by Jeff Adams
I actually sat down and watched most of the Indy 500 this weekend. More follow-the-leader racing at Indy. At least there was some action for the lead, the drivers admitted it was nearly impossible to pass. Much like the Brickyard 400, which has become a pitiful excuse for a race over the years, Indy is a one-groove race track. I also wondered, “Who are these guys?”.
As I watched, I couldn’t help but wonder why Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell, Danny Lasoski, Jack Hewitt, of JJ Yeley weren’t in IRL cars.
Hey Tony George, where are the USAC guys? What about the World of Outlaws guys? When the IRL was first formed, George said the series would be pulling drivers from the USAC and WoO ranks, and was touting the IRL as the antithesis of rival CART- US-bred drivers racing on ovals.
The IRL needs a boost from American drivers, or it will surely start losing interest like CART has. The 2003 Indy 500 featured 19 drivers from foreign countries, and 14 from America. No American finished in the top 5, and only 2 American drivers are in the top 10 in IRL points after Indy. All on the most thump-your-chest of American holidays, Memorial Day.
It’s a crying shame George and the elitist owners in the IRL won’t give American drivers a chance. I know I personally would have cared more to see Kinser, Swindell, Lasoski, or Yeley instead of Roger Yasukawa, Shinji Nakano, or Vitor Meira. In an informal poll of my closest racing friends, they agreed 100% that the American drivers need to be involved.
Of course, the World of Outlaws guys have to wonder about the future of the nations’ largest touring open-wheel series after authorities seized 3 WoO event trailers, its’ souvenir trailer, and the series pace truck last Saturday night at The Dirt Track at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
According to the Charlotte Observer, the seizure stems from non-payment by the organization to Wheeler Television, Inc., owned by the daughter of track owner Humpy Wheeler. Wheeler Television taped segments of WoO racing last year which were later shown on Speed Channel.
I guess this would explain why none of this years’ WoO events have been televised on Speed Channel after it was announced last year they had signed a 3 year deal. According to the Speed Channel website, “SPEED Channel entered the 2003 television season with the full expectation of bringing its viewers race coverage from the World of Outlaws. Unfortunately, at the request of the sanctioning body, the first four scheduled programs already have been canceled. At this point in time, there is no signed contract between SPEED Channel and the World of Outlaws and SPEED Channel does not expect to broadcast World of Outlaws events in 2003.”
This does not sound good folks. Sounds like Mr. Johnson is going to have to write out a fat check to settle this one. This is a story to keep your eye on.
See you at the races.
I actually sat down and watched most of the Indy 500 this weekend. More follow-the-leader racing at Indy. At least there was some action for the lead, the drivers admitted it was nearly impossible to pass. Much like the Brickyard 400, which has become a pitiful excuse for a race over the years, Indy is a one-groove race track. I also wondered, “Who are these guys?”.
As I watched, I couldn’t help but wonder why Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell, Danny Lasoski, Jack Hewitt, of JJ Yeley weren’t in IRL cars.
Hey Tony George, where are the USAC guys? What about the World of Outlaws guys? When the IRL was first formed, George said the series would be pulling drivers from the USAC and WoO ranks, and was touting the IRL as the antithesis of rival CART- US-bred drivers racing on ovals.
The IRL needs a boost from American drivers, or it will surely start losing interest like CART has. The 2003 Indy 500 featured 19 drivers from foreign countries, and 14 from America. No American finished in the top 5, and only 2 American drivers are in the top 10 in IRL points after Indy. All on the most thump-your-chest of American holidays, Memorial Day.
It’s a crying shame George and the elitist owners in the IRL won’t give American drivers a chance. I know I personally would have cared more to see Kinser, Swindell, Lasoski, or Yeley instead of Roger Yasukawa, Shinji Nakano, or Vitor Meira. In an informal poll of my closest racing friends, they agreed 100% that the American drivers need to be involved.
Of course, the World of Outlaws guys have to wonder about the future of the nations’ largest touring open-wheel series after authorities seized 3 WoO event trailers, its’ souvenir trailer, and the series pace truck last Saturday night at The Dirt Track at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
According to the Charlotte Observer, the seizure stems from non-payment by the organization to Wheeler Television, Inc., owned by the daughter of track owner Humpy Wheeler. Wheeler Television taped segments of WoO racing last year which were later shown on Speed Channel.
I guess this would explain why none of this years’ WoO events have been televised on Speed Channel after it was announced last year they had signed a 3 year deal. According to the Speed Channel website, “SPEED Channel entered the 2003 television season with the full expectation of bringing its viewers race coverage from the World of Outlaws. Unfortunately, at the request of the sanctioning body, the first four scheduled programs already have been canceled. At this point in time, there is no signed contract between SPEED Channel and the World of Outlaws and SPEED Channel does not expect to broadcast World of Outlaws events in 2003.”
This does not sound good folks. Sounds like Mr. Johnson is going to have to write out a fat check to settle this one. This is a story to keep your eye on.
See you at the races.
