Ford at the 500?

[morden]

Not before unification:

I spoke with Ford's racing boss, Dan Davis, extensively at NASCAR's Homestead race and he continues to support a unification of open-wheel racing. He said the minute that happens Ford will be back at Indy.

IndyStar

[JoeBob]

Honda has been working on it. Mario Andretti has been working on it, but TG continued to insist that he have complete control over the series.

He'll be paying the price for that in May. (Hopefully, the economists of the Biz Forum will have the totals ready for him well in advance.)

[SportscarBruce]

Honda has been working on it. Mario Andretti has been working on it, but TG continued to insist that he have complete control over the series.

He'll be paying the price for that in May. (Hopefully, the economists of the Biz Forum will have the totals ready for him well in advance.)

Who would you suggest have complete control over the series?

[SJFast]

Who would you suggest have complete control over the series?

Yeah....I'd like to hear the answer to that question too.

[jonovision_man]

Honda has been working on it. Mario Andretti has been working on it, but TG continued to insist that he have complete control over the series.

Almost every interested party outside of TG and KK wants this to happen. I don't want to get into who of the two are more to blame, but it is only series ownership that stands in the way.

He'll be paying the price for that in May. (Hopefully, the economists of the Biz Forum will have the totals ready for him well in advance.)

He certainly will, although he's been paying the price since the split. Everyone has.

jono

[elio]

Who would you suggest have complete control over the series?

Tony is clearly too divisive to be in control, in business when you have someone who is so disliked by so many he needs to be removed.
BTW , why has Brian Barnhart escaped the axe, his tenure has been a complete failure.

[Turn13]

Tony is clearly too divisive to be in control, in business when you have someone who is so disliked by so many he needs to be removed.
BTW , why has Brian Barnhart escaped the axe, his tenure has been a complete failure.

TG seems to be able to make deals among all the constituents of the sport, and isn't embroiled in lawsuits all the time. Barnhart usually makes good technical calls from within the list of bad choices he's usually presented, but he, like TG, has a way of putting the worst "spin" on practically every public comment they make.

[jonovision_man]

TG seems to be able to make deals among all the constituents of the sport, and isn't embroiled in lawsuits all the time. Barnhart usually makes good technical calls from within the list of bad choices he's usually presented, but he, like TG, has a way of putting the worst "spin" on practically every public comment they make.

You've pretty much nailed it. Tony did well to get Honda and Toyota on-side, and was smart to make the deal with NASCAR for the BY400. Good moves, important partnerships.

But while Tony did well to convince everyone to make the investment, he didn't hold up his end and provide them with the return. ROI.

Honestly, I don't see a massive problem with the IRL's on-track product, so one has to assume it's a marketing failure, combined with some questionable strategic decisions. 14 race schedule is right up there on the list IMO, sent the wrong message, especially when combined with the manufacturer exodus.

This isn't a vote for KK either, but seems that KK is better at spinning the facts to product a favourable image of the series than TG is.

jono

[Turn13]

This isn't a vote for KK either, but seems that KK is better at spinning the facts to product a favourable image of the series than TG is.

Or they have more control over the audience...

Whatever the IRL does, the Indianapolis 500 is the premeire deal, and anything less than perfection and monolithic success is perceived as negative. Whatever CC does, their fans appreciate and accomodate - whether that's the loss of manufacturers, the adoption of a spec series, losing ovals and road courses and U.S. events, losing the teams and virtually all the names and personalities that formed their legacy, and so on.

That's not the fans' "fault", it's just the dynamics of the situation.

Casual fans just tend to see a general impression of how these core fans react, and the journalists reflect that too.

[jonovision_man]

Or they have more control over the audience...

Are you accusing KK of mind control?



YOU WILL BE CCWS FANS!!!!

jono

[Turn13]

No... I was thinking of the censorship and single-minded, close-minded attitudes of those who thrive on ridicule, bigotry, and vulgarity.

[jonovision_man]

No... I was thinking of the censorship and single-minded, close-minded attitudes of those who thrive on ridicule, bigotry, and vulgarity.

That's just utter nonsense.

Who is being censored? Where's the bigotry? Some little shots back and forth really don't qualify as "ridicule", and vulgarity is a ridiculous charge.

jono

[JSR]

You've pretty much nailed it. Tony did well to get Honda and Toyota on-side, and was smart to make the deal with NASCAR for the BY400. Good moves, important partnerships.

But while Tony did well to convince everyone to make the investment, he didn't hold up his end and provide them with the return. ROI.

Honestly, I don't see a massive problem with the IRL's on-track product, so one has to assume it's a marketing failure, combined with some questionable strategic decisions. 14 race schedule is right up there on the list IMO, sent the wrong message, especially when combined with the manufacturer exodus.

This isn't a vote for KK either, but seems that KK is better at spinning the facts to product a favourable image of the series than TG is.

jono

agreed

[JSR]

No... I was thinking of the censorship and single-minded, close-minded attitudes of those who thrive on ridicule, bigotry, and vulgarity.

[Turn13]

What, you don't see that?