[racer-x]

Originally Posted by Brickyard That I'm not a racist *****? Yeah, you would be correct.

I'm not a racist either. I just took 4 of my adopted nieces 4 wheeling and there skin isn't the same color as mine.

Since you seem to be a expert can you tell me how many wins in other series the winner of the Indy 500 has?? Did you ever pay to sit in the stands and see him win these races?

If I wanted to here someone call us all racist I would watch CNN or msnbc for the news like I bet has indocterated your brain!

[Backitin]

Broke out into a racist thing since I last looked.
If it just comes down to just wanting a American to win, that aint racist. I wish every driver out there was American.
I for one am not racist in the least, I hate pretty much everyone except my kids, dogs and sometimes my wife. Says so right on my Tshirts.

[Chase Hightower]

I don't care what nationality the driver is, but I'll be impressed when any other one runs Kokomo or Eldora that Sunday evening after the 500. I bet Sato would be impressive at Eldora or the fairgrounds in a "real champ car." And I'm sure Foyt has no other drivers footing the bills since Sato. Before everyone bashes me for cracking on Foyt remember how long and loud he made comments about American drivers and how they should get to Indy by talent and not because of the $$$$$ they bring with them. Because it sure didn't last long at Foyt Enterprises. Just like every other Indy car team. Give anyone the cash and they can run Indy currently.

[Brickyard]

Originally Posted by racer-x I'm not a racist either. I just took 4 of my adopted nieces 4 wheeling and there skin isn't the same color as mine. Since you seem to be a expert can you tell me how many wins in other series the winner of the Indy 500 has?? Did you ever pay to sit in the stands and see him win these races? If I wanted to here someone call us all racist I would watch CNN or msnbc for the news like I bet has indocterated your brain!

I didn't say you were. However, some here seem to still think this international event should be American only. How dare a foreigner come over here and take away this God given right. Oh, not to mention this fallacy that if just load it with a bunch of local dirt slayers the ratings will go through the roof.

Did we learn anything from 1996? Apparently not since some are so intent on beating that same drum.

Having one of those "nancy boy left and right turning furriners" in this race netted an increase of 975% and 555% at the peak over last year in the UK. https://f1broadcasting.co/2017/05/29...03000-viewers/

In Spain, twice as many people watched Indy via a pay channel over Monaco, the biggest event on the F1 calendar.

I checked out the comments of F1 fans online. Nothing, nothing but positive. A lot of them have commented that they now have a new form of racing to keep up with. The IndyCar sub-Reddit has been filled all month with F1 and foreign racing fans wanting to know more about this series with many of them coming back with nothing but positive remarks after viewing past races on the IndyCar YouTube Channel.


This series has long had something that NASCAR doesn't, your dirt trackers don't have, the ability to tap into and gain interest around the world. You want to keep it all American, all oval, and to yourselves......scared that a foreign talent might come over here and show us how it's done? Fine by me. But don't keep complaining about the lack of money, lack of interest, and all the other horses you keep beating.

The world is much bigger than any of these dirt tracks and drivers many of you all claim is going to be the lucky charm. If you aren't willing to go out there and grab that world then you have nothing to complain about when it leaves you behind.

[Stevensville Mike]

Originally Posted by Chase Hightower ...but I'll be impressed when any other one runs Kokomo or Eldora that Sunday evening after the 500. I bet Sato would be impressive at Eldora or the fairgrounds in a "real champ car."...

I agree and am sure some of the IndyCar drivers these days would be great wheelmen on the short and dirt tracks in Silver Crowns, Sprints, or Midgets. Your second part got me googling, though. The last driver to win the Indianapolis 500 who also ran sprints/midgets/big cars at one time or another was Al Unser, Jr., who won it in 1994. Please check me on that. Here are the winners since 1994 and Little Al:

Sato, Rossi, Montoya, Hunter-Reay, Kanaan, Franchitti, Wheldon, Castroneves, Dixon, Hornish, Rice, de Ferren, Brack, Cheever, Luyendyk, Lazier, & Villeneuve.

