Regular readers, probably already know what I think about Indianapolis Motor Speedway…… or maybe you don’t.
Actually, I love the place. My very first time there, I walked up to the entrance to Gasoline Alley. There stood Mario Andretti talking to a small group.
The place is steeped in racing history. The museum is a must see. When I look at the pits and frontstretch, I can almost see the "Big Cars" from the 30’s and 40’s, they were probably the best looking (IMO) that ever ran there. Wilbur Shaw, Mauri Rose, as well as the lesser known "Iron Men" who made their living, and many times died on the dirt tracks and the fairgrounds across the country. In most cases for eating money. Visualize the beautiful Millers. These were the days when garage built "Specials" could take on and win the Holy Grail of American racing. I can almost hear the Offys and Novas.
See the Roadsters from the ’50s and early ’60s? Those wonderful looking cars that were probably the most dangerous cars ever to run there. These things were built like tanks. When you see a modern Indy car wreck, you see the suspension collapse and parts being shed. This dissipates energy. When the roadsters wrecked they stayed together. When these things flipped, they would come down on a tire, bounce, and seemingly go forever. Plus the ever present fire danger from ruptured aluminum fuel tanks. Remember these were the white coverall days. Firesuits were far in the future. These were the days of A.J., Sam Hanks, Vulky, Tony Bettenhausen, Jimmy Brian, Jud Larson and Don Branson. Like our World War II heroes, these guys- the ones who survived- are dying out and with them, a golden era of American racing.
Yeah, I think you could say I like Indy!
My favorite part of the month of May was bump day. In the years when Indianapolis drew 50-75 entries, I was never too interested in who sat on the front row. With a few notable exceptions, the big boys were going to make the show, and with 500 miles to sort it out, it just didn’t seem that important. I always identified with the guys who could barely afford to be there. Who’s entire month was spent on a search for enough speed to make the show. The final hours of Sunday was when drivers started stepping into unfamiliar rides: when deals were struck, when back up cars were rolled out, after drivers and owners had given up on the cars they had tried so hard all month with.
In short, the place vibrated with an energy that it can’t seem to duplicate today.
The thing I really don’t care for about Indianapolis is NASCAR. I’m not one of those guys who look on Stock Cars, as Taxi Cabs, profaning Indy’s Holy Ground. What I don’t like is the racing.
I’ve seen everything from the first exhibition race to all of the Brickyard races. Haven’t seen a decent one yet.
The drivers and owners like it because it’s a big payday, and racing has transformed from passion to business. I get it, I just don’t have to like everything about it.
The payday seems to be getting smaller. The novelty of being there has pretty much worn off for many fans. Even the most ardent ones have noticed that this quickly turns into a single file parade.
I have always felt that the races at Indianapolis were better watched on TV. I’m the guy who turned down a free ticket to the 500, before the split, with seating in the section where the drivers wives sat with a police escort in and out of the track, so I am serious about this.
Is this whole thing leading up to me saying to leave Indy, maybe move the date to Iowa or someplace? Nope, I’ve spent my entire life tilting at windmills, but even I wouldn’t propose this. What I do propose is to tweak the road course to better accommodate stock
cars and run on it.
I have friends who are diehard NASCAR fans. We were talking this summer, and they mentioned they were not going back to Indianapolis, because of the racing and poor visibility. Racing on the road course would put the action in front of the fans. If you
have to watch on the big screens, why not just stay home in the first place?
There’s plenty of parking on the unused portion of the backstretch for the haulers. Of course running on the infield would ruin the "Snake Pit", but everything has a price.
{ 19 comments }
Indy was one of the 7 races i fell asleep during this past season..nuff said.
Interesting and insightful comments! Too bad the road course idea would never fly. I have driven on the track in my street vehicle at 60 MPH and marveled at how narrow the track seems and is. Many of us older fans would rather see the racing at IRP (old name, but it works). As far as a cup race in Iowa- perish the thought! The racing there is great; don’t ruin it with the corporate circus!
