IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

Anyone know what this is about? Hearing rumblings that IndyCar and USAC are partnering on something. Apparently Levi and Bryan will be on hand at IMS tomorrow for some sort of announcement.

Hoping someone here on IOW will know what's up?!?! As a die-hard Indycar/Open wheel fan, this is exciting!!!!!!! :2:

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

From a Tweet @ http://twitter.com/16AndGeorgetown

R. Bernard, USAC Pres Kevin Miller, Roger Bailey, Tony George Jr., Bryan Clausen, & Levi Jones will make an announcement tomorrow at IMS 6 minutes ago via web"

"# They will "reveal a partnership"

http://www.16thandgeorgetown.com/

With Roger Bailey at the news conference, it must be about a connection with the Indy Lights program.


http://www.popoffvalve.com/2010/10/1...cials-from-the

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

Thanks for sharing those details! I'll keep my fingers crossed...

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

Randy Bernard will be on for the full hour on Dan Kay's show tonight. Tune in to autosportradio.com maybe he will let the cat out of the bag.

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

I noticed and said something on here about mid season that USAC's trailer colors were changed to those of the IndyCar colors (black and red). Not saying that means there is something up, but it got the wheels turning in my head at the time....still kept it in the back of my mind. I have also noticed that IMS has been putting some USAC highlights on their blog posts. Sounds like something is up.

I'd like to see them partner in some form. Both could benefit from the other IMO. I'm telling you, some of the gap Nascar had enjoyed is slipping. The time is now to close some of that up. I hope both sides can see some sort of partnership makes both better. I'd like to see the old days were a guy still ran sprints and ran some of the bigger ovals in an IndyCar. I lay most of this at Randy Bernard's door. The guys sees the WHOLE picture....some others have not.

USAC guys getting a shot at the Speedway is what hooked me on that kind of racing. That needs to return and sounds like there is actual hope this time. I know the IRL gave short trackers a chance, but some great drivers were still in CART at the split. I'd like to see it all under one roof again.

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

http://www.popoffvalve.com/2010/10/1...cials-from-the

Road to Indy partnership

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

:5:

This is like the opposite of the negative black helicopter conspiracy posts.

I think i'll call it a white helicopter post. :8:

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

Just an FYI, Tony George Jr., is Manager of Business Development, Firestone Indy Lights.

Let's hope this is not like the Road to Indy deal 10 years ago when USAC champions won tests in an IndyCar, and a ride if they brought a bucket full of money. I believe at least one driver said he needed $500,000 to get a ride for the month of May.

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

Who knows where this deal will end up. Whether, as it stands, it will mean that a path to Indy, from the USAC ranks, will start to open up or not. Nobody's going to know that for sure, after this press conference or in the foreseeable future. Only time will tell. One thing's for sure, though. Just the fact that they're going to initiate such a program means that someone with some influence is exercising some forward thinking and sees the need to change things up a little. Considering the current state of NASCAR, they really do have an opportunity to grab some market share back, if they play their cards right. It isn't going to happen overnight, though.

Jerry

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

I remember when the IRL first started all the open wheel guys had hope. Hewitt, Kinser, Brian Tyler, even Tyce Carlson got a shot. Then engine leases came in, which meant cubic dollars. Goodbye local guys.

I hope the IRL realizes one of NASCARS selling points is that you can see their drivers race other things. Schrader and Bowyer modifieds, Kahne and Stewart still race sprint cars.You have the chace to see the "STARS" run local. How many IRL guys you seen run a weekly show at Eldora or Pevely?

If the IRL wants to succeed, give the fans a reason to show up. Name you can pronounce and drivers you see race on off weekends.

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

The damage JJ Yeley did the sprint midget drivers' rep didn't help either.

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

Why would you say that?

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

What? He's a triple crown winner in USAC

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

What damage did he do? I was at the 500 and he ran a respectable race from what I remember. Considering He was in Dr. Jack Miller's back-up car. And I don't think the primary car was all that fast.

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

In case someone didn't listen last night, Randy said IndyCar will offer a ride to the USAC overall points champion a ride in the FIL for all of the oval events in '11. Right now it's between Clauson and Levi.

That's good stuff IMO.

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

I can understand why people are skeptical….we have heard this song and dance before. I remember one year the winner of a certain USAC race, winning a test with Hemelgarn. I think DD won the race and got the test…..can’t remember exactly. Of course the test didn’t amount to anything more than a test. Others have had tests and nothing happened either. A few years ago the Knoxville Nationals Rookie of Year got some Indy Lights races….that was only done one year. So there has been hope and failure many times. I just feel like this time there is an actual chance for guys to get a real shot. If previous management was announcing this, I would think it’s the same song and dance that leads to nothing. I think the new leader has a chance to make something happen.

