Indy and Brickyard--In Good Hands?

We begin our blogging with some gleanings from an informal chat with Fred Nation, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation VP of Public Relations.

Some speculation in other outlets suggests that the vacancy which will be left at the Speedway by the departure of President Joie Chitwood might be filled by one H. A. "Humpy" Wheeler. This was fueled by Humpy's appearance at the Indianapolis 500 in May. The speculation is best described as connecting dots that don't exist. As of now, there are no plans to fill Chitwood's position at this time.

We also spoke about the vacancy that will exist at the FIA once Max Mosely retires in October. The ACCUS (Automobile Competition Council of the United States) met here in Indianapolis, as they do each year around the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. Jean Todt (ex of Ferrari) looks to be the choice of the ACCUS for Mosely's job--Todt would be expected to appoint American Nick Craw as President of the FIA Senate. Craw came to prominence as the boss at the Sports Car Club of America, and is presently involved as the FIA's Deputy President for Sport (#2 in the sporting side).

I asked Fred about the possibility of Formula One returning to Indianapolis, given the dynamics of the FIA leadership and Grand Prix commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone. Fred told me point blank that the Speedway (the only existing venue in the USA which can conduct a F1 event, given the logistics and regulations in place) would like to have one but "only if it made economic sense."

Sprint Cup Cars will begin practice a little later. This may be pivotal, with the weather forecast for qualifying day (Saturday) calling for showers and thundershowers--Rainouts of qualifying would put the point leader (Tony Stewart) on the pole. Jeff Gordon has four wins here--is going for number 5. Stewart would like win number 3--and the other 41 drivers would, of course, be happy to make the big left turn into Indy's Victory Circle.

Tires were a big deal last year--Goodyear stepped up their testing at the corner of 16th and Georgetown significantly. Depending on which driver you speak with, the new spec tires last anywhere from 32 to in one case 40 laps before performance falls off enough to warrant replacement. You might want to go through the July 2008 archives to find out what happened in 2008--twasn't pretty, fun or desirable.

Saturday, April 5, 2008--Pre-Qualifying Notes

Greetings from St. Pete...where two time and defending winner Helio Castroneves set the fast time yesterday in practice...followed by Brazilian chum Tony Kanaan. The fastest of the transition drivers was Newman Haas Racing's Justin Wilson, who was 4th fastest.

Other notes--the ALMS is requiring its gasoline powered, spark ignition cars to run on a mixture of 10% ethanol at minimum. Every car sold in America since 1987 is capable of running on 10 % ethanol.

RANT Max Mosley is bringing attention to the FIA (World Automobile Racing Rulesmakers)--the kind they don't want. If you go to the British "News Of The World" website, you will read a lurid account of FIA President Mosely's visit with five prostitutes in Chelsea. Mosely's father Oswald was a most notorious Nazi sympathizer during World War Two. One one level, the libertarian in me says that Max's private romps should be kept private. One might think that Max would at least check for cameras before the festivities began. On another level, the Nazi stuff is absolutely abhorrent. I knew and know a lot of men who fought the exact kind of crap in World War Two that Mosely thought was cute--it calls into question his judgement to operate an organization in the best interests of world wide auto racing. If he were looking for a beating, I suspect that more than a few relatives of Nazi victims would be willing, able and motivated to give Mosely in reality what he sought in fantasy. Mosely's suing the News Of The World, and will be subject of an FIA hearing. What will happen to Mosely will more likely be decided by El Supremo, a/k/a Bernie Ecclestone. Because if Bernie starts to get more flak from his high rolling friends and sponsors on this issue...Mosely will be out the door so fast your head will swim, thanks to a palace coup which will be engineered in true Machiavellian style (with no fingerprints) by El Supremo. /RANT

No F1 at Indy in 2008; Bernie & Tony Can't Agree But Leave Door Open For Future

Here's the formal word from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, July 12, 2007 – The United States Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will not be on the 2008 Formula One schedule after eight consecutive annual events since 2000.
After recent meetings, Indianapolis Motor Speedway CEO Tony George and Formula One Management Ltd. CEO Bernie Ecclestone mutually agreed to not schedule Formula One racing in 2008 at Indianapolis.
“After several discussions, Bernie Ecclestone and I were unable to agree how to keep Formula One in Indianapolis for the near term,” George said. “However, we have agreed to leave the door open for a potential future date.
“It has been a pleasure having the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis, and I hope that as we approach our Centennial Era at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, an opportunity might present itself that would allow its return.”
The 2007 event was June 17 and was won by British rookie Lewis Hamilton. At the time, George and Ecclestone agreed to a mid-July deadline for a decision about future events.

So F1 fans will have to dust off the passports and go to Montreal to see their stars. Pity. The race didn't have the inaugural crowds of the 2000 event in the last few years...but some 125-thousand fans in the facility is as large a crowd, if not the largest, that that series draws. However, what passes for promotion with Formula One Management is nowhere near what is needed to promote a major racing event in the United States. Like it or not, the good old USA is still a very desirable market for auto makers (Mercedes, Ferrari, Toyota, Honda, BMW) and there is (even with the push to stifle) more technology involved with one of the Toro Rosso cars than any ten Nextel Cup teams combined. The fans who like F1 like different stuff than do the NASCAR and IRL fans. Indianapolis Motor Speedway management gets the picture on promotion, but their hands are tied by FOM. Ecclestone has said that F1 does not need a round in America. Does Phoenix in 1990 ring a bell? Ultimately, is it worth a short term gain, if the long term prospects to rebuild the Formula One brand are diminished by diverting money for promotion to high rights fees (a practice for which Mr. Ecclestone is noted)? And the talk of the City of Indianapolis ponying up some of the dollars Bernie wants is bogus, especially with that city needing to keep their cops on the street.