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Now is the time for an Open Wheel revival. Now is the time for fans, media and the series to open their arms, embrace one another and push towards a strengthened unified series....Blake Johnson
A few Americans in top notch rides wouldn't hurt either. In spite of what Robin Miller says, by 1995, openwheel was sliding. At Indy in '95, less than 50k showed up on Pole Day. There were 44 "official" entries but only 37 (or 39?) car-driver combinations. Foreign road racers were replacing the Snevas, Rutherfords, Johncocks etc. Ovals were being replaced with street festivals and now, look where we are. Right back to the same scenario we had before the split. By 2002 the IRL had the best racing on the planet, a good cost effective formula, and American circle trackers and American road racers were being given opportunities. Smaller teams like Hemelgarn, Cahill, Walker, Panther, Cheever, Larry Blair, Foyt, Curb Agajanian, Kelly and D&R were competitive and won races, even after Penske came over. Enter Toyota and Honda and we've come full circle back to 1995. Unification or not, things will have to change before American race fans will once again embrace openwheel racing in this country.
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