This is getting weird.
Team Penske President Tim Cindric is a smart, soft-spoken guy. The Committee of Public Safety is therefore beginning to wonder why he is speaking so frequently and so publicly about moving the 2010 Indy 500 start time back to its traditional 11:00AM slot.
Cindric initially raised the subject at a meeting of IndyCar team owners prior to the race at Chicagoland. He did not attempt to disguise his motive, namely to boost Indy's television ratings by allowing NASCAR Cup drivers to participate.
Again, Cindric is a smart man. Why would he so clearly imply that the present IndyCar "stars" are incapable of attracting a television audience that is sufficiently large? (He's right, by the way.)
He was at it again down south this past weekend. Amazingly, Cindric in effect told reporters that the Indianapolis 500 needs to include NASCAR drivers if it is to feature the world's best.
"I think the Indy 500 needs to have the best drivers in the world. They need to have access to that race. There are so many guys that are NASCAR drivers now that tell me that some day they want to drive in the Indy 500." - Tim CindricWe do not disagree with Cindric's assessment of the driving talent in NASCAR. After all, most of the best IndyCar drivers are there. And, frankly, we're glad that the Indianapolis 500 still appeals to NASCAR stars. But we are still left to wonder why Cindric is so enthusiastic about bringing them to the May Classic.
Of course Indy needs better TV ratings. But why is Cindric the front man, and why now? Is sponsorship getting shaky at Team Penske? Is Phillip Morris USA beginning to think that not advertising at all might be a better course of action than advertising in IndyCar, the cigarette marketer's lone remaining alternative? Maybe.
It might also be that Cindric is speaking for the faction of IndyCar owners who fear that funding will not be found for 33 cars at Indianapolis next year. Are Cindric and others hoping that drivers who have earned market acceptance (Cup drivers) might become the latest enablers for a form of racing that U.S. consumers have repeatedly rejected?
Do we need more evidence to suggest that the present roster of IndyCar drivers is an accumulation of non-performing assets? Why have a series at all if that is the case?
These are not rhetorical questions.
Roggespierre
Keep in mind that the colors of Phillip Morris and the paint scheme Penske employs can also work within the NASCAR platform. Unless rules prohibit it, The same format may find its way on to a stock car. I don't know the Nascar rules but I think if the name of the product is not displayed, they can run the same color scheme or the barcode design similar to Ferrari.
ReplyDeleteOldwrench,
ReplyDeleteIt isn't a NASCAR rule. It's part of the Master Settlement Agreement with states attorneys general. My understanding is that Penske can keep the old color scheme so long as the sponsorship was established prior to the MSA. If Penske could've taken some PMU money to NASCAR this year, then he likely would have. He's basically funding the 12 car out of his pocket.
There is definitly a reason for it. Roger Penske and now Tim Cindric, ALWAYS have reasons for doing what they do and saying what they say.
ReplyDeleteAnd if Cindric is continuing to make these kind of strong comments on this subject, there HAS to be a lot more to it.
I guess, stay tuned.
Sam Hornish drives for Penske---and he is NOT a force in NASCAR---he would be at Indy.
ReplyDeleteGanassi has Montoya--so I'd bet Mike Hull is all for moving the Indy start to 11:00, (I'd prefer 10:00 for old times sake).
As long as we have the same chassis and engine, all we'd need is two more entries, one from Penske and one from Ganassi. Let see the finish could be "P", "G", "P", G", "P" "G" or perhaps the reverse.
Smoke might race for Foyt! That would bring interest---but NASCAR is not interested in saving the IRL.
NASCAR would love to start it's own open wheel series---or maybe take over the IRL just as it fails????
Oh, for the days when the Indy 500 entry list was 70 -90 cars deep with maybe one or two "feriners" sprinkled in for flavor!
osca
I think you are beginning to get some coverage--although without credit. Robin Miller who I sent your website to, and he thanked me for sending it, actually used some of your numbers and conclusions on sponsorships, VERSUS, and costs in the IRL, in his post on the SPEED website.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the Kool-Aide is beginning to taste bad to the powers-that-be at the Speedway Offices. You can't lose money every year, and not begin to wonder if your plan doesn't need to be modified, or discarded; can you??
osca
Hi osca,
ReplyDeleteI don't need credit. I need an Indy 500 that is undeniably awesome again. Thanks for sending my stuff to Robin.
The powers that be at the Speedway offices need to begin looking at this as a business. You have customers that must be served. The IRL doesn't. You have suppliers that must be controlled. The IRL doesn't.
The IRL's problem is not difficult to identify. The product costs 5x more than the price at which it can be sold. Any other firm would exit the market or go out of business.
You don't need an MBA to figure this out (although I have one, for whatever that is worth). But the personal tastes of certain individuals are always there to prevent the management activities that simply must be done.
Thanks again for your patronage and your notes.
Roggespierre
Your welcome.
ReplyDeleteI have a degree in economics, and with what is going on in our country (deficits and debts growing beyond control), I am almost ashamned to mention it in polite company.
It appears the IRL is a micro sample of what we are facing as a nation---"too much spending, too little income". Both appear to have, (and have had for years), flawed plan!
Osca,
ReplyDeleteI have found solace in one likely consequence of our nation's skyrocketing deficits. A severe devaluation of the dollar is a near certainty. We've simply been printing too much money, and there is no end in sight.
Devaluation is sure to foil Angstadt's little plan to sell APEX Brasil rather than fix his product. In my mind, this is mitigation.
Then again, he would probably just assemble APEX USA and begin selling U.S. exports in Brazil! Anything to avoid real, structural change that might make the Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar racing undeniably awesome again, right?
Best Regards,
Roggespierre