I’m not saying this is going to lead to 10 guys being in the Indy 500 field next year or even 5 years from now. However, at least the current leader sees the importance of the short track driver not being cut off anymore. Going to take time, but at least effort is being put into it.

---------- Post added at 08:22 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:16 AM ----------

I think Jack Miller was the problem with that primary car. :) Nice guy, but without Crest money, he wouldn't have been there.

I thought Yeley did a good job that year for being a rookie. I was at some practice days and thought he did fine. He did spin on lap 1 of the race, but came back and finished 9th.

---------- Post added at 08:25 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:16 AM ----------

I agree it's good and it's a start. I know they were also talking about trying to put something together to get that driver in a car for the 500 as a part of the Lights deal. I'm sure they would like to do that this year, but that might be down the road.

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

The story was that Yeley was up for the 2nd car at Panther Racing during the Hornish years and he stood up John Barnes for the interview. Barnes wasn't happy. The story went public.

Not sure if the story was true but it was talked about on Indy racing forums a few years back.

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

I always enjoyed watching Jimmy Kite. He made it exciting.

---------- Post added at 10:31 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:27 AM ----------

I think if Sammy Swindell would have had a competitive car he would have done well as an indy driver. He did great in the equipment given.
He seemed to be one of the quickest to adapt I had ever seen.
Others did well early but they were in top equipment to start with.

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

What I heard was the opportunity to test at Panther. A test could be something concrete or another empty promise. By this time he was ready to move to Busch/Nationwide Cup. He didn't return Barnes call. Before that he spent around five years looking for IRL rides. The best he could come up with was a really bad-slow Riley&Scott car.

Randy has been to a couple sprint car races this year so at least he knows we are around. I think he wants to help but he is up against the formula car owners mentality and they won't sway easily. Still I hope something comes of this.

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

Proof in the pudding as to why people never cease to amaze me. This is the best thing that has happened to USAC, the IRL, the Speedway, and every single darn driver that races full time with USAC.

And yet... still complaining.

This is an awesome deal, and I can't wait to see it actually happen. Randy Bernard is the best thing to happen to the IRL, hands down, nobody can disagree with that. The things that he's already done are going to make the sport much much better. The whole engine lease deal is somewhat rediculous, but so was the last few yeas under TG. But with the new car in 2012 being so much cheaper, along with an engine package that isn't going to be near what it is right now, maybe we can get some of the teams back like PDM, Treadway, and those other teams that made the series what it is, and in doing so, bringing back drivers that we all know and love. Problem is it's still going to take money to get to that level, but the great thing about it is it's going to be pennies on the dollar from what it is right now. If you have a sponsor that is willing to shell out a million (which won't get them much of anything in nascar), you can have a competitive team, compared to now, with the HUUUUUUGGGGEEEE costs that are involved. Yeah, a million is a lot of money, but it's a lot cheaper than 4 or 5 million.

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

Things to consider about Indy Car budgets. It's easy to talk about the cars and engines, where do you cut the overhead at the shop? It all adds up, no easy answers.

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/sho...IndyCar-Budget

From 2006
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/sho...79735-ICS-Cost

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

I expect to see every fan show up and buy a ticket for the races in which a USAC guy has a ride. Better fill up those stands for all the years of complaining we have had to endure.

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

If Clauson makes it to Indy Cars I will be at Kentucky at least, maybe Indy.

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

No matter what happens here someone is going to complain. Things sound like they are going in the right direction. 1 thing I am really getting tired of hearing "no connection between usac and indy car...." Take a look at things, should there be? How many road course races do usac driver run each year? I know this board is very biased because we mostly watch sprint cars go around in ovals each week. Facts are Indy cars race on many differnt types of tracks. Usac races on ovals. If I was Chip or Roger there is nothing in usac for me unless we are talking about a ride down south. I really think its time for usac to start investing into something that turns right and left rather than another spec midget series. Heck maybe Indy Car should give all of the current cars to usac when they make the switch. Maybe we could get some mid week racing going on Putnam Park. For any driver to get a full time ride in Indy car, they have to be competitive on a road course.

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

This thread has been bugging me all day, you diehards need to help me out, because I'm missing something here....I get the part about Levi, Clauson, Hines, Darland wanting to get to the IRL $$$$$$$$$. But how is this good for USAC??? How is fast tracking your CHAMPION right out of the Series, good for USAC??? For a Series thats "somewhat" hurting for stars and cars, how is losing your Champ every year, good for USAC???

