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.

One for the ages......

After weeks of tedious road course racing and more drama than a daytime soap opera, IndyCar’s finest put on their most thrilling and competitive event of the season last night in Sparta, KY with Dixon winning his series record-tying sixth race of the season.

The Meijer Indy 300 was dominated by side-by-side racing that had the packed house on the edge of their seats from the drop of the green flag until the waving of the double checkered.

I hope IRL officials took notes last night because that was a perfect example of how every IndyCar event needs to be. No more road courses. No more street courses. Tony George and his marketing team need to get back to the basics of how the IRL won the split:

If people really want to watch road course racing with no passing and even less excitement, they can watch F-1, but I digress.

Right now it is all about the immaculate race showcased in prime-time by the best drivers on the planet.

With the race winding down, some great storylines were developing:

Could Helio Castroneves’ fuel gamble pay off and end his career-long winless streak? Spiderman knew he had a 10th-place car at best, so when he last pitted with 57 laps left, it was go broke or go home. The gamble nearly worked, but Dixon passed Helio in the fourth turn on the final lap.

Vitor Meira, who started second and was never outside of the top-3, appeared in position for his first career victory. Meira ran with the big dogs all night, but simply could not make a move when he needed to. Meira was weaseled out of a podium finish by Helio’s fuel strategy game. So close, yet so far away.

After a year filled with agony, drama and dysfunction, Marco Andretti had the strongest car of the night. He only led 38 laps compared to Dixon’s 151, but Andretti passed Dixon on the track not once but twice. Marco was in perfect position for his first victory since his inaugural win at Sonoma in 2006, but just like Helio and Meira, he came up short.

Despite the possibility of some new magic in IndyCar, it was an all-too familiar scene as the red No. 9 Target machine found its way to victory lane yet again.

But last night IndyCar fans were treated to clean (for the most part) side-by-side racing from start to finish. The final 50 laps was the best competition I have witnessed in years. Anticipation filled the Kentucky air as Meira chased down Marco as the two were separated not by car lengths but by inches.

Just behind the battle for the lead was another pair of side-by-sides for countless laps. The battle for fourth between Kanaan and Wheldon was epic. Neither gave an inch. Both held their line (somewhat) as the two former series champions battled it out lap after lap. Finally, it was Wheldon who surged ahead and left Kanaan by the wayside.

And kudos to Ed Carpenter for one of the best runs of his career. The Indy native was strong from the start. He dusted both Penske cars in the opening laps before doing battle with AGR’s dark horse Hideki Mutoh. Those two went side-by-side for what seemed like an endless amount of time. Carpenter found himself in another battle for sixth place in the last segment with Ryan Briscoe and Ryan Hunter-Reay as the three took turns battling it out side-by-side directly behind Wheldon and TK.

When was the last time IndyCars ran side-by-side three-deep?

And the IRL wants to transition away from ovals and continue to add road courses?

Hopefully George DVRed last night’s race and will announce this week that Toronto, Edmonton, Mid-Ohio and St. Pete have been scratched off the 2009 schedule and replaced by four more races at Kentucky.

Simply put, last night's showcase was amazing. It is unfortunate that IndyCar fans will have to endure two more road courses (Sonoma, Detroit) before the series finale at Chicagoland, but it is what it is.

So long from Kentucky.

I'm Back!!

After being called a “slacker” by one of my tens of loyal readers, it is time to get back on the horse and enlighten the IndyCar faithful with the wisest and most logical ideas east of the Mississippi.

Another win for Dixon at Edmonton – his fifth of the season. And another runner-up finish for Helio Castroneves – his sixth. Unless the dancing star can rattle off some victories, teammate Ryan Briscoe will own bragging rights this off-season. Helio has done just about everything except win. It is hard to complain about 11 top-five finishes, but the playing field has leveled off, making wins tougher to come by.

DFRESH PREDICTION: Helio will climb the fence in Detroit.

What in the hell is going on in the AGR stable? Is the entire team enduring PMS? How many “team meetings” does it take for owner Michael to realize Danica and Marco are jeopardizing the legacy and credibility of the entire organization? If they are not careful, KV, Newman-Hass-Lanigan or Rahal-Letterman might leapfrog AGR and join Penske and Ganassi as the IRL’s elite.

Just three years ago, AGR comprised of TK, Dario, Wheldon and Bryan Herta. They were entertaining and victorious. Dario, Wheldon and Herta have since left and now the team lacks stability. TK needs to beg Chip Ganassi or Roger Penske to run a third car in 2009 and run for the hills.

AGR then needs to show Danica and Marco the door and replace them with Buddy Rice and Casey Mears (the open-wheel world needs a Mears in the series). Mutoh can stick around – his talent and equipment will make him the first Japanese-born driver on the Borg Warner Trophy.

It gave me chills to see PT behind the wheel of an IndyCar again, and rumors have him running a few more races this season, which is enormous for the series. PT brings competition, controversy, and competitiveness. Despite being “over the hill,” PT is exactly what the IRL needs to take over the auto racing industry. NASCAR is on a steady-decline and the IRL needs to strike while the iron is hot.

The 2009 IndyCar schedule is released. Some major question marks arise.

Homestead has consistently been a tough sell over the years, so how has it deserved the role of season-ending race? I can’t see it being MUCH warmer in Homestead in October than in March.

Starting the season with a pair of road courses on opposite coasts is a head-scratcher. A non-committed IndyCar fan could lose interest in the series before it even hits its peak. Texas would be the perfect opener. The racing is consistently phenomenal and would get the season off to a fantastic start.

I am 85% anti-road course, which explains my displeasure in running six road courses in eight races from July 5-Sept 6.

Motegi should not be on the schedule at all, let alone the second-to-last race. If the points race is tight, I do not want a potential series-clinching race to be tape delayed.

This year’s Brickyard was tumultuous, but was it so bad that the IRL felt the need to schedule the Edmonton race head-to-head with the Brickyard 400 in ’09? I will definitely invest in TiVO’s stock that weekend.

Ok, enough ranting. Time for the positives.

Back-to-back races in Canada will restore IndyCar tradition and provide excitement to our fans up north. The IRL needs to ensure that native sons PT, Alex Tagliani, and Jacques Villeneuve all have competitive rides those weekends.

Moving Chicago to a night race is perhaps the best decision the IRL made. The IRL needs to take advantage of every opportunity to showcase their talents in primetime.

2009’s schedule was announced less than 48 hours ago, but I am already dreading 2010’s schedule. Rumors have 2009 being the final year for Homestead and Motegi with potential replacements being Cleveland, Elkhart Lake and Australia (all road courses). Losing ovals in favor or road courses is what led Tony George to create the IRL in the first place.

But I am getting ahead of myself. Let’s worry about the rest of ’08 first.

Sadly, no IndyCar race this weekend. However shall I pass the time?

Any suggestions?