Can't remember who said it but it went like this... "half the drivers have bought their way into Indycar" I think I read it on Robin Millers indycar blog but it came from a driver.

It really is remarkable in so many ways. NASCAR has just turned to complete crap from what was once fun to watch. I won't go into all the ways they've screwed it up. Indycar is basically about 6-8 drivers with a bunch of people that bought rides and can't drive and then you have some quality drivers sitting at home every week without a ride. Nobody from USAC gets an opportunity anymore. The cars are all the same. I am so looking forward to different engines that could bring a little variety.

On the question of "start issues" ...
The 11 rows of three abreast is one of the many time honored traditions.
In actuality , you haven't seen a true 3-abreast start in a decade. The nicely formed rows of 3 will take formation in the backstretch and as the pace car pulls-off going into turn 3 , those rows quickly become staggered as the flying start accelerates toward the green. Fact is , there are 33 drivers who have no desire to run 3 wide and wheel-to-wheel as history has so often proven this to be the recipe for an early end to your day. It is no longer realistic to stay in tight formation as the speed has been increased approaching the start over the last few years. For this reason we are no longer seeing multi-car / major contact incidences prior to the first-turn , first-lap.

Today's original start , while ragged , was recalled for a jumped start , not a formation issue.

On the question of "best race car drivers" ...
The "500" over the years has had most of the best in the world from America and Europe including Jim Clark , Dan Gurney , Jackie Stewart , Graham Hill , Emerson Fittipaldi ... to name some in the modern era.
If today's starting field had included Lewis Hamilton , Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen , all Formula One Champions , would this satisfy having a "500" with the best drivers in the world ? Most U.S. fans would say no , because these are not household names to everyone. If you follow Formula One you may appreciate the greatness of these people. But don't expect to see them in Indy cars as it is simply not their thing. And it shouldn't be.

Anyone who wanted to drive at Indy in May showed-up , money or not. 33 made the show as Bruno Junqueira , Stanton Barrett , Buddy Lazier , Jacques Lazier , Jeff Simmons , Buddy Rice , Phil Geibler , Jimmy Kite and a couple others sat this one out. Fact is , the best Indy Car drivers in the world raced today. Where could more experience and accomplishment be found ( in Indy Car ) than what is represented in those driving today ?

I'd say those two right there have talent far above people like Duno, Conway, Moraes, Meira, Mutoh, Patrick, Fisher, Andretti (either one), and RHR. The only reason that the Buddy's were not in there in the race is Lazier tried like hel to get Hemelgarn's sled in and the car just isn't competitive anymore and Rice doesn't have a boat load of money with him. Both are former winners (Lazier with Hemelgarn in 1996 and Rice with RLR in 2004).

Indy is now all about who has the money to buy a ride. That is how teams like D&R, HVM, RLR, and KV are on the grid.

New engines won't make a difference unless it gets back to a run what you brung type of format. I'd propose this: run an engine formula comperable to a national midget or a 305 sprintcar engine. This way the teams can take care of their own engines: no manufacturer badging. The original idea of the IRL had this similar engine format and it was a great idea. Sadly it wasn't allowed to continue as greed (TG) let Honda/Toyota in and we see what we have now.

A car that allows people to "play" with them (no windtunnel testing) would also do wonders. The cars are just to d*mn even to produce any good racing. Remove the large front wings and go to much smaller front wings, lower the rear wing end plates to be even with the top of the wing and set the rear wing back 4 inches from present location.

That should help with getting more passing and more side by side racing.

The same thing happened at The Little 500. They had the double checkers to get the fans support, but someone deemed the crowd did not to a good enough job and kept the double checkers out for 2 more laps.

Guess what? Wreck on lap one.

When the drivers are hyped up and ready to race and they do not, it is a wreck waiting to happen.

More side by side racing with open wheel cars? Is that what we need for cars that go 225 plus down the straights? You want to talk about a formula for disaster! Think again!

I think Danica needs to hang up the helment and become a professional stripper!!!She could be part of the prerace program!

EWWWWW EWWWWWWW EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW I don't even want to look at her with clothes on. She may do it for some but she damn sure doesn't do anything for me.

I'l give her money just to make her hang up her helmet and go away. Maybe then Indycars could get a little credibility back.

What get's me is how many folks complain... if you don't like it, why do you watch? And if its such a lousy field of competitors, why don't you turn off the TV or cahnge the channel and watch some old movie? The drivers in the field were set over a week ago, so its not like that the field was s surprise.

And IRL doesn't really want three abreast at the starting line. on the original start, due to the danger involved, to both the drivers' and the fans....

Vitor Meara's plunge into the wall would have killed a driver ten years ago; so while he has a couple of cracked vertebra, he's alive. Now, how is that? We can always slow the cars doen to 175mph and resort to old technology; would you watch then?

The best thing about recalling "the good ole' days" (whether we're talking about the Indy 500 or anything), is that we're allowed selective memory. When we complain about drivers today with more money than talent, we can forget about people like Salt Walther. When we talk about trouble on the start, we can forget 1966.
Like about 99% of the people on this board, I really wish the guys we watch at Bloomington or Williams Grove or Ventura had a legitimate shot at the 500. But all the wishing and complaining in the world isn't going to change the reality.
But look at the bright side: We're luckier than the old time NASCAR fans. How do you think they feel about provisionals and lucky dogs and boogity boogitys?

and digger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!