Horrible idea. Racing at Indy is no more boring than the vast majority of NASCAR tracks. If you want to get rid of all the tracks which feature boring races, you would be left with about two or three tracks max. And NASCAR fans hate road racing, so don’t even go there. It is a waste of time to even contemplate.
Aw Rachel,
I’ve had lots more horrible ideas than this. Besides, I just indited one track. You just indited about 92% of the entire series.
As for the statement, “NASCAR fans hate road racing”. If I were grading your paper, & came across this statement. I’d have to circle it in red. I’m a NASCAR fan. I don’t hate road racing. Ergo your statement, without modifiers, can’t be true.
Lastly, this is the off season. We HAVE time to waste, we’ve both just proved it.
may have to grade your paper Dawg :P its indict..unless your forming a poem or prose then perhaps indite is correct..but if in looking at your story..i’d say indict would be more correct (dontcha hate nascar fans that do that to ya? ) :D HA!..the mad spellchecker strikes again!!!!!!
Next year, don’t miss the trucks and the Nationwide cars at O’Reilly Raceway Park. Maybe take in the USAC program on Thursday night, too. Those three nights of racing will beat anything you see over at that big rectangle.
@Rob: Since we’re playing English teacher let’s go the full route and use proper grammar, too. You can’t be “more correct,” it’s simply “correct.”
As for Indy, I’m with Dawg here. Drop the Brickyard 400 (and while we’re at it dump the USGP idea, too). Indy is Indy. Period. That means Indy cars. Not pseudo “stock” cars. And while we’re dropping races from the schedule, let’s streamline the season and have only 30 races. Bring back cars that actually are Fords, Chevrolets, Dodges, and, yeah, it’s the modern age, so real Toyotas. Make the cars behave more like the trucks. Shorten some races. Structure the field that only Super Speedways have 43 cars with smaller tracks having limited fields. Trash the ghost cautions. etc. Alter the Chase points, with only “chasers” from the previous year having “guaranteed” starting spots for the following year, blah, blh, blah. Just like the old days. Sorta.
Yeah, dump the Brickyard race. Where’s the petition, I’m ready to sign.
i agree..and i said “more correct” to give dawg an out in case he did mean one or the other..HA!…
grammar isnt my strong suit..plus i’m Canadian so we at times spell and structure differently than normal countries :P
As for the idea of actual fords chev’s etc..wont ever happen..BUT…there is absolutely NO reason..a true ford shaped or dodge shaped body cant be slapped on the COT chassis…in my silly brain..i’ve come up with a formula..have the car..from centerline of the body..or around the bottom of the upper grille..as many cars have multiple grilles… to tip of roof..be exact to manufacture specs..below the centerline..have a standard slab side and airdam/defuser-rear bumper area..its so easy and would prolly increase viewership a substantial amount as brand loyalty still exists in north america..i’m loyal to Ford..and havent been able to pick one out atta distance since early 98′ when the last T-birds ran..gotta wait for close up shots or number shots to recognize my brand..kinda sucks
You know it people like you who know nothing that really make me sick first off the novelty of racing at Indy has not worn off. Most fans and drivers consider the race 2nd only to the Daytona 500 infact some think its bigger. As far as not seeing a good race there granted its not Talladega but there seems to always be a good battle for the win when it comes down to the end witch is no different then the Indy 500 its never that good till there are 20 laps to go then it gets good sometimes.Also I have attended every Brickyard 400 to date and will continue to do so. And if you look at the track history the record for lead changes in a race came in the 400 not the 500 and if you look at the list of drivers who have won it that alone proves the importance of it.So if you don’t like it don’t go but most of us enjoy it and consider it a very important part of the schedule and it is not going anywhere oh also even with attendance being down which it is everywhere do to the economy the Brickyard race is still the biggest crowd of the season. When you hear a nascar driver say if they could only win 2 races in their carrers most if not all would say the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 so long live the brickyard 400 a great racing tradition.
