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This is an interesting topic to ponder, debate, and watch. Many are pointing out that this suggestion for guaranteed starting spots in the 500 is the same as the 25/8 debacle of the mid-90s. It is, to a point, and there is a quite a bit of irony to it, I agree. I am going to take it to yet another level of irony:
When Tony George came up with the 25/8 rule for the 500, it changed American Open Wheel Racing forever since. His "motive" for doing so, in my opinion, was to get the upper hand in building his series which would subsequently replace the existing series, CART. The IRL was in its infancy at this time. He was using the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as leverage. This quickly got the ire of the CART side and whatever side of the table you were sitting at during that time period, we all know what happened after that.
This new suggestion by Penske, Ganassi, and Andretti (and whoever else might join in).... they are not on the outside looking IN like CART was when the IRL formed. These guys ARE the IndyCar series right now (along with others). They are INSIDE looking AROUND. There is no "rivalry" here.
George was trying to get the upper hand on his RIVALS (i.e. CART), not his own guys in his series. He NEEDED his guys, like all sanctioning bodies do.
What this NEW guaranteed starting spot thing reminds me more of is when the car owners in the top series staged their rebellion in the late 70s and formed CART. This basically was an overthrow of USAC sanctioning the series. Now, I know there was a plane crash involved and the table was tipped quite a bit, but that is how CART started - the owners trying to gain more say in running things. Well, they got their say - They got the whole sha-bang.
Then what happened THERE? CART went on to a decade and a half of true success and the Indianapolis 500 ALSO remained a true success, but not under CART rules. CART recognized it as one of their races, but entered under USAC rules. But sooner or later, the whole thing went full circle and.... well..... You know. So, yeah..... there is a LOT of irony and history here. One could suggest this is the first volley fired in that direction?
As George Santanyana once penned, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
An interesting topic to watch here it will be.
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