never did. So, the mistrust and feelings associated with the IRL continue.
They'd rather move forward without dealing with it...I strongly believe this is suicide for the series. Just covering the tracks of a killer doesn't erase the killing.
"Yet, you and me, and everybody know how this sport was killed...but no one does anything about it." Cart killed itself, you stated that yourself. So it was suicide which means the killer could not possibly be running around. Unless you consider yourself an accessory to the suicide since you supported the series while it killed itself. I would not call you a killer chief, but you did contribute to the death.
Now as far as open wheel, it is not dead. You said yourself that it will go on for years. Pretty good trick for a dead sport.
You keep repeating the same blather, and still you say nothing.
Did you supply the Versus stats you were quoting, I have not had time to look at the the last thread.
I can understand you're being butt-hurt over the "injustice" you (and all OW fans) have endured over the last decade plus. You seem to make that clear in every post. However, we already knew that. My question to you was, "how do you bring INDYCAR back to prominence?"
Let's say Randy Bernard, even though he personally doesn't owe you one, calls you personally to apologize. Do you really think that will be the majic potion that catapults INDYCAR to prominence? Come on, Chief... I gave you a golden opportunity to lay out the plan you have obviously been concocting for over 15 years and the only thing you can come up with is an apology? Why don't you sprinkle a little fairy dust on it as well and maybe it will grow up into a bean-stalk?
Well, do INDYCAR and yourself a favor. Stop watching, stop writing, and stop thinking about it. Put in your old VHS tapes of 1970's races and enjoy a PBR because that time has passed. When you are 90 years old, you will be watching the 500 from your armchair still screaming doomsday while 400,000 screaming drunks are packed in the stands and infield. INDYCAR is an institution and despite all your crying, it isn't going anywhere.
The next time someone gives you an opportunity to explain yourself, I'd take advantage with intelligent content, not vocabulary.
It wasn't a plan...it's a starting point.
Look, I'll cut through the blather....the IRL or IZoD series (or whatever) needs to find a way to appeal to fans. Yes, the same fans that have rejected it since 1994, FOR WHATEVER reason. Alienating ANY fanbase or market is not good business sense....a track history that the IRL is great at. Instead of seeking forgiveness they soldier on with change (to coverup the past). Hey, it just might work. It appear that's what they are banking on.
Indifferent casual fans turned off by cart's scorched earth are a different story, and Randy Bernard and crew have done a commendable job reaching out to those actual fans.
All Anthony did is write what someone in business related to him. He is not saying it is fact, he is throwing out an item for discussion. This is a blog, not a news article. It is a place for people to write what they think, no matter how wacky, just look at what Chief posts.
So if you do not like it, move on.
But it's not hunky-dory, and the world SUCKS bigtime at times....so let's stop pretending heaven resides at 16th and Georgetown...IMS is fallible and negligent in how they've been steering and running this sport into the ground and this blog highlights that. Deal with it.
"Chief" posts the truth...those who refuse to accept the truths are the ones who vigorously defend, mock and bullyrag even on Anthony for having the guts to raise the questions.
This type of activity occurs every day in all major sports.
By the way, what is 'IR1 leEgue?' is that some sort of attempt at humor?
If things at 16th and Georgetown 'suck' as you so eloquently state, why do you comment ad nauseum on every single Indy Car topic? In my 50+ years of supporting Indy Car racing throughout its various evolutionary periods, one thing is constant. The center of the sport remains 16th and Georgetown. Those who fight it are doomed to remain miserable by choice. Series who forget that fact go out of business. Twice.
'Chief' and that ilk remain a cancerous blight on the sport of auto racing. The sport would be far better off without their 'contributions.'
And, poo-poo on your opinion Mr. IRL Sensitive. You set the stage for debate with your stodgy conservative defense mechanism. Cancerous blight? YES, and until the destruction caused to AOW sport at the hands of the Hulman-George family is remedied, the cancer shall SPRED, so each business and fan knows the TRUTH. Better get to work defending sir, DEATHBLOW 2011 is upon the speedway!
Answer: The series whose center is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is here, growing and strong, with leadership that continues moving it forward.
The only series that suffered actual destruction was cart. Twice.
