Big Bill finally gets his revenge on Indy 500

While William Henry Getting France ruled as first czar of NASCAR, the organization's logo had an extra word in it that is no longer there.

"NASCAR International," the trademark read.

This was largely ludicrous, unless you counted the handful of non-Carolina drivers from Alabama and Georgia as foreigners. The word "international" was merely a statement of Big Bill's most distant dream.

In 1955 he was thrown out of Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the 500 for not having proper credentials, and legend has it that he growled to those escorting him off the grounds, "I'll own this place someday."

Duly riled, he returned to Florida and built his own 2.5-mile track, much higher-banked than Indy, and dubbed it Daytona International Speedway when he opened it in 1959 to drivers from as far away as Iowa.

His more pragmatic son, Bill France Jr., the second czar, removed the extraneous "international" from the logo.

Now maybe his grandson, third czar Brian France, ought to bring it back.

"NASCAR International" finally fits.

In the NASCAR garages next year, the Scottish burr of Dario Franchitti and the Quebecois accent of Jacques Villeneuve will join the Latino accent of Juan Pablo Montoya, full time.

All three have won Indy 500s.

Brian France does not own the hallowed Indy track, nor does he need to. It lies prostrate at his feet, beholden to him. Without Indy's NASCAR race, the Allstate 400, speedway chieftain Tony George could ill afford to keep pouring money down the hole of his folly, the Indy Racing League.

Time was when there was no greater achievement for a driver, anywhere, than winning the Indianapolis 500. Now, it might get you a NASCAR ride, with zero guarantee of success there.

I say might because only two of the last three Indy 500 winners, Franchitti from this year and Sam Hornish Jr. from last year, are headed into NASCAR next year. More at the Orlando Sentinel