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TURNING LEFT: NASCAR & IndyCar
By Charlie O. Mallonee September 7, 2009 |
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Is Open-Wheel Racing DOA? A long time ago in galaxy far, far away IndyCar (then known as USAC) and Formula 1 dominated racing around the world. NASCAR was just a bunch of ex-moonshine runners in modified sedans racing down south. Le Mans style road racing was made up of foreign auto brands (Renault, Porsche, Audi etc.) that no decent American would even think about owning, and the races were all held across the pond. Today, NASCAR is attracting the top racers from the USA and the world. It has just been announced that the face of IndyCar – Danica Patrick – will be driving in the Nationwide Series (NASCAR’s Triple-A level) and the Camping World Truck Series while running a full open-wheel Indy schedule. According to NASCAR star driver and team owner Tony Stewart, "I can pretty much guarantee you that at some point she's going to be over here." The loss of Patrick would knock the IndyCar to the canvas for the ten-count. IndyCar had already been hit hard this year with the loss of its founder, Tony Hulman George, as CEO. George was “middled-out” in dispute over the family business – Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation which includes the IndyCar Series. George’s family never forgave him for the money he spent on renovating “the Speedway” for the Formula 1 Series which turned into disaster due to poor decisions by the arrogant Bernie Ecclestone (more on him later). After Formula 1 pulled out of the USA, George was left holding the bag. George – who is a very creative leader – immediately went to work on bringing in the Moto GP cycle series to run the road course built for F1. The alterations cost money but utilized a resource that was already in place. Hulman may have needed help to reign in his spending, but removing him as head of the IndyCar series cut the heart out of a patient that was already on the critical list. IndyCar also lost some of its appeal by going with a single-source engine supplier – Honda. American racing fans like the competition of manufacturer vs. manufacturer. Ford fans love to see Chevy, Honda or Toyota “get beat” and vice versa. Without the manufacturer competition, that leaves only driver appeal to hold the fans. Frankly if Indy Car did not have Danica, Helio and Mr. Ashley Judd – Dario Franchitti – the series would already be history. IndyCar is fielding 20 – 24 teams per race versus 43 teams in NASACR. Many of the drivers are Euros or South American and are not well known to marginal race fans. Just a marginal golf fans only know Tiger, marginal Indy Car fans only know Danica. The loss of Danica would be a “shot through the heart” for IndyCar. IndyCar is on life support and everyone in the emergency room is standing around doing nothing to save the patient. F1 is also in Critical Condition There was a time that Formula 1 racing was the premiere worldwide racing series that was loved by true speed freaks. Names like Jimmy Clark, Sterling Moss, Phil Hill and Jackie Stewart were known to hard-core and marginal racing fans. The Indianapolis 500 was a Grand Prix points race for years. The 500 and the Monte Carlo race were always run on the same weekend. Points were given for both races because so many F1 drivers were driving at Indy. F1 races at Riverside, Watkins Glen, Dallas and Phoenix provided legendary competition for nameplates such as Ferrari, BMW, Ford, Mercedes, Renault, Honda and Toyota. Racing fans in the USA were a part of the world-wide racing community. The problem was the US Grand Prix was never held in on one circuit on a regular basis. The constant movement never let the series develop a large regional following that is needed to provide a solid fan base. The number one problem F1 is battling at the moment is the man they call “F1 Supremo” – Bernie Ecclestone. The 78-year old Ecclestone can be compared to the Raiders’ Al Davis. He is an icon in his sport, he was an innovator, a tyrant, a winner and now he is a major hindrance that needs to get out of the way to save the F1 series. Ecclestone alone is responsible for killing F1’s return to the USA. In 2005, “F1 Supremo” refused to allow the teams using Michelin tires to use a different tire when the primary Indy tire failed. Because of safety concerns, 14 cars retired after the parade lap and six cars “raced” to the finish line in front of 200,000 race fans. The death bell for the US Grand Prix began tolling that day. The race was held for two more years, but the event never really recovered from the ’05 fiasco. Ecclestone then decided to pull an International Olympic Committee move and demanded more money from Tony Hulman George and IMS to continue the US Grand Prix. George surprised everyone – especially “F1 Supremo” and refused to pay the exorbitant asking price. The final US Grand Prix was held in 2007. The “gutsy” move cost George his jobs as CEO of IMS and IndyCar due to the unrecovered cost of upgrading his track to the “ridiculous” F1 standards. After losing the US Grand Prix, Ecclestone declared his series did not need the US market in order to be successful. He was wrong. The worldwide recession has taken a major toll on F1. Honda left the series after last season. BMW will exit at the end of this season. Renault is rumored to be ready to leave the series. The F1 teams came within a whisker of leaving and starting their own formula series earlier this year. With Ecclestone’s tyrannical ways, the teams would have been better off without him. The “death-rattle” can be heard for the F1 series. Costs are going through the roof, teams are not being able to test the way they want and sponsors are leaving sports in general due the economy. 2010 could mark the end of F1 as we know it unless changes are made immediately! Can IndyCar and F1 Be Saved? The short answer is yes; however, both groups need to make some immediate changes. The first move needs to be a return of the Indy 500 as point’s race for F1. The return of the F1 drivers to Indy for one oval race per year would energize both series. Imagine the greatest oval and road race racers on one track for one race each year. The event and the hype would be “off the hook”! IndyCar needs to return to its roots as an oval based series. The number of road courses needs to be limited to four – Infineon, Mid-Ohio, Edmonton and Brazil (I’ll speak to Long Beach in a moment). The IndyCar series has a knack for creating wild, side-by-side finishes on ovals. It needs to go with its strength. The four road races need an added incentive to improve the competition and fan interest. A large payout of money plus points for the fastest qualifier and a “worst starts first” inverse starting grid would increase the intensity of the competition. The big cash reward plus an additional points for the fastest qualifiers would prevent teams from “dogging it” in qualifying to start up front. F1 should adopt the same format in order to make their races more exciting. Formula 1 also needs to bring a race back to the USA and run it in Long Beach. SoCal is the perfect place for a F1 event. The stars, the press, the huge fan base and a history of well run motorsports events make the LBC a great place for a F1 race. There are many more changes that need to be made in the administration, rules and technical standards in order for open-wheel racing to survive. Even with major changes, it may be too little too late for IndyCar and F1. The bottom line for open-wheel racing is – “Help us Roger Penske, you are our only hope!” Charlie O. reports on baseball, motorsports and special features for Sports Radio Service |
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