Tony George Resigns From IMS

[DanicaFan]

Tony George is now officially done with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He has resigned his seats on the IMS board of directors and Hulman & Company. This came 8 months after being ousted as being the president and CEO of IMS.

Tony still plans on running his team Vision Racing but is still having sponsorship problems.

[lookie]

Good riddance. I truly hate tg as he is the main person that ruined owr in the us due to his own greed. What do we have now? Ugly underpowered cars, much smaller fields, no coverage here in australia, surfers round gone. Absolutely discusting that one man can cause so much misery, so many lost jobs and for what?

[diamonddave]

I'm sure he got another title taken away or his mommy/sisters told him no to funding Special Ed
This just proves what a crybaby, my way or the highway kinda person he is.
Now why do you think those mean old CART Team owners never wanted him to have a vote on their board

[cptkablamo]

I would like to say that i am sad, but it would be a lie

[skidmark]

Well honestly, we all should have seen this one coming. After getting the boot from the big chair you have to know there wasn't going to be a lot of love in the room when the board met. Perhaps it is best that it ends this way. They can get on with running their track and he can focus on doing his thing.

This has turned out pretty much as Robin Miller said it would (despite loud protests from the executive suite suggesting he got the story terribly wrong).

Now the big question is where does Indycar go from here as it would seem the series no longer has the IMS piggy bank to cover its bills. Are we stuck in the same situation was we were in 2003 when Chris Pook was trying to hold CART together with duct tape and a smile?

Thoughts anyone ...

[IndyAndy]

Does anyone have any idea just how far in the red the IRL is? What is the IZOD $ for - just THEIR promotional efforts?

[MSulka]

Skid, I think IndyCar is better off than Pook in CART 2003, simply because their is a much better goal....

to survive.

[BGerhart]

Originally Posted by MSulka

Skid, I think IndyCar is better off than Pook in CART 2003, simply because their is a much better goal....

to survive.

Perhaps, not too certain though....

[Touchette]

Originally Posted by lookie

Good riddance. I truly hate tg as he is the main person that ruined owr in the us due to his own greed. What do we have now? Ugly underpowered cars, much smaller fields, no coverage here in australia, surfers round gone. Absolutely discusting that one man can cause so much misery, so many lost jobs and for what?

I'm with you lookie. I might actually start paying attention to the sport now...

[lookie]

I just cant believe after all he has done he can just walk away. I dont think there is one team that isnt relying on ims support in one way or another. I have heard rumours that ims was losing 50 million $ a year on the irl. Those funds have to come from somewhere or it will not survive. I also think that the main motivation from barnhart to not have a new chassis is that most smaller teams simply cannot afford it and he knows that the hand outs will be gone or at least severly cut.

The big question that I have is what do ppl make of tg and kalkoven holidaying together?

[diamonddave]

^ he can 'walk away' because it wasn't any of his "personal $"
these latest events just proves that there are 2 kinds of wealth
earned and inherited

the only thing the irl/ims/indycar have done better than Cart or most other series has been to hide their expenses/losses

[Insighter]

I heard Tony is unhappy with the current board of directors and is intending to start his own series.

[lookie]

Originally Posted by Insighter

I heard Tony is unhappy with the current board of directors and is intending to start his own series.

Lmao, yeah with what money?

[MSulka]

Originally Posted by Insighter

I heard Tony is unhappy with the current board of directors and is intending to start his own series.

[cptkablamo]

Maybe he can have a new NASCAR like series...destroy that instead...

[Touchette]

Originally Posted by cptkablamo

Maybe he can have a new NASCAR like series...destroy that instead...

He already crapped on one of my loves, he best not crap on another.

[skidmark]

DD: I think I've found your alter ego.

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/racing...ohn&id=4849355

A fitting epithet to the end of the TG era or just another rant from a CART fan?

[diamonddave]

Originally Posted by skidmark

DD: I think I've found your alter ego.