You continue having difficulty accepting even basic facts.
Oh, and Tony Cotman orchestrating it all. Those are some evolutionary concessions the speedway must have made to abandon it's vision and adopt CART principles. Hypocrites.
FACTS, all of them. DEAL WITH IT.
Why exactly is the engine lease evil?
Indy apparently felt it was important to get engine builders back in the business etc ad nauseum.
Of course, these days it's all engine leases that is now championed by the IRL. Too bad it took down the sport and $775 million Hulman-George dollars to get the sport back to engine leases and have the IRL brethren accept them. I guess today it can be considered "CART's fault" by those who refuse to accept blame for the IRL's continued failures. Just more speedway hypocrisy at the expense of the sport. Indy hasn't produced any stars in the last 15 years. How come?
Here is the critical difference: Has today's IZOD IndyCar Series forsaken all things IMS as yesterday's cart did? The answer is 'no.' That one thing is what cause cart to kill itself, twice, while the IZOD IndyCar Series continues a steady, upward trajectory of commendable growth.
This circular brand of taunting with which you continue to whip deceased equine entities leads to another logical question to many adults, and that is if today's IZOD IndyCar Series is merely cart reconstituted, why would those enamored of what they thought they had with the now twice-deceased series not enjoy it?
I know, I know...spec cars and Tony George. Get back to me, son, when you have had 50 years of fandom watching all of the evolution that continues to this day. Real fans do not hop on and off bandwagons and whine like little girls while they are off.
Your tone sounds increasingly like fringe tea party nutjobs.
It was. And that was/is unacceptable. Sans emphasis on Indy, any other series stupid enough to go down that road fails. History has proven me correct. Twice.
"The 'Evil' engine lease ploy was one of several excuses used to try and justify IRL creation and start the great open wheel split."
Wrong again. That particular taunt is just another concocted straw man to mask what was essentially the most idiotic boycott in the entire recorded history of sports by arrogant buffoons who thought they were bigger than the entity that created them.
"Indy apparently felt it was important to get engine builders back in the business etc ad nauseum. Of course, these days it's all engine leases that is now championed by the IRL."
It does not seem so bad to actual racing fans. Honda has been involved for nearly a decade. Three other manufacturer badges have been involved in the past (built by many builders) and starting in 2012, at least two others are joining the fun. That is what we long term fans refer to as 'evolution.'
"Too bad it took down the sport and $775 million Hulman-George dollars to get the sport back to engine leases and have the IRL brethren accept them."
LOL. The only part of the sport that has been brought down is cart. Twice. I see your quaint li'l WAG regarding the Hulman pocketbook is up to $775 million today. Any chance any of you will ever give me the breakdown accounting of revenue versus expenses for which I have been asking for months now? Are you aware the name of the series has officially been changed to IZOD IndyCar Series, using the acronym IICS? It seems as though obvious things elude your comprehension in a variety of areas.
"I guess today it can be considered 'cart's fault by those who refuse to accept blame for the IRL's continued failures."
Your guess would be incorrect, as usual. cart is not a relevant entity, nor has it been for years. Assuming the IZOD IndyCar Series 'failed' clearly demonstrates either your abject stupidity and/or refusal to orient yourself within the realm of actual reality.
"Just more speedway hypocrisy at the expense of the sport. Indy hasn't produced any stars in the last 15 years. How come?"
Danica Patrick. Dario Franchitti. Helio Castroneves. T.K. Rahal. Andretti. Ryan Hunter-Reay. Hey, they are no Paul Tracy or anything. LOL. You have some definite issues, kid.
Actually, when researching remarkable instances often referred to by adults as 'facts,' one quickly determines that over a million watched in person last season, and the television audience numbered in the millions. Responsible adults with actual skin in the IZOD IndyCar game have determined the ROI is phenomenal. Perhaps that is why series sponsor numbers increased to over 80 this past season. The combination of quality sponsorship, television rights, merchandising, etc., have made the IZOD IndyCar Series one of the hottest sports properties in the nation. That belies your consistently dire obsessions about the series.
"So you must be referencing those. Small potatoes. Small sport. I predict the Indy 500 will bare aluminum next May in previously occupied places."
