Who's the moron that broke up Indy Car racing into two leagues? They should publicly flogg and hang this guy.

Question

Prior to the IRL and Champ Car Series Leagues, CART was the dominant car race in the U.S. How did they believe by leaving CART and starting the IRL that it would would be good for open wheel racing? and with both series struggling in comparison to the past numbers of CART, how come they just dont get back together and form one league again? I know there has been talks, but hello. . . WTF is taking so long? It amazes me that the leaders of these these 2 leagues can just sit there and watch as NASCAR does laps around them in terms of revenue and popularity.

In my honest opinion, if they never f'd up CART, open wheel racing would be just as if not more popular that NASCAR is today.

and for all you hicks that think i'm bashing NASCAR, I'm not! I like NASCAR too, as well as F1 and NHRA so save your flaming remarks and get rid of that mullet

Answer 1

Do a little research and you will see that CART was the author of it's own misfortune.
The CART formula was wrong - owners running the series, hiring people such as Andrew Craig and taking the company public.
The Indianapolis 500, arguably among the world's best-known races, although a points-scoring race for CART, was not organized or run by CART, but by Tony George. Love him or hate him, his race was important to the series, yet he didn't have a voting position on the CART board of directors.
Tony's formation of the IRL didn't kill CART, it was already on shaky ground.
At one time CART fancied itself as equal to, or even better than Formula One and for that, the series needed money which came from a lot of import `pay drivers' and to the exclusion of Americans. It's no secret that the ticket-buying American public prefer to root for their own and, after names like Unser, Mears, Sullivan and Andretti disappeared from the series, so too did interest and TV viewership plummeted.
Yes, Champ Car and the IRL have to amalgamate, otherwise one or both will fold. The Champ Car formula for 2007 is shaky at best and it's hard to have a lot of confidence in that `cheap' Panoz chassis that will be used; it seems to be little more than a beefed up Formula Atlantic car. This isn't going to attract TV audiences or increase race-day attendance. I think more of us would believe in Champ Car if they were honest about attendance, instead of posting those phony crowd numbers.
Down off the soapbox.

Answer 2

Lots of people thought Tony George was a moron when he took the Indy 500 (which was sanctioned by USAC, not CART) and formed the IRL. But now the CART people are the morons for hanging on to that series. I agree that they should have merged two years ago, and I agree that when it happens, open-wheel racing will soon return to its former prominence. Fans want to see skilled racing by skilled drivers, and that's not what they're getting in NASCAR right now.

Answer 3

It was Tony George. The George family owns Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The track's called Indy, the race the 500, the cars are called Indy cars. George knew all he needed was the Indy 500, and he had a foothold on all of it. Why share and just be one race in the series? Pull the plug, and the sport would die down for a while, but there would always be the Indy 500 to build a race series around. He wanted it all.

Answer 4

Lots of answers already but short version is that Tony George owned Indianapolis Motor Speedway but USAC ( I think) ran the Indy 500. George wanted to see more American drivers in the series and wanted races on ovals as he thought they were the "true" US racing style. IRL formed, many teams left Champ Car for IRL and the series withered although it is picking up. Interesting to see how many "foreign' drivers are now in the IRL! I hope they can get together but George has the upper hand and he knows it.

Answer 5

I agree with you that both are on shaky ground now. However it may be too late to regain the momentum lost to NASCAR, even if they were reunited. In any case they seem to have gone in different directions in recent years which is what probably precludes them getting together in the near future. IRL seems to be happy running ovals in the lower 48, and ChampCar is determined to be "international" and run more circuits and street courses.

I do miss the old days-I remember going to the Surfer's Paradise race and seeing JV and Nigel Mansell in a totally wild race that made contemporary F1 seem pretty dull in comparison. Those were the days!

Answer 6

I believe CART left Indy.

The Indy 500 is the only very popular open wheel race in America.

Formula 1 is the real race.

Answer 7

I believe it was Tony George,and it had to be done,to save the business that is Indy car racing.
But Indy and Nascar are out and Formula 1 is in.
Lets move with the times,ok?

Answer 8

Racing isn't in assessment to the different recreation. some thing in basic terms 'clicks'. I grew to become a 'race' fan specially via fact it replaced into the 1st 'ingredient' I ever keep in mind my father taking me to. INDY vehicle racing is a mixture of technologies velocity, and predominatly oval form racing. issues that look to charm to a lot of human beings. until eventually the early eighty's it replaced into the main universal variety of motorsports in united states of america of america. regularly via INDY 500. Now, as i've got self assurance you recognize NASCAR has exchange into the authentic canines of yank Racing. In a nut shell what instruments Indy vehicle racing different than for different types is one race, The Indianapolis 500. in case you ever have the possibility to attend accomplish that. You wont be upset until eventually its rained out. i've got been attending the race considering that 1982, taken limitless pals and kin. To a individual all of them have enjoyed it. no longer all grew to become INDY race followers, yet all of them have been taken over via the enormity and environment of the form. some did get hooked and are actually Indy vehicle followers. different than for the the main effective charm of Indy vehicle racing is the parity of the contest. you could watch 3 or 4 autos spend lap after lap part via part. paying for and merchandising positions, touching wheels all at close to 2 hundred mph. rather a hurry in case you like that sorta ingredient. My in basic terms criticism, they dont have adequate races! desire you will get to a minimum of one!

Answer 9

Tony George formed the Indy league that was the cause and they must get together or they will fail