[Brickyard]

Originally Posted by Chase Hightower I don't care what nationality the driver is, but I'll be impressed when any other one runs Kokomo or Eldora that Sunday evening after the 500. I bet Sato would be impressive at Eldora or the fairgrounds in a "real champ car." And I'm sure Foyt has no other drivers footing the bills since Sato. Before everyone bashes me for cracking on Foyt remember how long and loud he made comments about American drivers and how they should get to Indy by talent and not because of the $$$$$ they bring with them. Because it sure didn't last long at Foyt Enterprises. Just like every other Indy car team. Give anyone the cash and they can run Indy currently.

And American drivers could learn a lot from those guys, including recent Americans who've gone over there, going up that European ladder. You don't wait for the phone call. You do your leg work, get backing, and keep pressing. It's cut throat over there, has been for a long time. It should be no surprise to anyone that a driver from over there with as just as much talent can take that backing and run over here, for much cheaper.

I read an article written by Kyle Larson not long ago. In it he discussed how one lower level ride needed him to come with financial backing. He seemed fairly perturbed by this. I would have been as well....but I also would have taken that as a wake up call. That maybe it's time that I start making some phone calls and seeing what financial backing I can get. Might be time for me to invest in my future rather than waiting for some other person to do it.

Over there? They are well ahead of us in that regard.

[ronmil]

I'm just now getting the time and strength to comment after attending two sprint car races and my 53rd consecutive Indy 500. Started off with the Josh Burton Memorial at Bloomington on Friday night, tried to rest a little on Saturday, then on to the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. It was a very enjoyable day. The dismal weather that was forecast didn't materialize and we were treated to a fantastic event. The Scott Dixon incident was frightening and there were more caution flags than usual, but there was outstanding racing throughout the day. At one time, they were five wide on the backstretch! The nationality of the winner doesn't make that much difference to me. It was a very exciting finish (the last few years have been the best ever). Then after an excellent meal at Gray Brothers in Mooresville, my son-in-law and I headed to Tri-State Speedway. I don't believe I've ever seen the track better than it was Sunday night! All the heat races went smoothly, and the modifieds were able to get a bite and there were no spins during any of their heats. The mod feature also went green to checker, with the only caution coming on the last lap.The mini sprints put on a good show too. A great sprint feature was hotly contested with Chase Stockon taking the checker.
All in all, I enjoyed a great weekend of racing and can't wait until next year for the 102nd Indy 500! Just hope we can have better weather for the races leading up to the 500 (Hulman Classic and Hoosier Hundred) next year!

[jdull99]

U guys lost me on this thread (i'm not gona dissect everyone's post / I think some were deleted or edited)...but to answer the original question: there were 20 drivers in the 33 car field NOT from America...and only ONE with SC@M experience...so that is prolly why there were not post on IoW until this was started...the IoW readers MAY have more connections to the ASCS series than ex/current F-1 drivers...

[flagboy55]

Just a couple points from my perspective.
1) If cart was so darn good, pretty sure no one would have felt the need to start another sanction body.
2) I don't think it's a coincidence that the only 4 time winners have dirt racing experience.
3) I have always thought that the Indianapolis 500 was and should be an international event with the best driver's from around the world competing. The problem is that, let's use Kyle Larson as an example, the kid is potentially the greatest talent of this generation and American, and indy car let him go race stock cars. I say cart spawned this mentality.
4) Ultimately, I love the 500 and will watch it every year like I have since I was a child. I understand and respect the race as the biggest race in the world. Just would be a little better if we had a little more access for our own racers
5) Racing and not race should be discussed here
6) Thanks Mike for starting this thread, it's been interesting

[scottyCbus]

So I was at this years 500 and I heard on the radio this morning it had the lowest rating ever for a Indy 500 ! Well all I got to say about that is people who didn't watch for whatever reason missed a good one because it was the best one I have seen in years. Lots of passing, some bad pit stops cost a few guys a chance to win. The battle up front was great all day. There were little known drivers in the lead and pushing veteran guys for the win. Plus there was BCFOREVER lite up for the whole world to see on lap 100 which for me was just awesome. Because I know we all miss that guy in more ways than one. As for Sato winning I have no problem at all with him winning he had a great and fast car all day and out ran everyone at the end. The Indy 500 is much better to watch live and in person than it ever can be on TV so my suggestion is if you have never been go to it at least once in your life.

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Scott McCloskey BunkHouse Gang