Spending Tony's money

[sweaty]

This JJ Yeley thing bothers me and a lot of folks.
Here is a guy breaking all the records of people like Foyt, Trip, and Stewart, going south, without any effort from the IRL to get him into the league.
It might be wise for the IRL to fund a couple of full time competetive teams as trainers for the spridget talent. Get the rear end car experience so that the IRL teams will be comfortable moving those guys in. I don't think that its the lack of talent or ability that keeps them out, just the lack of rear engine experience that scares the owners.
Maybe the IRL teams wouldn't get points or prize money, be paid a fair salary for one year. The driver would be free to suppliment his income by racing midgets, sprints, or what ever on open weekends and other dates nonconflicting.
Workable?

[mnkywrch]

JJ's already signed with Ford.

It's odd, when it comes to NASCAR, Ford and Chevy and Dodge and all these makes have absolutely no qualms about signing up a kid WAAAAAAY down the ladder, giving him the proper support, and grooming them for a career in NASCAR.

However, when it comes to open wheel in America and grooming a kid for a future, nothing like that happens.

So when's Chevy going to step up in the IRL and do the same?

They want the next Jeff Gordon in NASCAR. That's fine. How about some effort to ensure they have the next Sam Hornish in the IRL?

[rev-ed]

wrch is rght.

[manson]

You've got to be kidding? Yeley can't road race... he can't get out there and pound on doors and sign a sponsor... he doesn't walk the garages and pit lane of every IRL race... instead, he goes around winning Silver Crown, Sprint and Midget races, feature after feature... just wasting his time, the lazy twit... he's scum! Why should he get any help?

The IRL throws a couple of hats and decals around, gives a meaningless test or two, and calls it a driver development program. The IRL manufacturers do, to my knowledge, nothing compared to their NASCAR counterparts. LEts face it... the IRL doesn't want guys like Yeley adn they certainly don't do much for the next Sam Hornish, Jr., either.

Who needs those guys, anyway. Ther are plenty of Takagis and Mieras to fill the seats... and I mean the cockpit seats, not the ones in the stands.

[mnkywrch]

Originally posted by manson
The IRL throws a couple of hats and decals around, gives a meaningless test or two, and calls it a driver development program. The IRL manufacturers do, to my knowledge, nothing compared to their NASCAR counterparts. LEts face it... the IRL doesn't want guys like Yeley adn they certainly don't do much for the next Sam Hornish, Jr., either.

Who needs those guys, anyway. Ther are plenty of Takagis and Mieras to fill the seats... and I mean the cockpit seats, not the ones in the stands.

But.... but..... but..... I thought the IRL was going to fix this. Opportunity for the short track guys, remember?

You would think, at least, the IRL would fund IPS seasons for each of the USAC champions. That, at least, would be putting some money where their mouth is.

The IRL shares the blame with the car owners.

[DannyB]

But.... but..... but..... I thought the IRL was going to fix this. Opportunity for the short track guys, remember?

You would think, at least, the IRL would fund IPS seasons for each of the USAC champions. That, at least, would be putting some money where their mouth is.

The IRL shares the blame with the car owners. [/QUOTE]


But...but...but...we thought wrong, didn't we? Not Tony's fault; it's his ballgame. Whether it be Tony or the IRL owners or whomever, I'm still believing that their main objective was to run CART into oblivion, never mind putting grass roots heroes like Yeley, etc. into competitive rides. With CART's uncanny ability to continually shoot itself in the foot, this was not a difficult accomplishment.

But, meanwhile, open wheel racing at its so-called highest level, suffers. And meanwhile, I'm off to the Lawrenceburg Speedway to see what I feel is racing at its best.

But I'm just a poor, dumb Hoosier-centric race fan.

[Truth Detector]

Originally posted by manson
You've got to be kidding? Yeley can't road race... he can't get out there and pound on doors and sign a sponsor... he doesn't walk the garages and pit lane of every IRL race... instead, he goes around winning Silver Crown, Sprint and Midget races, feature after feature... just wasting his time, the lazy twit... he's scum! Why should he get any help?

The IRL throws a couple of hats and decals around, gives a meaningless test or two, and calls it a driver development program. The IRL manufacturers do, to my knowledge, nothing compared to their NASCAR counterparts. LEts face it... the IRL doesn't want guys like Yeley adn they certainly don't do much for the next Sam Hornish, Jr., either.

Who needs those guys, anyway. Ther are plenty of Takagis and Mieras to fill the seats... and I mean the cockpit seats, not the ones in the stands.

[Phil Berg]

So tell me if we can see this point why cant IMS?? Do they not care? I love the 500 and it is not my money but sometimes in business, dont you have to spend money to make money and help to make your business thrive or do you want to be King in a shrinking pond and watching the one you want to top leave you in the dust??

[carl s]

The above posters have it right.
"the League" must provide the leadership for this process to flourish.
If they can't see the urgency in addressing this issue - well, the ratings will eventually clobber them over the head.
You can't do business like you used to anymore.

We have a 7 year heritage of great racing and some terrific raod racers, but without the connection to the people we can't cash-in on it.

The winning combination awaits us. Short-track winners going head to head with road-race aces. And I seriously doubt that if short-trackers were an integral part of the mix that many would be so concerned about a few road or street courses.

carl s
Indio, CA
All the rivers flow into the sea - or the sea dries up.

[mnkywrch]

Originally posted by Phil Berg
So tell me if we can see this point why cant IMS?? Do they not care? I love the 500 and it is not my money but sometimes in business, dont you have to spend money to make money and help to make your business thrive or do you want to be King in a shrinking pond and watching the one you want to top leave you in the dust??

They don't care who runs in the Indy 500, as long as they have control of it, they make whatever money is to be made from it, and they have 33 cars.

The IRL? Well, that's a vehicle to ensure 33 cars, I suppose... plus an opportunity to try to make more money....

Don't use logic when thinking about IMSC. It just gives you a headache.

[Phil Berg]

It seems to me that if Tony can spend millions to entice Formula One to the track then he could spend enough to have three more Sam Hornish's coming or maybe have Tony Stewart come back to make Open Wheel great again. Of course, it is not my money but it has to start somewhere.

[silva2]

How about some effort to ensure they have the next Sam Hornish in the IRL?

I think they would rather have the next Sam Hornish switch over to their WC program.

[NoviVespa]

I'll tell yah. If the teams are not hiring American short-trackers now, what happens when we get a couple of road races?

[mnkywrch]

Originally posted by NoviVespa
I'll tell yah. If the teams are not hiring American short-trackers now, what happens when we get a couple of road races?

Honestly - what does it matter?

"Opportunity for American short-trackers" was just PR spin - unless you're Ed Carpenter.

The IRL can say all it wants, but their lack of action speaks louder than all the IRL hats, press releases, and tests in the world.

[NoviVespa]

The last post criticized the IRL. The blame belongs on the owners, they do the hiring of drivers. The IRL has no power in hiring or firing.