I predict every seat will be filled (except perhaps those backstretch outside seats that are crappy, as usual) for the 100th anniversary provided it is not raining.
"The 100th year is big only to Donald Davidson and Trackforum nerds. Some sports writers, however, will play it up. As they should. However, the masses will not notice or care. The Indy 500, like the sport, is a faded relic."
It is obviously also big to the obsessed chicken littles who are constantly informing actual race fan adults how rapidly they believe the sky is falling. That type of empty prattle has been making your ilk look foolish for sixteen years. That type of stupidity shows little sign of letting up, either.
Why not grow up and actually enjoy the sport, kid?
There are no stars there, just ex-CART drivers taking all the champeenships and prize money (along with their owners). The kids are basically shadows of their dad's legacy, and Danica is a soft porn model that one a race once in JAPAN after the Dancing with Stars winner pulled over.
What honor has the IRL restored to AOW? Seriously, it's re-run CART drivers in 8 year old spec foreign chassis and sealed foreign engine leases? AND it still holds the WORLD record for broken backs.
No issues here Mr. Defender. You can't handle the TRUTH. After 50 years you'd think you would have learned something. Maybe it's time for you to go, and let Indy get some fresh air from your staunch stodgy conservative ways.
Please explain your numbers...like "How much did someone have to invest to get a 350% return on investment"? $1, $10, $100, $1000, $10000, $1000000? $10000000? And the ever pressing question: How does the IRL turn 350% increase for IZoD into a return for them? IZoD spelled "HUNEDRED" correctly though. Hahaha.
"Yet, the IRL continues without fans in the stands and TV ratings that are one third what they were before the 'merger'."
Is it your opinion that had Tony George NOT formed the IndyCar Series ratings would be at the same level or higher than they were in 1995? If that is what you believe, you really do need help dealing with reality.
"STARS put butting in seats and make the Speedway run with black ink instead of red ink."
Hmmm. That's odd. Every race I attended had thousands of people attending. For the season, more than a million saw IndyCar racing in person. Will there ever be a time that any of you address my long asked but always ignored question about an accounting of revenue versus expenses for IndyCar?
"There are no stars there, just ex-cart drivers taking all the champeenships and prize money (along with their owners)."
This 'cart' thing...the series that offed itself, twice...what relevance do they have again? The last time I looked everyone was racing in the IZOD IndyCar Series, the one with the Indianapolis 500 as its spiritual center. You know, as it should be. Are you really immature enough to do your thinking in terms of a twice-self immolated failure?
"The kids are basically shadows of their dad's legacy, and Danica is a soft porn model that one a race once in JAPAN after the Dancing with Stars winner pulled over."
What soft core porn features has Danica been in? I'll have to look them up. How come Helio pulling over did not work the same way for Paul Tracy? Tell me, did you have access to Helio's telemetry and fuel capacity numbers in Japan? Once again, actual reality conflicts with abject stupidity.
"What honor has the IRL restored to AOW?"
Restored? For real racing fans honor has never left. The IndyCar Series centered itself around IMS on day 1. That is as honorable as it gets. Dishonor is reserved for charlatans that boycott and subsequently kill themselves. Twice.
"Seriously, it's re-run CART drivers in 8 year old spec foreign chassis and sealed foreign engine leases? AND it still holds the WORLD record for broken backs."
In case you have not heard, the spec chassis are being phased out after the 2011 season. Multiple manufacturers will be joining as evolution embraces innovation. Thinking cars are 8 years old also demonstrates ignorance. Most of the cars were built in the past few years. Updates occur regularly.
"No issues here Mr. Defender. You can't handle the TRUTH. After 50 years you'd think you would have learned something. Maybe it's time for you to go, and let Indy get some fresh air from your staunch stodgy conservative ways."
I would much rather take valuable time out of me day to educate non-race fans who clearly do not get it where Indy and IMS are concerned.
"...how do you explain the literally tens of thousands of seats currently available for the 2011 Indy 500? Think not? Call the Speedway or go to any of the ticket sales sites and you'll soon learn there are buttless seats aplenty. Large swaths, stud. How do you explain that?"
