Originally Posted by 767:
your profile says your from minnesota, just makeing sure you had actually been to the race. I think they have done pretty well with tradition, but then again my first 500 was in 94. only missed 1 since.
Yeah, we've been in Minnesota for about 3 years now. My job moves us around the country (and world sometimes) every 4-5 years at a time. I'm a native hoosier, born and raised 20 miles from Winchester. We always get back to Indy for the 500. In 1985 I was in Spain the day before the 500 and made it to the race. In 1989 I was in Munich, Germany the day before the 500 and made it to the race.
I'm a huge fan of the 500. It was a big part of my childhood and it also serves as a family reunion of sorts every year. That's why I hate to see things like F1 muddy up the history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Didn't I read somewhere that 600 million dollars was spent to alter the facility for F1? (New garage paddock, road course, etc...only for the event to be a money loser every year). Geez, Tony George could have bought a LOT of Indy cars for that. And hired 20-30 sprint and midget drivers.
Then the black eyes the Speedway received last year with the NASCAR tire fiasco, F1 tire fiasco a few years ago where only 6 cars started....These were international stories. I don't know, I just think it tarnishes the reputation of the track.
I was the biggest fan Tony George ever had from 1996 to 2003 or so. I loved watching the sprint/midget guys prove to the world that they could drive Indy cars. Mixed in with the international racers, they put on the best, closest Indy car races I have ever seen. Usually at the white flag you still didn't know who was gonna win. I attended races literally from Phoenix to New Hampshire.
Where are we now? We are CART renamed. Like I said earlier, this is the first
IRL season that started with a road course event. Not one but TWO. Also we are STREET racing again.
Which brings me to ask myself a question....Did Tony George really want to help sprint/midget racers? Or did he just want total control of Indy car racing? Think about it. Where are the sprint/midget racers now? How many street/road races are there now? Isn't this CART rebadged?
Just a few thoughts and humble opinions. Gotta go, we're off to the Twins/Red Sox game tonight. Love watchin' Big Poppy strike out!

David.