My "opinions", as you put them, are steeped in research not only in regards to the 500 but IndyCar, motor racing, and the effects of world events on that subject. I think if you and others did the same and allowed yourself to look at this from a critical point of view and throw bias out the window you would find that a lot things that have touted as "fact" over the years are either false or have grown legs that have gotten longer as the years go by.


Would you be employed in anything you've done in your life if you were resistant to change? Chances are no. People who are resistant to change are those who will be left behind. What I've always found humorous in all of this need to blame insert other evil name here for whatever is the need to deny the history, I guess it's done in an attempt to tout their side or whatever is right. I mean, shouldn't you all really be mad at USAC? They are the ones that allowed the formula to run rear engine cars, put wings on them, took dirt off the schedule after 1970, and reintroduced road courses in 1964.

If I was a driver that really wanted to race in this series or that race and be successful I sure as Hell wouldn't be slinging dirt at Lawrenceburg every week and if I was around in the 60's and 70's I wouldn't be pulling my best Jim Hurtubise in order to make a statement by pulling into the track with a front engine car or running out on the track.

Yet, two of the most successful events on the series calendar outside Indy are Long Beach and Road America......go figure. You would also get the ovals you and many desire if you have a strong series that puts butts in the seat at those ovals, but don't think for a minute that road/street courses are going by by. One of the strengths of this series has long been the diversity in it's schedule whether that be dirt, asphalt, oval, or twisty. If you go outside some of these oval centric forums you'll find that many like the direction this series is taking and the newbies who don't understand the history wonder why they ever got away from it to begin with. Believe you me, it will be deals like Alonso that put butts in the seat and eyes on the screen, not the local track champ. But if that local track champ wants to play there is a way....he'll just have to make some changes.

There are several one mile dirt tracks around this great country.Reconfigure the suspension,develop a tire for dirt and turn em loose.

I disagree.

Then feel free to counter me with information that can cited and sourced rather than "I feel", "someone told me", "I hate therefor it must be."

I realize that I'm wasting my time because nothing I or anyone else says is going to change your mind. That's fine, because all your statistics, links to "white papers", and research isn't going to change anyone else's either. In your lengthy rants you've pretty much trashed USAC, IRL, and people we consider as heroes; dirt racers everywhere. No doubt you have great knowledge of world motorsports history. But after painfully reading your posts, I'm convinced you have no clue about what makes a racer. Being a racer is not developing a word-view business plan in order to market yourself to the rich and powerful. It's about getting dirt under your fingernails at 3 AM in order to rebuild an engine (sometimes us hicks call them motors). It's about trying to scrape together enough money to buy a new tire. And then it's about summing more testosterone than most men will ever have, getting their elbows up, standing on the gas, and RACING. Personally, I don't give a flip that people in Europe (and you) don't care about our racers, We do!

Thank you PJ, I was thinking this might be a robot, still could be, but thanks for the"challenge", I doubt Mr Watson would have agreed with any of this nonsense. Bob

Yes let the free tickets, brie and pinot grigio flow. Brickyard,your condescending self-described expertise lends nothing to a thoughtful discussion. It is exactly people like you who ascribe a business plan as a way forward that have ruined nearly every sport in this country. Please reup your subscription to Road & Track and leave us alone.

No where in this thread have I done any of what you claim. However, if you refuse to acknowledge history and fact, that's not on me. And if you want to continue making the claim that you are being shut out by evil and powerful forces who look down upon you like peons, continue on even though it's been cited right here by not only myself but others that a path does exist, that is if you want to do what it takes to get on that path.

I suggest you look at the entry list this year and ask a solid question as to where those guys you want there are and why that is.....the closest one to it is Ed Carpenter and pretty much no one else. So yea, like I've said before, you owned the show after 1996.....but there is an old adage of being careful about what you wish for.....make no mistake they aren't making that same mistake of 20 years ago again. And judging by the uptick in attendance over the past couple of years it appears the ticket payer has spoken as well in regards to what they want. Guys like yourself might have been shut out forever....and it's really sad, because it honestly could have been prevented.

I'm now going to crack open a Budweiser with a ham sandwich since I'm such the snooty fox who's scared to get grease under my fingernails while playing polo with my Uropeein friends.

And no where in my post did I "make the claim that we are being shut out by evil and powerful forces." What I DID say is that despite of your name dropping and blame-gaming virtually every one and everything associated with US open wheel racing (with the blatantly obvious exception of CART and it's supporters) you have little comprehension of what makes a racer race. The more you post, the more apparent that becomes. By the way, my name is Pete Wright. What's yours?

Since we have gone way off topic, I'll stay way off topic. To Brickyard, yes, there is a path to Indycar, but that path cannot be followed without bucketloads of money. There is no clear connection from the entry level ranks to Indy in the US unless you are a millionaire or can sweet talk a millionaire. There is no one in the lower ranks of formula car racing who is making a name for themselves hustling a low budget car with hard work and talent. No one who is not involved in the kart ranks knows the progression from karts to Indy. Back in the day, the stars of the sport made their name by racing what was in their back yard. Mario started in a stock car, the Unsers started in their local jalopy or supermod class, Parnelli started in jalopies. This doesn't happen anymore. Now a days, rich kid buys ride in F whatever, wins championship against a bunch of other rich kids, gets offered a ride in next series (make sure to bring another bucket load of money), and so on. Kyle Larson won his ass off in karts, got to race a sprint car, won his ass off again, got into a non wing sprint car and Kunz midget, won his ass off, got a shot at a stock car, won his ass off, made the big leagues. Kyle did have backers who helped make this happen, but he didn't have to go seeking some esoteric path paved with money, he just raced and won, and the next door opened.