Panther Racing statement on DeltaWing
Sadder yet … the belief that it will show how many in the sport have missed the point all these years.
It’s not the horse, it’s the jockey. It always has been, and it always will be. Only true gearheads and race nuts can tell you what powered Mario Andretti or A.J. Foyt to victory.
It’s not the machines they piloted that attracted legions of fans to open-wheel racing. Same as it’s not Ford and Chevy that drove people in large numbers to NASCAR.
It’s the personalities behind the wheels that drove such incredible brand loyalty to the machines the drivers drove and the services and products they pushed.
I’m not saying the IndyCar Series chassis isn’t in need of an update. But acting like this is the savior of the sport is wrong-headed.
Men like Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty drove NASCAR into star status, the same way Foyt, Andretti, Rick Mears and the Unser brothers did in open-wheel. In its heyday, the series was full of colorful characters, from Gordon Smiley to the Whittington brothers—many of which never even made it to the winner’s circle.
Quite frankly, most of the people who packed the stands at Indy couldn’t tell you the difference between methanol and ethanol, or a stock-block or turbo-charged engine.
Those things didn’t drive people to the sport, and as kooky as the Delta Wing bat-mobile looks, it won’t either. Curious onlookers, yes, but those folks won’t stick around long enough to pay the bills. Maybe the new chassis will even garner a mention on ESPN SportsCenter (which is more than it’s gotten so far), but that exposure won’t be enough to build critical mass. More at IBJ.com
 |
| John Barnes barking up the wrong tree |
02/14/10 With the much-anticipated unveiling of DeltaWing's IndyCar concept Wednesday afternoon at the Chicago Auto Show, Panther Racing team owner John Barnes and Panther Racing have released the following statement to the media:
John Barnes, Panther Racing CEO & Managing Partner:
"What has been proposed today by the DeltaWing group is a new light, a new vision, an open book, and a completely different approach to our sport. Today's announcement is not as much about this car as it is a new philosophy and a much-needed culture change in the sport of open-wheel racing. This is about becoming part of the 21st Century and not living in the 20th Century. Every industry in the country is refocusing their efforts to become more efficient and it is time for the IZOD IndyCar Series to do the same.
"Our sport is one of the greatest on the planet, and in order to ensure longevity, and a bright future, it takes bold decisions by people who are fearless and unafraid of making dramatic changes. Today, possibly more so than any other time in our sport, is that time. I applaud Chip Ganassi, Ben Bowlby and everybody associated with the DeltaWing group for their forward thinking approach to our sport. This is a game-changer for us." Panther Racing PR
[Editor's Note: As Champ Car found out, their new car didn't change the popularity of their sport one iota. As with any sport, it's about the driver/athlete stupid. All the huge PR down in Daytona this week is about Danica Patrick, not the Chevy she is driving. So anyone who thinks a new radical car is going to change the popularity of IndyCar Racing has their head buried in the sand. At the end of the day the popularity of any sport is about the people and the way the sport is promoted. Does the IRL need a new fresh looking IndyCar? You bet it does. But if series officials think that a new car is going to be the silver bullet that puts them back on the map, they may as well shoot that bullet in their head.]