Tony George is the Anti-Christ

[92 white 0650]

Tony George is a sad story

As you can see, I AM biased!

blah, blah, blah
Dear RP-Motorsports, whrdnsx, NSXLuvr, etc.

OK guys, here's your own thread. Make me laugh. Or make me dig out my pictures with the great drivers when Champ Car really was king.

Remember, many of us used to "hate" Tony George too, but now channel our mental energy elsewhere; like against that guy next to me on the grid.

Question: how do you feel about Penske, Chip, Bobby, Michael, Adrian? Aren't they the Judas who sold you out?

Anyway, have fun.

 

[RP-Motorsports]

Question: how do you feel about Penske, Chip, Bobby, Michael, Adrian? Aren't they the Judas who sold you out?

Anyway, have fun.

Damn straight.

When (you know they will) they come crawling back to Champ Car, (or end up running Grand-Am at best) they will not be the favorite in the paddock. I blame them from top down, The owners had the power to stick it out and find new sponsership, instead of following the $$$. The drivers did NOT have as much of a choice.

I am glad that I club race for fun, because when you do it ONLY for financial reasons, it would NOT be worthwhile for me. I would race a spec-miata for free tires as payment at Mid Ohio than race an IRL car for a crooked league family and drive in a circle and have cars crashing in front of me, behind me, on top of me, and under me to 10,000 fans in the stands that only about 5,000 actually paid, and get paid $200,000 for doing it.

Call me old fashioned, but Racing is in my blood. I believe in pure road race talent PERIOD. More importantly, I believe in guys like Kevin, and Paul who create a series for the fans, and do everything in their power to exploit the talents of drivers from around the world, instead of forcefeeding BS to establish a fan base.

Anyone who regularly races, understands the difference between the passion of Champcar, and the Communist style of TG.

I will agree that the IRL "had" an opportunity to become successful when they were living by the formula of Cheap cars, oval tracks, North American drivers, Nascar style drafting, and 3 wide finishes etc etc. Then Tony got greedy again, by increasing the costs, adding roadcourses, allowing anyone with money to come into the series, just to kill Champcar. His hammer/coffin comments, and the like, makes me despise the guy, and love guys like Paul Newman, Paul and Kevin etc.

The ONLY way the EARL will survive is if they copy NASCAR exactly. Everyone thought Champcar would be dead two years ago, coming out of the buyout, but they failed to realize how smart Kalkoven is. His business plan is working better than everyone thought, including me.

My point, is with racing in the US, there is not a huge market. Everyone needs to be different to survive. Look at NASCAR. If another equal series would start, it would hurt both. If you do a "similar" formula, but make it different, it will succeed. Example Craftsman truck series. Similar, but still seperate, and popular. Now Grand-Am and ALMS were going down the wrong track, but I applaud GA for atleast creating a different type of prototype so their series stayed different. Also at the bottom class of cars, they are almost bone stock, where in ALMS, they are quite modified. I am now "ok" with the two series. TG on the otherhand, is trying to copy Champcar furthur and furthur every season. They are almost twin series now, and in the long haul it will hurt both. I am rambling now, so I will pass the mic.

 

[fkong777]

I'm a bit out of date on the IRL & Champ Car news.. lost interest on US open wheel after IRL got a strong grip..
I hate tony george. He ruined Cart.. so Please bring me up to date?

IRL failing? - good
What is this "hammer" comment by FTG?
Champ car on a come back?

 

[RP-Motorsports]

"I never thought one, twice or three times about moving over to the IRL. I never thought about it, let alone negotiate anything."
-Paul Newman

"And the KoolAid drinkers in this country will simply say the IRL never wanted Montreal. Just like it didn't want Long Beach. Or CART's assets. Or Cosworth. Or St. Petersburg. Or Honda. Or Toyota. Or engine leases. Or Roger Penske."
-Robin Miller (9/14/2005) on the twIRL's implosion in Canada.

"George said he isn't concerned about how he is being perceived by the fans of the sport because he knows time will separate the winners from the losers." -- Curt Cavin

Is the IRL hurting Indy car racing?: "Absolutely. It's destructive. It's unnecessary. That's why I say it has nothing to do with what's good for motorsports." -- Bobby Rahal, 1996

"We'd hoped the IRL would be
successful, but they're not."
- Robert Clarke

(Kathrine Legge -vs- Danica Patrick) "My job is to develop her into a race car driver, not somebody to drape over the front of the car." KK

"...The energy of the people involved on and off the track was a multiple of what I had seen in the IRL. The "event" was about the fans and their love of racing. I knew that I had spent my life in the sport with that same motivation and wanted to support that emotion...

Sincerely, Paul Gentilozzi"

It's very disappointing. We know how much we are putting into the program..we look up in the grandstands when there is nobody watching makes you wonder why the hell you're doing all of this
Robert Clarke,Honda

MILLER: An Epidemic of Uncertainty in IRL
Written by: Robin Miller Fontana, Calif. – 10/16/2005

There are always question marks at the end of any racing season but it seems like an epidemic of uncertainty in the Indy Racing League.