I was an Indy car fan before I was a nascar fan and I like nascar at Indy I have seen the the indy 500 in all the ways possible at the track , on a movie screen in a detroit theater and of course on Tv . I went to the first post war race in 1946 with a friend of mine who is also still around If you do the math you know we are in our 80,s . we drove 350 miles in a 1940 hudson coupe to get there quite a drive for a couple of 19 year olds have been there many times since I turned down the chance to go to the inaugural nascar indy .
Yea Rick, and I bet you just love Fontana too. NA$CAR is a perfect fit at Indy. Indy is home to another family member that trashed a perfectly good racing series. Too bad Brian hasn’t suffered Tony’s fate.
Your right Mike I do like Fontana I like all the tracks because you see different kinds of racing at each one.That’s why I have been to all of them at least once If you were watching this past october the nationwide race at Fontana was one of the best of the season. As far as Tony George goes he didn’t mess that series up Indy car racing was messed up before the split and the reason for that is because the lack of American driver. Its sad that a USAC driver no longer has a chance at making it to Indy oh wait they do its called the Brickyard 400 not the Indy 500. Even Tony Stewart says today the Brickyard 400 is bigger then the Indy 500. Oh just woundering are you one of these fools who complained about the last Talladega race hard to believe people said that when there were 60 lead changes among 25 drivers which was more then any other race all season makes me wounder what’s wrong with people.
Only someone who never saw a race at Riverside could suggest that Nascar fans don’t like road courses. A road race at Indy would be awesome. I do not go to any track that I can not see the entire track surface from my seat. I’ll just keep my money, thanks….
No Rick, I actually enjoyed the Talladega race. I thought it went back to the days when there was the infamous “Talladega Freight Train”. I was wondering why, with all the complaining about that race, no one made that comparison. Of course, there weren’t those great slingshot drafting passes and real race cars.
My reference to the Indy car series being screwed up by George is the fact that it is purely a Spec series now, with no room for innovation. Just like NA$CAR. Take out the innovators, you take out true competition. Might as well be watching Skip Barber. They say you can never go back and that is true. NA$CAR and Indy cars will never return to their glory days. But what these series have evolved into sure makes me wish for a weekend time machine.
@ everyone who has read, or responded to this, or any of my other articles.
Whether you agree, or disagree doesn’t really matter.
After all this is an opinion site, & we all know what they say about opinions!
A lot of things I throw out are just “food for thought”.
Do I expect someone in Daytona to read this & say “that’s a hell of an idea, lets try it”. Yeah right! The Check is in the mail, I’m from the government, I’m here to help you, & all that other stuff.
As this may be my last article before Christmas.
Let me take this opportunity to wish everyone a safe & Happy Holiday season!
dawg
Well Mike I agree with you there Indy has become a spec series and in some ways you could say the same for nascar. But if you go back to the days when the cars were totally different then everyone always complained that one make had an advantage over the other so they always made adjustments to try and make the cars more alike. I guess the bottom line is there will always be something to complain about and they will never please everybody.
There was a race a few years ago where Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart raced side by side and swapped the lead late in the race…. maybe it was 2005 or 2006. I thought that was a great race. With the COT, it will probably never happen again.. but that was a good one.
Clint as was the 2007 one between Stewart and Harvick and 2002 between Elliot and Wallace all in all there have been several races there that have been very good and some that have not which is really no different then any other track. Sorry but every race is not going to be a heart stopper which is no different then any other sport every football game is not going to end with a last second touchdown pass.
Yes Rick, they complained. But they also had the room within the rules to step up and build something better. Unfortunately, the powers that be perceived that as spending getting out of hand. In order to “curtail spending” they tailored the sport to a more uniform/spec car. And what did they get from that? Modern day land barons. Only the richest of owners get to be competitive on a weekly basis. I say it again, kill the innovators, you kill the sport. Smokey never had a 10 figure budget.
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