That magic word — reunification — is back again as the powers that be try to straighten out the mess that is Indy car racing.
Tossing an olive branch may prove costly to Indy Racing League founder Tony George. He might foot the bill for engine programs for the emerging teams and that’ll cost millions of dollars.
It will not be money well spent. If IRL and Champ Car should merge, what we will get is CART circa 1995 all over again — a very low point for open-wheel racing.
The merger will add road course races on tracks on which no one can make a clean pass and drivers (from Champ Car) who most haven’t heard of.
Remember why Tony George started the IRL in the first place? He wanted oval races with American drivers. He never succeeded in reaching this goal.
If gobs of money are being doled out, let it subsidize race teams that can hire drivers that will put fannies in the seats.
There’s nothing wrong with the actual racing in IRL, they just need more solid teams and drivers people can root for.
George should think of moving the Indy 500 to the Memorial Day Monday holiday. This year, four former winners will be competing in NASCAR and because of the World 600, won’t be racing in Hoosierland. Also, drivers such as Robby Gordon and Tony Stewart might try. The bad thing about a Monday Indy 500 is the weather. The sometimes volatile Indiana “sunshine” can’t be depended upon and running the race on Sunday makes Monday a suitable rain date.
• I hope Brian France was sincere when he said NASCAR will be less stringent this year. NASCAR’s high handedness towards its drivers has hurt the series. NASCAR has removed the heart and soul from racing. Nothing really bad has ever happened when racers blow their cool. They are human beings. Let them be themselves.
Sinking attendance and TV ratings have been obvious. One wonders if the Car of Tomorrow turns out to be the dog most think it is, will it hurt NASCAR even more?
• Rinse out that flask! Lincoln Speedway opens Feb. 23 and Williams Grove Speedway the following day. One day I have marked on my calendar is June 6. The Grove will have a combo wingless USAC sprint-car show along with ARDC midgets.
One weekly track that seems to be heading upward is Accord Speedway in the Catskill region of New York. Since Gary Palmer took over the track, it has flourished. I hope to pop up there some Friday night.
• It’s nice to see vintage racing get more attention. The annual Reading reunion will be Feb. 24-March 1 at the site of the fairgrounds.
• A new venue will be held at the Phillipsburg, N.J., mall March 9-15. Memories of Flemington, Nazareth and Harmony speedways will be the focal point. This is a big part of my racing life and I plan to attend. It’s right on Eastbound Route 22.
• Like me, my computer has gotten old and slow. I will soon get a new one. I’m thinking of selling this one to Bruton Smith for 100 million bucks. After all, it has a lot of my former columns on it.
• I enjoyed the Barrett/Jackson auction again. I wonder if they have considered adding divorce lawyers as vendors? I mean telling your wife you spent six figures for a ’69 Plymouth may not go over so well.
• Regular reader George Middleton came up with the best line of the winter. He says Larry McReynolds doesn’t sound any better on HDTV!