USAC tried to jump on NASCAR's coat tails and lost. Now they want to give their series Champion to the IRL, I don't get it. It seems to me, USAC would want their Series to be a destination, not a stepping stone (higher purses, better point fund ect.). I'm sure glad that Williams Grove's Champion don't go on the Outlaw tour every year...

Not complaining and not being negative, I just don't understand it....:38:

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

Pine, the ride is for ovals only. As Randy Bernard said the other night on Don Kay's show they dont want to set them up to fail. Last year out of 13 races only 5 were on ovals plus they had 2 open tests at Indy and Kentucky. Since it has basically come down to BC and Levi I doubt that either one would be satisfied racing just 7 weekends all year. I'm pretty sure you would still see them just not on those weekends.

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

I guess if you can't be the top rung on the ladder, you want to be the rung that puts you there.

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

Maybe USAC will get a couple of extra Silver Crown races with the connection with Indy Car. Milwaukee and New Hampshire for example.

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

Just a couple of quick thoughts:

1. Tony Kanaan was paid $3 million this year by Andretti, lost his sponsor and lost his ride.

2. No one has mentioned the USAC drivers who have competed in Firestone Indy Lights during the last eight years -- Ed Carpenter, Jay Drake, Cole Carter, Aaron Fike, Brandon Wagner, among others. Add to that Craig Dollansky of the World of Outlaws and Geoff Dodge, who won a ride as Knoxville Nationals Rookie of the Year. There was another sprint driver who ran down at Lawrenceburg who's name I don't recall. Only Wagner had (has) a multi-year plan aimed at getting him to the Indy 500. None, that I know of, had a sponsor step up and say "let's go IndyCar racing", or even Indy Lights racing.

3. Randy gets it. I'm very glad he does. He has an uphill fight that will only succeed if the USAC driver is funded for the oval races, at least initially. Most USAC drivers do not have half a million or so laying around so they can move up. They're just trying to pay the rent and eat at Taco Bell.

4. In 1955, USAC was created primarily to guarantee a supply of quality drivers to Indianapolis. Starting in 1956, it used the traditional divisions to achieve this, and even tried some new ones -- like creating a road racing division that had Roger Penske as one of its former DRIVING champions. When CART, and NASCAR, came along and destroyed it's whole purpose of existance, the club had never been able to successfully redefine itself. That's after 30 years.

5. I really hope this works, just as I did for Dave Darland and Dave Steele 10 years ago. Our traditiional drivers deserve it. However, it only will succeed if someone is willing to step up and help finance it.

What value is there in getting to kick the tires if you can't drive it off the lot?

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

Agree 100% with what you are saying. I guess my thing is that it's nice that they actually have the opportunity again because they are just as good a driver as many in the series (and much better than the ride buyers). They deserve a chance on the big stage too. That's how I look at it. It would have been cool to see Foyt, Andretti, all of the Unsers, JR, Johncock..etc run dirt their whole career, but their talents belonged on the biggest stage of openwheel racing. I realize it was a different time because sprint cars and IndyCars were similar cars then. Today the cars share nothing in common other than they have 4 wheels. I'd just like to see these guys get a shot at it because they are talented enough to do it.

For their sake, I'd like to see them make the best living they can make. For my sake, I'd like to see them run Indy (maybe a few other ovals) in an IndyCar and run USAC the rest of the time. We'll see where it all leads.

---------- Post added at 07:50 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:47 AM ----------

[QUOTE=bigmojo5;200334]Just a couple of quick thoughts:
There was another sprint driver who ran down at Lawrenceburg who's name I don't recall. QUOTE]

Travis Gregg is who you are thinking of. Won several races in the Sam Schmidt #7 car. I don't think he had the backing to come back the next year so winning races wasn't good enough. That is what is broken with the system right now and needs to be fixed.

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

How do we get some of these guys to start making right hand turns. Yes the oval stuff is a big deal, but if they go out and win every single race they run, is anyone going to give them a ride the following season? Look at Carpenter this season. Had some very good oval races. He has road course experience. Is anyone going to give him a full time ride? I want to see some of these guys move up and be sucessful. The problem is right now, I see nothing more than a chance to move up and run a few ovals each season.

