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Ronzi · 02-21-2006, 09:09 AM

Ref. CART/IRL
There could have been many deals over the years, but Tony G. was unwilling to cede any power or influence to the car owners, so nothing got done. He sat on his hole card (the Speedway) and used it to bankroll the IRL. Pathetic as it is, I don't see how you can deny that IRL has sucked most of the good teams and drivers, with the big sponsorship, out of CART. The only well-known driver they had left was Paul Tracey, and damned if he didn't show up in Daytona trying out a NASCAR stocker.
Over the years we have seen virtually every one of the supposed objectives for the 500 and the IRL turned on their head. It's no longer ovals-only, no longer a haven for American drivers, no longer any cheaper to run than CART, no longer the series for the "little guy" owners and teams. George's plan was a power grab and a business decision, plain and simple, in spite of all the flag-waving and pious posturing about returning the 500 to it's roots.

To a lot of folks I'm sure all the political maneuvering is a bore, but from another angle it's more interesting than most of the races they run.

02-21-2006, 09:09 AM	#34
Ronzi Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Denver CO Posts: 748	Ref. CART/IRL There could have been many deals over the years, but Tony G. was unwilling to cede any power or influence to the car owners, so nothing got done. He sat on his hole card (the Speedway) and used it to bankroll the IRL. Pathetic as it is, I don't see how you can deny that IRL has sucked most of the good teams and drivers, with the big sponsorship, out of CART. The only well-known driver they had left was Paul Tracey, and damned if he didn't show up in Daytona trying out a NASCAR stocker. Over the years we have seen virtually every one of the supposed objectives for the 500 and the IRL turned on their head. It's no longer ovals-only, no longer a haven for American drivers, no longer any cheaper to run than CART, no longer the series for the "little guy" owners and teams. George's plan was a power grab and a business decision, plain and simple, in spite of all the flag-waving and pious posturing about returning the 500 to it's roots. To a lot of folks I'm sure all the political maneuvering is a bore, but from another angle it's more interesting than most of the races they run.