How is that phenomenon any different from any Indianapolis 500, Daytona 500, (insert name here) 500, or any other auto race and 95% of every other sporting or entertainment event on earth over ANY of the last ten years or so? Listen, kid...the economy is lousy, and people have more entertainment choice and the means to enjoy them than at any other time in history. If you were able to take a closer look at the numbers regarding Indianapolis 500 ticket sales, you would see an historic trend toward increased sales between roughly now and race day, and if you graphed it, the line would be going up slightly now; sharper a bit later. I have long predicted a sellout for the 100th anniversary. The sense of history is palpable for actual racing fans.
"The Indy 500 used to be compeltely sold-out by mid-summer if not sooner."
Actually, it used to sell out the day after the race. But then the world went and evolved. Stupid evolution, right? How, in the name of all that may be holy, could any non race fan attempting a weak slam again possibly find fault with the sale of almost 300,000 tickets year after year? Who would even care if the sales occurred before June 1 or some point in the next year? The level of desperation primarily just two of you children demonstrate regularly here is utterly laughable.
Then there is that pesky 3.68 TV rating, the lowest ever. Then there is that pesky 0.25 to 0.30 TV rating on Versus. Then there is that pesky unable to get a 1.5 rating, heck barely able to crack a 1.0."
Why do you believe those are numbers 'pesky?' You are aware that those numbers are generic, 12+ numbers that even advertisers do not use? The only 'people' to whom those particular numbers matter are simpletons trying as hard as they can to paint the IZOD IndyCar Series in as negative a light as they are able to concoct. If you ever get an opportunity to do a deeper dive into television audience numbers relevant to sellable demographic targets, you will soon discover substantial increases in groups that result in increased spending for sponsorship and advertising. In a general sense, the 12+ numbers are down substantially from 10 to 15 years ago. Again, the entire landscape has changed. The simplistic way in which you children think is very quaint, however. The funniest aspect of your simplistic thought is attempting to apply what you think you saw in 1995 with what you think you don't see in 2010.
"Then there is that pesky crowd at Homstead for the championship battle. MMMMMMMhhhmmmmmmmmmm. Then there is that stellar corwd they had at Watkins Glen, oh wait, I was told they were hiding under the trees. Why seat in a grandstand seat on the front stretch when you can squat to pee under a tree and watch the race."
How nice. Scatological, juvenile humor. Typical. Those two tracks with lousy attendance? Gone. That's what happens. It has happened that way since 1911.
"MMMMMMhhhmmmmmmmmm. No two ways about it, Defenseless, the sport is on the outs, waaaaaay down the list. Millions watching. That is a gas. Like the radio sprts talk show host said the oher day, "The Indy 500? They still have that?" And he wasn't trying to be a smart aleck."
Look, I can't speak for the relative ignorance of the average radio show host. I merely try to educate those types. Please give me the name and call letters and I will contact the host to fill him in.
"NOBODY cares except you, Donald Davidson, and Trackforum nerds. Your turn, stud. I'm not liking your funny numbers, though, you silly sidewinder."
You forgot to add obsessed, immature, IBJ comment contributors to your list of people who care. It is obvious based on the sheer volume of your efforts that you do, in fact, care. Over and over again.
Chip Ganassi and Roger Penske! Them CART boys are running away with the championships and prize money! But, it's all good now that they are under the IMS IRL IZoD umbrella! Just the way it was before, just without CART. How many times are they dead? Why is that relevant?
You see D, they are in control from the inside, and you IRL fans and CeO's let it happen. You are the greatest!
Here is another word of wisdom: 'Gomer' is a fictional television character. Jim Nabors does a consistently great job with BHAII.
In between the delinquency of you and Chief, some supposed ticket broker whined about the lack of activity for scalped tickets. I am sorry; I have no place in my heart for scalpers. Never have. Never will. Their business is also affected by evolution. I have had very good luck, for example, with stubhub.com when I decide to attend entertainment events at the last minute. It is less sleazy than dealing with mostly shady hucksters on corners.
You seem to imply that a 'golden age' in Indy Car coincided with a period between roughly 1979 and 1995. That immediately makes me suspicious.