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

Ya know, this thread has been bugging me also, and as far as I'm concerned, the bottom line is still $$$$, talent is secondary, or maybe further down the list, money brought to the table is still primary, Nicecar, Usac, Indy Car, these "owners" don't have boatloads of money any more, nor the sanctioning bodies, it's a price tag, just like anything else you would "buy"! Look how many are losing sponsors this year, they get used to spending sponsor money, and forget what it's like, trying to "make" money, that's when they start looking at talent! My 2 cents worth! Bob

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

Food for thought, and everybody wants to talk about the negatives of this deal, and trying to figure out how it's going to work, and all that stuff. Think about this, really really think about this.

Bryan Clauson or Levi Jones are going to get a shot to race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Let me repeat that if you didn't read it right the first time. Bryan Clauson and Levi Jones are going to get a shot to race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

I don't care if it's an Indy Lights car, or a full up Indy Car, it's still a shot at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. How many on this board have dreamed about racing there, and are never going to get the chance to (I raise both hands to that one)? It's the Speedway, the greatest track, and the greatest place in the world, and to race there, is completely special.

After hearing Bernard talk, this is going to work. I work in the retail world and see CEO's talk a big game, and you can tell when they are full of it. Bernard isn't full of it. He's going to make this happen. How many CEO's do you know that have sat in the crowd at Indy to learn, and going to dirt tracks to find out why the core group of fans has left, and listening what to do in order to fix them. Sure, I can understand that there is skepticism in this deal, and that makes sense, and if this was TG saying this, sure, I'd be the first one to be calling out BS on the deal. Bernard wouldn't be doing this if he didn't feel it was the right thing to do, and it's going to work.

And here's my last thing on this long winded deal. It's up to the fans now. EVERYBODY on this board has been screaming for years "I'll start watching again when there is a USAC guy back in an Indy Car." Now's the chance, don't screw it up. Because if nobody shows up, and nobody seems to care, and nobody goes to the races, then it's the fans fault that there isn't a USAC guy back in an Indy Car, not money, not anything else. The "fans" stated that they would "go back" if there was a USAC guy, or an American open wheel guy, and now that's happening. Lets not mess this up.

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

u are right, and yes it will bring excitment to indy. One day a hot shoe is going to get this oporitunity and go out and dominate. Heck it might even get him in the 500 the following year (which is awsome and better than where we are at now). I would just like to be able to see that driver have a shot at the circuit. Maybe the gocart racing these guys did before they were teens will be enough. The good news, because of this announcement, I will see my first ever indy lights race next year. Like someone said, if we the fans do not follow thru, then this whole thing is all for nothing.

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

TrackForum rumors are always pretty weak. That entire JJ didn't call me back was blown way out of proportion. For the most part, Lemmings eat their own when push comes to shove...... just like the comment that Yealy didn't do that well when given (or payed for) the chance.

A brick could drive these cars, it takes a banker to get the seat full time

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

Sure everyone would like to see thier favorite sprint or silver crown driver at Indy.
The fact is this topic is much more complex and it it has a complexity that is very time oriented from a business stand point that some may not consider.
Say you are a product or marketing VP at a company that wants to provide and benefit from a major sponsorship of an indycar.
What type of driver do you want to provide for/investors/customers/your staff and work force meet and greets at business locations or the tracks?
Do you want a driver that has won a race/Indy500/Championship?
What will impress your clients? What will impress your intended customer base and what are the time lines to be not seen as a "loser". Every item or car that has your name on it you are outputting a marketing message whether winning or losing. The team and driver represent your brand.
How long do you have to become a winner and impress your investors or management team that this form of marketing is working? Or that the involvement in the team creates a positive customer and client result from watching or attending races, along with improving sales or creating brand awareness.

I am not saying you can't acheive this with Sprint/SC open wheel drivers, infact I know it is possible. Many of these business requirements are outside the technical car/driver side of the equation and comes heavily into play.

This holds true at all levels of racing but the more invested the more success is expected.

Re: IndyCar/USAC Partnership?
 

Jim,

I think Bud Kaeding ran a few races in the Lights series 10-12 years ago. I know Jerry Coons, Jr. has ran a couple. Also, Sarah McCune to add a few more names to your list.

Going back to the 2005 Indy Pro Series season Travis Gregg won 3 of the 14 races held and also had 2 thirds and a 5th place finish. Jay Drake had 2 thirds, 2 fourths and 1 fifth place finish.

Of the drivers listed in the 2005 Indy Pro Series final point standings only 4 moved up to become "IndyCar drivers"

• Jeff Simmons - 2nd place
• Marty Roth - 8th place
• Marco Andretti - 10th place
• Ed Carpenter - 26th place

Sandy