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/racing...ohn&id=4849355

A fitting epithet to the end of the TG era or just another rant from a CART fan?

he is wise and knows of what he speaks

[IndyAndy]

Okay then, check this article out:

pop off valve.com

[MSulka]

Do millions actually need an apology ?

I don't. I hate apologies. They are cheap and typically quite worthless.

Say what you want about TG, but what exactly does an apology do for the current state of the sport.

I say notta.

[Maelochs]

TG did his best to kill AOWR, but he did try to make Indy a better racetrack, and I doubt many (intelligent) people have anything bad to say about SAFER barriers.

His only hope is to get some investors together and buy IRL .... and not run take any personal part in running it. Otherwise, his legacy is as a destroyer of good things.

[diamonddave]

^ who in their right mind(s) would give him $$$ to 'invest' it in something he backed/ran?

[cptkablamo]

Originally Posted by IndyAndy

Okay then, check this article out:

pop off valve.com

I see the point of this article, but I think that the ESPN article has a more accurate core argument.

TG will be remembered as the guy who destroyed everything. We know that the CART owners could have done things differently but that's not what people will remember. This article also missed a couple of points:
- CART had started on their aim to become 'international' - they also had massive ratings in various overseas markets including Australia - where it was the most watched international motorracing (I think, at least it out rated F1) and it had massive ratings in Europe. It's focus was not on staying as a domestic Series.
- After the split they still had fantastic racing, teams, crowds, TV and sponsorship until about 2000 - 01. The Japanese money left, the IRL left its stated aim and the split became even more muddied
- TG could have started a number of initiatives in CART to bring to the fore American drivers, American manufacturers etc and gain a power base. But he didn't.

History will show that the Indy 500 split under TG's leadership. The IRL was founded under TG's leadership. Under TG's leadership Openwheel racing went from international and national powerhouse to nothing.

Despite intentions and motivating factors, things went down hill.

Similar situations can be seen around the world - look at what has become of the Packer Empire. Kerry died, James took over, changed something that was working but had issues, the thing is now a shadow of its former self. Situations like this are not exclusive to motorracing.

As for apologies. No. In my opinion, the brand is dead. It needs to be relaunched with a new name, new leaders, new car, new Formula. Centre piece - Indy 500. Until then, the thing is dead.

In any case - were there other players - absolutely. But only TG will be remembered.

[lookie]

Very well said, the only thing they have going for them is danica patrick. They could use her to attract a female fanbase but they are cocking that up by using her as a piece of meat. Inevitably she will go to nascar and they will market her appropriately and another nail in the coffin for aowr.

[IndyAndy]

Originally Posted by lookie

Very well said, the only thing they have going for them is danica patrick. They could use her to attract a female fanbase but they are cocking that up by using her as a piece of meat.

IMO, that's all Danica's doing, not the IRL's (although I'm sure that they aren't exactly telling her to stop it because they NEED the attention).

[Dr.Diablo]

Originally Posted by cptkablamo

This article also missed a couple of points:
- CART had started on their aim to become 'international' - they also had massive ratings in various overseas markets including Australia - where it was the most watched international motorracing (I think, at least it out rated F1) and it had massive ratings in Europe. It's focus was not on staying as a domestic Series.

Exactly. Had the split never happened CART/ChampCar would be massive. What a lot of IndyCar fanboys need to realize is that the split completely took the momentum out of something (CART) which was on the verge of perhaps becoming a rival to F1. To me, the IndyCar Series is a reminder that the wrong side won. It is also the very embodiment of a Pyrrhic victory meaning a victory with devastating cost to the victor.

Imagine if the split never happened and CART was as strong as ever in 2009. I'm talking huge worldwide tv ratings, attendance figures, many chassis/engine/tire suppliers, etc. You get my point. Now imagine after witnessing this year's near split in F1, several F1 teams leave for CART. Sounds crazy now, but it's really not if you consider how big CART could have been. Yeah CART would still have the Indy 500 and Long Beach but it would also be at other circuits worldwide. Thinking about this is like reading an alternate history story which fills your mind with endless possibilities and what-ifs.

