Overheard in Mid-Ohio Friday

Word is that Randy Bernard's trip to Europe to meet with manufacturers about engines and aero kits for 2012 has been delayed. No one’s been to Europe yet because no one wanted to talk to the IRL during Europe's vacation season. Bernard and his staff will be leaving on August 29th and hope to meet with as many auto manufacturers as they can…..On the good news front, last year, the total sponsorship spend in IndyCar was about $34 million, and this year it’s estimated to be about $81 million……It’s now a mandatory rule that all TV and radio commentators sit through the drivers’ meeting so they don't disagree with a call made by Brian Barnhart. When they don't understand the rules, as happened in Edmonton with the whole Helio Castroneves blocking incident, they make the IRL look bad because the comments they made during the broadcast did not agree wit the call Barnhart made…….The 2011 schedule is now very much up in the air because the NASCAR schedule is changing so much and the IRL must bow to them. Brazil, is locked it in, as we previously reported in early May. Baltimore has to be change as we already rumored (late August we hear) and Kentucky must change because it is now getting a Cup date. One or two races are indeed being dropped as we previously reported. Although the IRL wants to have their season finale in Vegas, because it is the perfect place, the fear is that the France family is telling Bruton Smith he can only have a 2nd Cup race in Vegas if he prevents the IRL from having their season finale in Vegas. NASCAR may even be offering to move their season finale to Vegas to rain on the IRL's parade. It's all conjecture but the IRL is quickly learning who their friends are not.