War coming in IndyCar over Delta Wing
Q: I'm not one for soap operas so forgive me please before I start. Is there any connection on a corporate level between the IMS and IndyCar series now that Tony George is out of the picture? If there isn't then why aren't the team owners talking to the IMS staff directly or at least making some kind of sublime overture to IMS about making the Indy 500 a "special" race in which there are a different set of specifications for the race? Maybe not even award points for the race towards the IndyCar title. I don't care, I just want the 500 to mean something again. Maybe then there would be an incentive for other interested corporate, or even privateer, efforts to join in the Month of May fun and not have to go through all the crap of dealing with the Honda/Dallara. As far as sanctioning, pay Tony Cotman whatever he wants to oversee scrutineering and tell Barnhart to just stay away. Draft a simple set of formula for displacement/induction/weight and have at it, folks. People would love to see this and it would be a prime opportunity for Swift, BAT, Delta Wing, Lola or whomever to come and show what their respective chassis are capable of doing. I know that sounds like a recipe for another breakaway series but at this point I really think that is inevitable. The current iteration is broken and is in dire need of a top-down overhaul. The Indy 500 is still special in my mind but the luster is gone now that there is no flavor and added spice of some team arriving with something different. It's obvious that it isn't really cheaper to have the spec racer of today. The big teams with the big money are still winning because they have the coin to wring the most out of the current package. The grid isn't leveled and the chassis and engine costs are totally way out of line considering how long in the tooth both are now.
Shawn A, Richmond, Ind.
RM: I know that the owners presented the Delta Wing plan to IMS but it hasn't been endorsed by the Hulman-George clan or the IndyCar series so it's entirely possible there could be a showdown (the last thing we need). But I think there is a corporate connection because IndyCar is basically owned and operated by Hulman & Company and I can't imagine one going against the other. The owners certainly seem to have the leverage (and Firestone is a big fan of the Delta Wing concept) so things might get real interesting in the next few months. SPEEDTV.com
Shawn A, Richmond, Ind.
RM: I know that the owners presented the Delta Wing plan to IMS but it hasn't been endorsed by the Hulman-George clan or the IndyCar series so it's entirely possible there could be a showdown (the last thing we need). But I think there is a corporate connection because IndyCar is basically owned and operated by Hulman & Company and I can't imagine one going against the other. The owners certainly seem to have the leverage (and Firestone is a big fan of the Delta Wing concept) so things might get real interesting in the next few months. SPEEDTV.com