Can someone explain how some Indy Car teams do not have engine deals at this late stage? Coincidence? Why are the teams that do not have deals in place smaller teams? Why do Chevy and Honda get to pick the most well funded teams like they are in a schoolyard then shut out the rest? I thought the deal was each manufacturer had to be prepared to supply 40% of the field.
Look, it is cool there are three engine suppliers, but if they are going to be allowed to pull this crap why not open up the access to accommodate smaller teams who are being turned away? It is almost as if Honda and Chevy picked their partners, pushed aside the leftovers for Lotus (which still seems as shaky as the promoting entity in Baltimore) and could care less about the newcomers or really little guys. Predictably, the haves have been busy testing at Sebring and the have-nots are hoping to play catch-up.
Between the idiotic imbalance of the schedule and the shenanigans being allowed by participants it seems less likely Indy Car will be must see. I know I will be at Indy and the ovals and maybe Barber again, but it would be nice to resume my annual trips to places like Richmond and Kentucky.
Assume you read Marshall’s very educational SPEED article. I was as bothered as you by this engine distribution thing. I wrote an email to Curt and Kevin for Trackside tonight to see if Indycar had any plans for the lack of engines.
As for the season–come down off that ledge. It’s obvious you want more oval races. Bernard has said it’s a huge priority and he’s working on it for the future. But don’t let a down year for ovals suggest a trend–and don’t let your disappointment ruin what looks to be a very interesting year with new cars, three engines, a good number of cars and some new young drivers. It’s gonna be great.
Comment by redcar — January 24, 2012 @ 12:56 pm |
The CART folk that IMS trusts with the leadership of the Indycar Series knows what they are doing. Engines leases are hard to comeby. How else would the Billy Boats of the world have survived this evolution? Kick butt IMS! You rock!
Editor’s Note: I am trying to derive some/any coherence/point from your contribution. If any of the other regular contributors can help I’d certainly appreciate it.
Comment by Goron Liddy — January 24, 2012 @ 4:38 pm |
You fellas make me laugh. Mr. Disciple, you sure complain alot about the evolution of your series, bitter pills is good, no? Hard to believe you are now trying to save/resurect oval racing. What happened to the generations of Americans that were going save AOW racing in the USA? Seems the IRL concept was a failure and fraud. Rubins Barricello? Now, thats funny!
Editor’s Note: Again, your attempt at making some sort of point has proven elusive. AOW has been evolving continuously since 1911. Sometimes it is worthwhile and other times it is not. I care about RUBENS BARICHELLO (note correct spelling) about as much as I care about Paul Tracy; i.e., two old men still trying to hang on one more year. It would be better in the long run to employ a young hot shoe, even if it is some unknown Euro who brings money. Did you chide the series when Emerson Fittipaldi, Nigel Mansell or Nelson Piquet showed up at the end of their careers? AOW does not need to be ‘saved.’ It needs to be nurtured. As long as the Indianapolis 500 exists there will always be some form of AOW, just as there has been for the past ten decades in a row. I see the ‘IRL concept’ remains a point of obsession with the ignorant as opposed to what it really was. An evolutionary phase.
Comment by Goron Liddy — January 26, 2012 @ 5:08 pm |
Chide? It’s your blatent obtuse hypocrisy that needs chiding here. Your blog posts are full of it. Thats the point, fella.
Editor’s Note: Just as I suspected. Disenfranchised, obsessed crapper. Again. What a waste.
Comment by Goron Liddy — January 27, 2012 @ 4:05 pm
Hey, I haven’t heard one mention of NBC Sports morphing the Indycar’s Versus deal into a win-win for IMS during this years Super Bowl. Gonna be any crossover promotion of the series during big game? Here’s the years first major sports event to market the Indycar Series, will they use the momentum from last season to pimp the series during the Super Bowl? Naaaah….
Editor’s Note: Your crappie colors are shining today, GORON. Oddly, I have seen a at least 8 distinct references to Indy Car on the NBC Sports Network and at least a dozen other media outlets. It is sort of inevitable. But your prejudice will usually lead to sight of what you want to see or not.
Comment by Goron Liddy — January 30, 2012 @ 6:56 pm
It’s another day late-dollar short scenario for the fumbling leadership of the Indycar series, again. They should be applauded for the effort downtown, but in reality its not the local yokle market they need to cater to. Perhaps 100′s of millions will see the super bowl. The cheapskates who run this series AGAIN miss the op to get this in fans grill. I guess free tickets cost less to hand out than proper marketing.
Editor’s Note: With each passing ‘contribution’ your crapper colors shine through. Here is my only suggestion since development of maturity is out of the question for your kind: Open your eyes, kid.
Comment by Goron Liddy — January 30, 2012 @ 10:52 pm
Hey, I haven’t heard one mention of NBC Sports morphing the Indycar’s Versus deal into a win-win for IMS during this years Super Bowl. Gonna be any crossover promotion of the series during big game? Here’s the years first major sports event to market the Indycar Series, will they use the momentum from last season to pimp the series during the Super Bowl? Naaaah….
Editor’s Note: You should probably change your handle the next time this Indy Car obsession strikes you to ‘Helen Keller.’
Comment by Goron Liddy — January 30, 2012 @ 11:36 pm
I think Mr. Liddy is pulling our collective legs. I can’t make sense out of it, either.
Editor’s Note: Yeah…the obtuse vagueness and use of such phrases as ‘Billy Boat’ kinda makes it smell like one of those obsessed crapper deals.
Comment by DOUG — January 24, 2012 @ 11:28 pm |
Kind of off topic here, but since you usually attend the Indy 500 I wanted to ask you a question. I have always wanted to go, but my Dad always talks about how big of a pain it is, and he hasn’t gone since the mid 1970′s and I want to take him this year. His biggest reason not to go is parking, and getting back home to Chicago without being it taking 10 hours. Is there any good ways to go about this, parking wise etc.. Any help would be appreciated.
Editor’s Note: I would park at the zoo, the airport or downtown and take a shuttle bus. They have special routes that drop you off and pick you near the front gate. When I lived downtown a few years back I did that every year and was usually home in my Lazy Boy with a cold one nodding off within an hour of the checkers. Fighting traffic in a car is pointless unless you allocate enough time to get there early and park in a yard, then tailgate afterward for a few hours until traffic clears. Lots less stress.
Comment by Jon — January 25, 2012 @ 4:15 am |
This may or may not help Jon, but, if you’re staying overnight, many people of Indianapolis open their homes to fans to alleviate the shortage of hotel/motel rooms, and most of them are close to the track. If you can stay with one of them, they’ll usually give you a lift to the Speedway. Most of the Indy residents don’t attend the ’500 themselves, so you won’t have to worry about THEM parking. And usually they’ll give you a lift back to their house, unless you want to do otherwise. That’s the way I did it when I attended the ’500, and it worked well. Good luck!
Comment by DOUG — January 25, 2012 @ 3:29 pm |