So you are saying Johnny Rutherford, Al/Bobby Unser, Rick Mears, Danny Sullivan, Tom Sneva and A.J. Foyt were more popular than Juan Montoya, Milka Duno, Vitor Miera, Hideki Mutoh, Anthony Foyt IV, Arie Luyendyk, Jr. and Marco Andretti? I can buy that for the most part.
Now let's compare apples to apples. If I walk down the street today with Danica Patrick, Dario Franchitti or Helio Castroneves, for example, they will get as much recognition as I would walking down the street in 1985 with any of the old timey drivers you mentioned.
If I walked down the street in 1990 with Jeff Andretti, Juan Manuel Fangio II, any driver named Guerrero, Teo Fabi or Lyn St. James, I would get the same lack of recognition as I would for any of the Indy Car drivers you mentioned with the possible exception of Montoya.
Apples and apples, son.
As a student of Indy Car since 1959, I can say with certainty there have always been drivers less talented and popular than others.
Once again, your attempt at a point fell woefully short.
It worked out great for those Indy Stars. And that Mark Dismore, that guy can't walk in Broad Ripple without getting mobbed. Oh, the IRL is such a success.
By the way, how are stars of your favorite era...folks like Fabrizio Barbazza, Mark Blundell, Luis Diaz, Fredrik Ekblom, Juan Manuel Fangio II, Memo Gidley, Carlos Guerrero, Eddie Lawson, JJ Lehto, Jan Magnussen, Tarso Marques, Hiro Matsushita, Desiré Wilson or Alex Yoong? Can they go anywhere without being mobbed?
LOL.
Look, I get the disruptive, taunting stuff. But how difficult would it be for primarily the two of you obsessed Indy Car stalkers to merely attempt rational discourse?
I know, that would take maturity. A guy can dream.
Indy hasn't produced a star since 1996...Why can't BUDDY RICE get a ride? he's American, won the 500, tows the Indy line. But the IRl let's Milka and Baguette out there. PATHETIC IRL stars.
IRL FAILURE. And that's the TRUTH. Put that in your pipe and smoke it stodgy old man.
HEY, DefenDEr, that will sell like hotcakes!!! 18 to 35 year olds, males, eat that mature stuff right up. INDY eyecatcher!
'Apparently the SAME as the stars of your era, and your starts did it WITH INDY. Hahaha, you made my point.'
Uh, perhaps a remedial class in reading comprehension is in order. Go back. Re-read. Only this time try to absorb the meaning of the actual words that were typed.
"Indy hasn't produced a star since 1996...Why can't BUDDY RICE get a ride? he's American, won the 500, tows the Indy line."
Buddy, for better or worse, does not play the game that requires whoring yourself out to raise money yourself to buy a ride, a trend that began during the cart occupation of the sport before they killed themselves. Twice. He still races in other disciplines. A lot. But he is one of those principled drivers who believes rides should be earned, not purchased.
"But the IRl let's Milka and Baguette out there. PATHETIC IRL stars."
When you were younger, just how much lead paint did your mother allow you to ingest?
First, 'IRL.' You are aware that acronym is retired, correct? It is now referred to by everyone else on earth as the IZOD IndyCar Series. Second, Milka and Bertrand. The series thanks you for knowing even the lesser known drivers in the series. Both made a choice Buddy Rice did not to purchase their seats. I will just go ahead and mark you as part of the camp that believes that is a bad thing. Evidently Randy Bernard agrees with us. He has stated he wants measures to prevent that. I believe you may have seen the last of Milka. But again, thanks for watching so closely.
"IRL FAILURE. And that's the TRUTH. Put that in your pipe and smoke it stodgy old man.
The IRL, so mature your dad that's been going for 50 years loves it!"
Actually the demographic group of which I am a part spends more money in the sport and in general than most of the other demographic targets combined. We're more affluent. As opposed to effluent like you, which is obvious every single time you fat finger any almost unintelligible comment in knee jerk fashion whenever adults offer intelligent commentary.
"HEY, DefenDEr, that will sell like hotcakes!!! 18 to 35 year olds, males, eat that mature stuff right up. INDY eyecatcher!"
