Using energy independence as its raison d’etre, the American Le Mans Series hosted a luncheon at busy Tavern on the Green Friday that called attention to its scope and size on the U.S. road-racing scene. The goal, we learned, was to — hopefully — find an ALMS series sponsor via one of the many ad agencies headquartered in Gotham. It was a well-planned and well-executed function; however, the speakers babbled on far too long. Among them were Tom Slunecka of Ethanol and Tom Harrison, chairman/CEO of Omnicom Group Diversified Agency Services, which is apparently looked upon as a key catalyst toward the ALMS’s sponsor goal. It is interesting that in New York, the biggest city in the world, there is only one restaurant which can accommodate an automobile among its diners, so, over the years, the TOG has become known for hosting automotive feeds. Displayed for guests entering the classy Central Park eatery were — side by side — six highly polished ALMS racing sports cars with their sweating fire-suited drivers standing alongside on this 90-degree day. Wearing sincere smiles were Joey Hand (Panoz Esperante), Bob Leitzinger (Dyson), Ryan Briscoe (Penske Porsche), Marco Werner (Audi), Dayton Duncan (Acura) and Bobby Rahal’s Porsche. This array drew admiring glances from many lunch-bound New Yorkers and ALMS devotees as well. Quizzing longtime team entrant Tom Milner about losing his long-standing BMW deal, he offered this one-word answer: “money.” Aware of the popularity of short-track racing in this country, Milner casually advised that during the racing season there are more auto races on one weekend in the United States than in the rest of the entire world that weekend! And about money, it was a surprise to this reporter to learn factory-entered racing teams in ALMS races receive no prize money! Race purses are only for those classed as “privateers.” In discussing costs of competing, team owner Rob Dyson allowed the $60,000 he pays for engines is a fair price, as his powerplants run for 30 hours before needing attention. Another fiscal surprise was learning ALMS tracks receive no TV money, as all of it goes to the sanctioning body, which, we presume, allocates a portion to race purses. Available for pickup and new to us was the superbly executed full-color, 36-page “Sports Car Racing 101” ALMS booklet explaining all there is to be known about the series. Top ALMS and IMSA execs Scott Atherton and Tim Mayer were table-hopping during the event, but there was no sign of big boss Don Panoz. At my luncheon table was Lime Rock Park track owner Skip Barber, anxiously waiting for any speaker to plug his July 6-7 ALMS meet, and when I asked which sanctioning body, Grand Am or ALMS — each of which shows at his track annually — delivers a bigger bottom line to his raceway, he quickly replied, “ALMS.”

With General Motors enjoying favorable publicity for its Pontiac nameplate in both road racing and drag racing, plus the recent renewal of NHRA’s “Official Car and Truck” status for Pontiac and GMC, one wonders if GM will wake up and start blowing its own horn about Pontiac’s achievements on stateside raceways. USA Today is just not enough.  

The TV ratings are now public for the competing June 24th side-by-side telecasts of the live Champ Car and Indy Racing League events. Neither race was memorable, but Nielsen tells us the IRL enjoyed twice as many households viewing its race as did Champ Car.    

Is auto racing next? Experts say declining ticket sales and a drop in TV ratings are the reasons Maryland’s Laurel Park race course recently announced a substantial cut in its horse-racing purses through the balance of this year. The organizing Maryland Jockey Club also plans to eliminate some stakes races and lower purses for those that do run. With the announced cut, the standard daily race purses now stand at $2,000, which will save the MJC $3 million through Dec. 31.   

With the closing date for the sale of DaimlerChrysler’s American Chrysler division, which includes the Dodge brand, to Cerberus Capital Management now fast approaching, Dodge racing team members wonder if Dodge’s factory racing program will continue. Until rookie Juan Pablo Montoya triumphed in race No. 16 at Sears Point two weeks ago, a Dodge had not won a Nextel Cup race all year. Mike Accavitti, in charge of Dodge Racing, says he is confident Cerberus will continue the racing program, “But isn’t sure.” Ye ed doesn’t know how many new Chrysler Group (Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge) cars have been sold this year, but it was recently announced that this year the group had sold 710,290  Certified Used Vehicles through May! The 500,000th buyer got his purchase price back, the company reported.
  
Regulars at Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Thursday Night Thunder races say that Chase Elliott, the 11-year-old Bandolero-driving son of NASCAR ace Bill Elliott, will be a better driver than his dad should he choose to stay in the sport! Reason: Chase’s admiration for and attention to his father, who is also his crew chief and mentor. Every on-track move by Chase, right or wrong, is said to be a post-race topic of discussion for the pair. Observers say Chase studiously follows Bill’s instructions to the letter, and that will lead him to greatness. But Bill has said he will not push Chase toward NASCAR but let nature take its course. “But that door is open to him,” Bill said recently.

Forget “The Best,” now that TV networks are vying for rights to air the new “Worst Driver” reality series that was such a big hit in England and is currently getting A-plus ratings in Canada. Drivers, characterized by neighbors as “the worst,” are pitted against drivers of similar description, with those showing the most improvement allowed to go home. Those who remain drive on. Over time the “least improved” contestant is renamed “Worst Driver.”

 The annual “Millers at Milwaukee” show comes off for the 13th running July 7-8 at The Milwaukee Mile. Over the years, this two-day event has attracted the most impressive gathering of pre and post-WWII Indy, Champ Car, roadster and laydown racing machines. Rear-engine cars are not allowed! Last year’s Millers at Milwaukee included 42 vintage racing cars. One $25 admission ticket covers both days. Gates open at 8 a.m. each day, with on-track activity green flagged at 10 a.m. More from (262) 253-2661. Now that the Offy midget has disappeared from this country’s raceways, perhaps it’s time for someone to organize a copycat show for the great number of small-car aficionados.

The Knoxville Nationals Trade Show, which parallels the four days of the Iowa track’s National Sprint Car Championships Aug. 8-11, is expected to be the largest ever, reports organizer Tom Schmeh. It will again be at the 4-H Show Pavilion at the Marion County Fairgrounds and offer free admission. Want to exhibit? Call (800) 874-4488.