The Gift That Keeps on Giving: IRL Scrooges Helio; Gives Win to Wilson

Detroit’s Labor Day Parade occurred a day early this year when the IRL’s finest participated in an anti-climatic game of follow-the-leader.

Gone are high speed passes. Gone are close side-by-side finishes. Gone are the principles that established the IRL as the premiere open-wheel racing series.

In the year of unification, the IRL is in the midst of a transition of its own.

The IRL has tossed previously successful tactics out the window in favor of strategies formulated by Champ Car, Formula-1 and NASCAR.

IRL founder Tony George and operations manager Brian Barnhart should be ashamed of pathetic disgrace of a race they showcased today.

Now I understand why IndyCar events have been delayed twice by the LPGA; frankly, the LPGA is more exciting than IndyCars on a road course and anybody willing to argue that point can contact me.

George, Barnhart and their cronies ought to be returning to their headquarters in Indianapolis with their tail between their legs because today’s IndyCar event in Detroit was one of the most disgraceful events in IndyCar’s history.

It is difficult to fathom this was the same series that put on the greatest show on earth at Kentucky just three weeks ago that involved side-by-side high speed passing lap-after-lap from start to finish.

Today was a disgrace. It was an embarrassment. It made NASCAR look good, which is the ultimate slap in the face to any IRL employee.

I am still struggling to understand the appealing factor of road courses. Drivers hate them (see Scott Dixon’s post-race comments). Based on recent telecasts, the local fans show no interest (today’s race an exception; crowd looked rather strong). And I do not know how people can watch an IndyCar road course race from start to finish while listening to Marty Reid without slitting their wrists.

Hats off to Justin Wilson. It is satisfying to see a new face in victory lane, especially with the deteriorating health of team co-owner Paul Newman. Despite the win, Wilson and crew will be unable to walk around with their heads held high because the IndyCar-savvy world knows who the real race winner was.

Helio Castroneves had the race wrapped up and was ready to head to Chicago trailing Dixon by a mere 20 points in the title hunt. That is until the powers-that-be decided to pull a NASCAR and create new rules during the race.

Did Helio block Wilson? It is hard to argue that point, but should the 30-year-old Englishman have been given a freebie? The only significant pass during the entire race and it was a race-control-ordered pass for the lead.

Are you kidding me?

At no point did Wilson start to pass Helio. Wilson had a great run, but there is no guarantee he would have been able to complete the pass.

An unfortunate precedent has been set today. Anytime blocking occurs will the culprit be forced to let his competitor go by?

Just last week Carl Edwards admitted to the world he was proud of bumping Kyle Busch out of the way on his way to victory. Despite the fireworks that ensured, the race was decided on the track – not in race control – which is how it needs to be.

Here’s a hypothetical for next weekend. Helio is leading the race and Penske teammate Ryan Briscoe is ahead of Dixon in the closing laps. What happens now if Briscoe blocks Dixon and Helio wins the race and championship? If the same standards are not followed race-by-race from this point on then the IRL will lose all credibility in the world of sports and competition.

Blocking occurs in every type of racing from NASCAR to go-carts, but today was the first time I can recall somebody losing a position for blocking.

It gets better. Minutes after Wilson’s “pass for the lead,” the IRL pulled a Champ Car ace from their sleeve by abruptly announcing the race was going to be a timed race.

How can a credible organization like the IRL suddenly change the length of a race? What if the NFL started changing the length of their games? Maybe during the next Super Bowl the NFL will decide to just play three quarters instead of four.

The IRL had limitless possibilities and opportunities entering this season. Unification brought new teams, drivers, and sponsors to an already beloved series, but it appears like George and Co. are trying their best to make it difficult to be an IndyCar fan.

The IRL has already released their 2009 schedule which is repulsive at best. Not to mention a 10-year contact with an obscure television channel that is inaccessible to half the country.

Justin, you need to savor this gift from the IRL because it will not happen again.