That particular demo showed a 40% increase in television ratings last year. It appears the IZOD IndyCar Series is on the right track.
Great, another success story for the FAILED IRL series...oooops, thats the IZOD INDY CAR SERIES. Soon to be setting records up in the south west vista if the cars can reach that far. That'll sell tickets. Buddy's doing himself a favor not racing in this abomination of a league. Good for BUDDY RICE!!!
Go back and re-read slowly. Digest the material. Comprehend the words. If you need assistance, any number of persons here can help.
Then, if you feel any need to respond, adults will treat you in kind if said response is literate, contains correctly spelled words, follows most rules of grammar, and is reasonable in tone. You consistently fail in all of those areas, so you have a lot to work on, kiddo. Hop to it.
IRL: Hasn't had integrity...not now, before or ever.
So, you are saying INDY 500 winners take a back seat to ride buyers the IRL so desperately needs to fill the field. You admitted to it.
"Ride buying Foreigners was part of the IRL mantra."
It was? Oddly, I do not remember seeing that tenet anywhere in any Indy Car mission statement. I do remember that in the early part of this decade, after cart owners began slithering back to Indy Car after they murdered their own series, twice, also brought many of the operational philosophies adopted since they begin in 1979. Philosophies that included selling seats to ride buyers with money.
"Now, the IRl specializes in it"
Well, Chief, you said yourself the IZOD IndyCar Series (well, not in those words...you are one of, like, two people desperately clinging to the obsolete acronym 'IRL') is actually being run by former cart people, so there you go.
"and it's liked by all the IRL stodgy conservatives types who have been going to the speedway for 50+ years."
Actually, as one in that demographic group, I have despised the practice since 1979. It is sleazy at best. That is why I am gratified the IZOD IndyCar Series still has owners such as John Barnes who is willing and able to pay a deserving American to drive his car. J.R. Hildebrand could well be that next great America star for which you two stalkers pine.
"IRL: Hasn't had integrity...not now, before or ever."
So what has no integrity? Ireland? In Real Life? A political party in Estonia? I am not following your juvenile, childlike, circular meandering. Start at least trying to make sense, boy.
"So, you are saying INDY 500 winners take a back seat to ride buyers the IRL so desperately needs to fill the field. You admitted to it."
This is another example in which you clearly demonstrate to adults that you should really work on your reading comprehension skills. What I said was that Buddy Rice, not all Indy 500 winners, would rather be paid to drive than pay to drive. One driver. Is there any morsel of this re-hash that you are unable to wrap your brain around?
J.R. Hildebrand will do nothing to increase the interest either. If that wer ethe case, please provide me links to the huge coverage his signing at Panther is getting in the mainstream media. J.R. who? Mmmmmmmmmmhhhmmmmmmmmm.
I see Burl is back to once again attempt to drill home a point he feels may be valid; i.e., in his opinion the IZOD IndyCar Series is just not very popular, and that simplistic 12+ rating numbers for the Indianapolis 500 have mirrored most other sports and entertainment offerings over the past fifteen years, and doggone it, they are, gasp, lower than they used to be.
Thank goodness he is insignificant in the big picture, and is not one of the sponsors that increased their spending last year to about $80 million, one of the target demographic members who increased Indy Car ratings by 40%, or is not associated with IZOD, who often refer to their ROI in the IndyCar Series as 'well beyond their wildest expectations.' Otherwise, we might have a problem.
As it is, whatever problem Burl and his little friend perceive is largely a concoction of their own vivid yet salty youthful imaginations.
John Barnes? When was the last time ex-CART drivers and owners let that guy even SNIFF victory lane? You wanna keep CART in the news big fella at least credit them for slapping down your IRL/IZoD CAR brethren.
Good for JR though...too bad the REAL winners like IzOD and Penske won't give the American a chance. But it's ok, because ride-buyers rule in the 50+ year old's league.
Then, of course, we have to hear about the supposed superiority (again) of cart owners who killed their own series. Twice. As if the twice defunct cart series is relevant after so many years of dormancy. Again, LOL.
