[Seadog]

Originally Posted by Lucky161 ...I too thought that Tony G gave it a good try, but since he has come out since then and admitted that he always wanted a series like CART, that kind of throws that good effort argument out the window...

Where or when did he say he wanted a series like CART? Do you have a link to anything (print interview or video press conference, etc.) where he said that? My memory is bad and I don't remember him saying that.

[Sandy Lowe]

Originally Posted by racephoto1 The public wants faces and names they know, like the guys they see running sprint cars and midgets. Remember 20 years ago Nascrap was just a regional thing, I bet only a handful of guys on this website even watched nascrap. Once Stewart , Gordon, Schrader, and the like went there, it got our attention.

You may watch NASCAR because guys like Stewart, Gordon & Schrader race there but the majority of people know who they are because they race in NASCAR.

Non wing sprint/midget racing is a niche sport. We know who the drivers are because we follow this type of racing. I would think more American racing fans know who Tony Kanaan is than know who Jon Stanbrough is. In fact I would bet that a lot of winged sprint car fans do not know who Jon Stanbrough is.

(Note: I only used Jon Stanbrough as an example because he is one of the top non wing sprint drivers in the midwest.)
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[FishBurger]

Originally Posted by Seadog Sure it's different now. Stuff happens. In a perfect world Darland, Levi, and Hines would be in the 500. But it's a different world now and moaning and groaning about it will not bring back the old days. Accept it and enjoy it for what it is or move on.

This is excellent advice. And that is exactly what I did after foolishly griping about the "different world" with posts here on IOW and over at TF for far too long. I moved on.

I attended the Indy 500 from 1961 through 2003. Made the short drive out to IMS for many qualification days and countless practice days. Bought tickets to Milwaukee, Trenton, & Kentucky and that doesn't even count the Champ Dirt races back when they were included on the Championship Trail. Had high hopes for the IRL at it's inception and was getting really pumped again until it became apparent that Mr. George had only used us as well as owners like Hemelgarn, Treadway, Galas, Cahill and others until he could get, by default, Penske, Ganassi, and the big money owners and equipment suppliers to come home. Disapppointed for awhile, but later realized it was his game and he was completely justified in molding it however he saw fit. That said, I felt no obligation to support the new vision.

I find no fault with Seadog and any others who like, support, and follow this now latest vision of Indy Car racing. I sincerely hope it flourishes and finds it's way back onto mainstream TV and with full grandstands.

Meanwhile, I'll run through my entertainment budget attending sprint, midget, and Silver Crown races, with an occasional LM show thrown in. I'll be watching NASCAR on days not in conflict with open wheel events within 200 miles, but on TV, not in the stands. Being an old dude I received a grandfathered exemption to watch and enjoy whatever the hell I want to watch and enjoy without regard to the many critics and clever misspellings of NASCAR that pop up. There are participants there who I've followed for years, rooted for, some I've met, and for whom I care about how they fare with their series of choice.

I guess age has a way of teaching us which battles are worth fighting and which ones are unwinnable. This one has long since concluded. I not only lost, I now realize that I was never really in it. I'm glad I had sense enough to finally "move on". If only I had been that perceptive about 12 years sooner in my first marriage.

[Seadog]

Marv, at my age, the one battle that is worth fighting the most for me is constipation.

This is a well thought out, well written post (except for that part about LM:2:).

I respect you for what you say every time you post. We may not always agree all the time, but you always make your point with class and style and without name calling.

[Lucky161]

Originally Posted by Seadog Where or when did he say he wanted a series like CART? Do you have a link to anything (print interview or video press conference, etc.) where he said that? My memory is bad and I don't remember him saying that.

Sorry, I haven't been ignoring you. I went last night to find a link and a virus I've been working around took hold and I couldn't do anything. I started trying to clean it out on my own at 5am and at 8am I gave up and downloaded a pay version anti virus. That didn't work either, so I called them and paid for them to clean it out. I thought it was pretty high priced, but by then I was desperate. They finally got it fixed at 10:30pm. All but about 3 hours of that I was on the phone with them. What a mess!

Tomorrow, I've got carpet layers coming and will have to unhook computer, tv and cable and tomorrow night I'm going to the ASCS races at the Devils Bowl. Assuming I can get everything hooked back up on saturday, I'll look for that link again. If I wind up having to get the cable company out to hook things up, who knows.

I am certain that he said this, because for at least two years I watched closely as things started turning around and returning to the old CART ways like engine leases, road courses etc that drove me away from Indycars to start with. But I held on thinking that Tony meant what he said about reconnecting with the short tracks etc. I pretty much took the position that you are now and when this statement finally came out, I was furious. Still am.

[billyb]

Looked like a freight train to me.

[usacgirl]

I enjoyed everyone's point of view. However, the folks at the IRL played ******** with all the USAC people by having them place those stupid decals on their cars saying and I quote "the road to INDY" ya right..the road to the town of Indianapolis maybe....certainly a misleading lie.

Lets just say there was more of a fan following during the ESPN USAC Thunder Series in the early 90's then the INDY CAR......

In closing, IRL is done and over, who wants to watch these idiots when you can watch the real RACE CAR drivers in USAC.

Last but not least....WE ARE TALKING ABOUT INDY CAR NOT NASCAR....!!!!

[ClaytonYeley]

Originally Posted by usacgirl In closing, IRL is done and over, who wants to watch these idiots when you can watch the real RACE CAR drivers in USAC.

Well I'm going to keep watching. I don't understand why you think Power, RHR, Helio, Dixon, TK etc are not real drivers. They seem pretty good to me.

[Gasman fan 50]

I thought at one time the last show of Speedweek, the man told us, that the sprint car drivers will be in IRL!

Well, it never happened. That was the night JJ won that speedweek. As a guess 97? I did bail out after nothing happened. Did watch less after the CART split. Just could not get turned on with either.

Joe

[Lucky161]

Ok, miracles do happen. I hooked my TV and computer back up this morning and after a couple of false starts, I've got both cable TV and internet access. It's rainy and cold, so I will likely be able to spend some time searching for the link/quote from Tony George.