Latest I. N. Sider piece:

[HopHead]

Sorry if this has been discussed already, but I like the way this guy thinks:

Time is Right for Jeff Gordon at Indy

[MS]

Interesting. I'd LOVE to see it happen, and see what Jeff can do. I doubt it will happen, but it never hurts to ask!

[Doc Austin]

It would be great for the sport, especially if Robbie is in the race too.

[Racewriter]

I like it.

But it would just be a one-shot deal.

What the IRL needs is the NEXT Jeff Gordon.

Who is currently gunning for a record-setting 20th USAC win in a season.

Then they need the next one beyond that. You don't find those guys at a club race, or behind a briefcase full of cash.

[IndyJim]

To me, if Jeff never drives Indy, it will be one of the biggest crimes of the century.

I was there in 94 when he won the first Brickyard. Seeing him at Indy would be huge for him and the sport.

[mnkywrch]

IN Sider wants GM to do all the heavy lifting.

How about the IRL and IMS doing something?

Announce that the first driver to win two out of the three major events at IMS - 500, 400, USGP - will win $20 million. The first to win all three will win $40 million.

That, or double the purse.

[mnkywrch]

Originally posted by Racewriter
I like it.

But it would just be a one-shot deal.

What the IRL needs is the NEXT Jeff Gordon.

Who is currently gunning for a record-setting 20th USAC win in a season.

Then they need the next one beyond that. You don't find those guys at a club race, or behind a briefcase full of cash.

No - you get those guys by having consistency in your driver lineup.

You need drivers like Rice and Fisher and Hornish in good equipment every week, for a long period of time.

The nationality isn't as important. Ask Sammy Sosa.

But look at it this way: the IRL would rather have Ed Carpenter in the IRL than JJ Yeley. How many USAC wins does Ed have this year, and how many does JJ?

[bever911]

Originally posted by mnkywrch
IN Sider wants GM to do all the heavy lifting.

How about the IRL and IMS doing something?

Announce that the first driver to win two out of the three major events at IMS - 500, 400, USGP - will win $20 million. The first to win all three will win $40 million.

That, or double the purse.

That's a very interesting idea.....

[bigred]

Originally posted by mnkywrch
IN Sider wants GM to do all the heavy lifting.

How about the IRL and IMS doing something?

Announce that the first driver to win two out of the three major events at IMS - 500, 400, USGP - will win $20 million. The first to win all three will win $40 million.

That, or double the purse.

Just what the world needs...$20 million more into the pockets of Jacques Villeneuve or Juan Pablo Montoya.

[mbilek]

I believe J.J. is under contract with Ford.

There is no amount of money you can offer him to run in the IRL. He has to do what Ford tells him to do.

[debdrake]

Originally posted by bigred
Just what the world needs...$20 million more into the pockets of Jacques Villeneuve or Juan Pablo Montoya.

Montoya maybe - but you really think Villeneuve could win in both an IRL car and a stock car? That F1 car he's in sure isn't going to cut it.

That said - sure would be fun to see Schumacher mixing it up out there with Jeff and Dale Jr...

[mnkywrch]

Originally posted by bigred
Just what the world needs...$20 million more into the pockets of Jacques Villeneuve or Juan Pablo Montoya.

Fine - double the purse for the Indy 500.

Make it 5 or 10 million to win.

[Jamski]

Originally posted by mnkywrch
No - you get those guys by having consistency in your driver lineup.

You need drivers like Rice and Fisher and Hornish in good equipment every week, for a long period of time.

The nationality isn't as important. Ask Sammy Sosa.

But look at it this way: the IRL would rather have Ed Carpenter in the IRL than JJ Yeley. How many USAC wins does Ed have this year, and how many does JJ?

Thought provoking as always, mnkywrch, especially in light of Carpenter's testing with PDM.

Whatever happened to the notion of "scholarship" drives? Used to be that part of the prize for winning the Late Model track championship at Oglethorpe Speedway Park (a short track near Savannah, GA) was that you got to use their Grand National (then Late Model Sportsman) car to try to qualify at Daytona. Our guy Hal McGraw actually made it in 1982. More recently there was the American Racing Series, which promised its champion a ride in the 500 with Patrick providing the car.

[Doc Austin]

Originally posted by mnkywrch Announce that the first driver to win two out of the three major events at IMS - 500, 400, USGP - will win $20 million. The first to win all three will win $40 million.

With that kind of money on the line schumacher would come over and after two races it would be over.

[mnkywrch]

Originally posted by Doc Austin
With that kind of money on the line schumacher would come over and after two races it would be over.

And it's a marketing dream.

You're getting far, far more than $60 million in publicity.