That being said I washed my hands of the IndyCar Series last year. I was a die hard CART/ChampCar dude but I gave the IRL a chance. I went to last year's GP of Long Beach only to be massively disappointed with the overall IndyCar product. The IndyCar Series is really low tech garbage. And you don't need Paul Tracy to say so, it's obvious. The cars are ugly, the engines are lackluster, and the race was dull. It's a shame because there are good drivers in IndyCar who deserve to be racing in better rides. It was really cool meeting the drivers though! But hey, at least the ChampCar chassis looked cool, the Cosworths sounded cool and had balls and the racing was great to watch!

These days I only watch and care about F1. 2010 is gonna be an awesome year for F1. Schumacher's Mercedes GP car looks so fierce. I can't wait for the first Grand Prix. I will be recording every 2010 race on DVD for sure.

[IndyAndy]

Originally Posted by Dr.Diablo

Imagine if the split never happened and CART was as strong as ever in 2009...

And that is exactly the problem with your arguement: we can only speculate as to how CART might be now if there had been no split. Now lets review how things actually did turn out: CART didn't 'bury' the IRL (like it by all rights should have) & it slowly but inexerably faded away. Therefore, all in all, I'm not left with a very high impression of the CART management, & I question how well they could have taken on the Bernie & Max show.

No, I'm not an 'IRL fanboy', I'm just someone who willing to let the past go & make the most of/hope for the best for what we have now - which is the IRL.

[Insighter]

I agree, assuming that CART would have not only remained so strong, but grown, is a pretty optimisitic view. The management at the time wasn't that great. While I do agree TG is a huge part of OWR decline, he was not alone. Lots of mistakes made.

[Dr.Diablo]

Originally Posted by IndyAndy

And that is exactly the problem with your arguement: we can only speculate as to how CART might be now if there had been no split. Now lets review how things actually did turn out: CART didn't 'bury' the IRL (like it by all rights should have) & it slowly but inexerably faded away. Therefore, all in all, I'm not left with a very high impression of the CART management, & I question how well they could have taken on the Bernie & Max show.

No, I'm not an 'IRL fanboy', I'm just someone who willing to let the past go & make the most of/hope for the best for what we have now - which is the IRL.

Hey, all I can say is good luck supporting the IRL! I truly mean that, it needs all the fans it can get and you seem to be a true fan.

Since the IRL has never turned a profit and with no more Tony buck$ to prop it up anymore it will be interesting to see if the IRL can survive. Perhaps it will.

[diamonddave]

here's something (else) to ponder about the future of AOWR. did Bernie ever 'fear' the irl like he did CART?

[Insighter]

I think Bernie's 'fear' of CART is a bit blown out of proportion. But of course he wouldn't have a reason to worry about the IRL, in it's early years or now.

[skidmark]

I think BE's concerns were that with guys like Emmo and Mansell turning their back on F1 and CART's ambition to go to Europe he saw that as a potential threat to his multimillion race fees as some track operators would have a legitimate alternative to booking F1 and still have a chance to make some decent money.

Don't forget that in the early 90's all F1 really had was Michael, Rubins and the Red Car show whereas CART was hyper competitive and the CART teams were grabbing every hot shoe coming out F3000 International (Montoya, Bourdais, Roberto Moreno, Kenny Brack, Christian Fittipaldi, Zanardi, Gil de Ferran, Max Pappis, Maricio Gugelmin, Bruno Junqueira even lesser lights like Bjorn Wirdheim and the Seraficos all were top fives - if not outright champions - in that series which was supposed to be a prime feeder to F1.

If you think about it all those F3000 racers had some name recognition in Europe and CART put on a **** fine show compared to F1 in those days - far more fan friendly too - but CART ignored their core market and those missteps cost them dearly.

[Road America Fan]

Originally Posted by Insighter

I heard Tony is unhappy with the current board of directors and is intending to start his own series.

Hmm, open wheel? one engine? small ovals only? sub-par talent? restricted to U.S. events only?

Sounds about right if he were to do it again