I am having a difficult time following the whole 'IRL' taunt. Chief, are you referring to Ireland, In real Life, or a political party in Estonia? And what would any of that have to do with some perceived conflict of interest Roger Penske might have?
Suggestion of the hour for li'l Chief: Why not go wee wee wee all the way home so the adults can focus on mature topics. I like to focus on the IZOD IndyCar Series. It continues growing impressively.
On remote outback cable network that is losing thousands of subscribers to cable burnout and IPTV selections.
That couldn't fill TORONTO or EDMONTON in 2010 despite the previous series hundreds of thousands of attendance. Keep using CART numbers to justify new street circuit markets friend. You are just setting yourself up for failure with those 8 year old crap cars the IRL uses.
What do Kenny Brack, and Mike Conway have in common? Tip: Those cars don't fly. Well, they might if they go backwards and raise speeds. Doesn't the IRL learn from history???
Next May's speed quest should be good theater. You have to love the gunslingin' IZOD IRL.
Remember, the current 8 year old Dallara chassis has a propensity to:
1. Become airborne.
2. Break backs with alarming regularity.
After Brack's crash at Texas and weeks later Renna's death they had to reduce speed via smaller engine displacement, AND add the "full body wicker" to keep the cars on the ground.
Now, with essentially the same chassis they want to raise the speeds higher than ever to create buzz for the centennial? IMHO, bad plan. This is how desperate the IRL...err...IZod series is.
Let's compare that to the activities of former cart bailout recipients Newman-Haas this week. They tested a Spaniard and a Canadian, and will probably sell their seat to the one who can come up with the most money if Hideki doesn't come through.
Which scenario offers more hope for the future?
Trouble paying? Like cart? Twice?
Here are a few facts that are certain:
1. Barnes' team was formed as an IRL team.
2. He hired an American on the basis of talent that came through the ladder system.
3. Newman-Haas 'tested' a Spaniard and a Canadian, and the seat auction will follow.
Isn't the IRL fronting the $$$ for Barnes to take JR? Let's see, $$$ toward a ride in IRL PLUS IRL welfare system for Barnes. The big prop ip.
Seems to me the IRL is still subsidizing it's "original" teams. Yep, that ladder system is working....how long has it been since Barnes won anything?
No, The IZOD IndyCar Series is not contributing any money to Barnes outside the TEAM funds distributed to all qualified teams. A team that could probably use held, however, is former cart stalwart Newman-Haas. They are looking for seat buyers.
This would be a great concession to the CART contingent who already run the IRL from inside. Now, with Randy in their back pocket, the take over is almost complete. PEnske is great, 1994 was just faded memory in all the IRL faithful.
A. Alex Zanardi never got to drive in the 500. Some stupid boycott cause that, and ultimately led to his loss of limbs after cart, in their infinite wisdom, decided to race the weekend after 9/11 when the rest of the world decided, respectfully, to take the weekend off. That type of choice would insult real race fans and be extremely disrespectful to the institution and its fans.
B. The ONLY logical choice is A.J. Foyt. It will be the 50th anniversary of the first of his 4 wins. He drove in more of them than anyone else. He respects its history and heritage. Not choosing him would also be insulting ans disrespectful.
You representing the cart contingent and asking for such a concession is just as disingenuous as an inner city gang thug demanding reparations for slavery.
Get real, kid.
It's always great when the Speedway tries to be hip....and falls flat on their faces.
nOW, that's a free tip for the Speedway to pimp the "Centennial Era" which was a bust anyway. Fits 18 to 35 demo, they like to fight, drink and be naughty....Indy stylee! Whats up yo'?
Come on, it's as good as the American gimmick, the all oval gimmick, the "hey we got all the CART teams and YEN" gimmick, the 50 G impact lights gimmick, the "our cars don't fly" gimmick, Danica gimmick, Milka gimmick, the Sarah gimmick, the AJ IV-Special Ed gimmick and all the other gimmicks they use at the speedway for attention.
But, it was just another gimmick then, and Tony just dissed the IRL within the past month anyway declaring the engine rules stupid. So, maybe this one evens out.
NAAH.
Too bad about getting kicked off of American ISC ovals. Darn. Oh well, get right back to that IRL pioneered street racing again! Go I(ndy!