Originally Posted by nowingsjeff:
QUOTE]I didn't know that Winchester, Eldora, the Indiana State Fairgrounds, were around in 1911.
Russ, I think he was referring to the Tony Hulman years. And Winchester was almost around that long, wasn't it?[/QUOTE]
No, to Winchester but yes to the Wisconsin State Fairgrounds and the Illinois State Fairgrounds.
The Hulman years [60's and 70's] had Jim Clark,Denis Hulme,Jackie Stewart,Jochen Rindt,Graham Hill,Jack Brabham,Team Lotus,Jim Hall,turbines etc and the Indianapolis 500 was huge back in those days. It had a great mix of drivers back then and that includes NASCAR drivers like Cale and Le Roy.
Foreign drivers and cars have been part of the history of the 500 since day one.
Sprint and midget racing is a niche sport. Sorry, but having the entire field of sprint and midget drivers will not increase interest in the Indianapolis 500. It sounds great on paper but that ship has sailed. If everybody wants to go back to the the 1950's, get rid of your computers and cell phones because they didn't have them in those days.