Panther Racing, a two-time series champion that's been an IRL cornerstone since 1997, is losing Pennzoil as the major sponsor of Tomas Scheckter.

"We've got some issues but we hope to have a handle on things in 30 days," said Gary Pedigo, one of Panther's co owners. "We've got some partial deals in the works but nothing signed."

"Remember this," joked co-owner Tom Anderson. "Adrian loves money more than he hates ovals."

"We're not going to convince everybody that we have the best intentions for open-wheel racing at heart. There will always be those (fans) who won't be dragged along without kicking and screaming." - The Idiot Grandson

Red Bull, partners with Eddie Cheever the past four years, is throwing its resources into Formula One and leaving his IRL team.

"I can't answer that right now but Red Bull has just purchased its second Formula One team and it appears right now their focus is on F-1," replied Cheever when asked if Red Bull would be back. "If their strategy has changed, yes it could affect us but we've had a great relationship."

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, which received free Honda engines this year for running Roger Yazakawa, is probably going to have to find an extra $2 million for its engine program in 2006 since Yazakawa won't be invited back.

"Does an engine deal matter? Of course it does," said Robbie Buhl, who co-owns the team with Dennis Reinbold. "It's the difference of finding four million dollars or six million and that's a huge difference in this tough economical environment."

A.J. Foyt does have ABC Supply as title for two more years but must make a deal with Honda because Toyota will not provide power for the four-time Indy 500 winner.

"I'll be here next year but I don't know who's going to be driving or what we're doing for engines just yet," said Foyt, whose anti-Toyota comments sparked their wrath.

Bobby Rahal's three-car operation could be down to two unless Vitor Meira finds some more money to go with John Menard's.

And all this uncertainty has left Patrick Carpentier, Alex Barron, Tomas Enge, Meira and Scheckter scratching their heads about where they'll be driving.

"I have no idea what I'll be doing next year," said Carpentier, who left Champ Car after seven years to join Red Bull/Cheever. "I'm told Red Bull is gone so obviously Eddie is scrambling to find sponsorship.

"I'd like to stay with this team and in the IRL because I think we made some great improvements from the start of the season, Right now, I keep hearing a lot teams want me, but I wish one of them would offer me something."

Cheever said he's got a contract with Toyota to run two cars in '06 but Barron knows he's not part of the plan.

"I think I've got some good opportunities to stay in the IRL," said the 35-year-old veteran. "But it's getting tougher and tougher for smaller teams to stay in this series and it's turned into what the IRL supposedly didn't want to see."

Enge is sponsored by Rockstar energy drink, a sponsor that Scheckter found, so he's not sure where he'll land if that money has to go to his teammate.

"I honestly have no idea what I'll be doing next year but I'd like to stay in the IRL because I learned a lot this year," said Enge. "If not, maybe I'll try Champ Car but I definitely want to stay in single seaters in this country."

Scheckter has also dabbled in A1 GP but doesn't really want to go back to Europe.

"Every time I go back there, it makes want to stay here more in America," said the son of the 1979 F-1 champion. "I really enjoy the ovals so my preference is to stay in the IRL and I like this team very much.

"I don't have a contract with anybody yet but that's what my managers are working on."

Meira seems to be in a little better shape since he's got John Menard's support.

"John has been backing me since I started in the IRL and we've got a great relationship and I feel very lucky," said Meira, who replaced the injured Kenny Brack in 2003 and stuck. "I don't think it's enough to run the whole season and that's why Bobby (Rahal) and Scott (Roembke, team manager) would have to find more money to keep me.

"I'm not sure where I'll be driving, I'd like to stay with Bobby, but I'm hoping for a good ride with somebody."

Cheever has been the IRL's No. 1 tub thumper since its inception but now he's obviously concerned about the future.

"When I won Indy I think we did the whole season for $1.4 or $1.6 million and it wasn't that long ago," said the 1998 winner. "Now it's so much more expensive and it's just money we're throwing away.

"There's nothing wrong with driving the cost of racing down because we need more teams competing in this series."

Buhl, who won in his team's debut in 1998, likes the fact that Honda may be the only engine supplier in 2007 because it would likely reduce the costs. He's just not sure if he can hang on that long.

"We've got a great product and if there's only one engine, then the costs should be reduced so that we can give a sponsor its proper value. But it needs to happen now, not in 2007. It's just too expensive."

IRL founder Tony George might be in agreement. Recently he told a fellow IRL owner he was contemplating selling his Indy-car team and going Grand Am racing because his series was more expensive than he envisioned.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHAMP CAR WORLD SERIES ANNOUNCES NEW CHASSIS AND ENGINE PACKAGE

INDIANAPOLIS (October 11, 2005) - Innovation has always been a hallmark of the Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford. From the front-engine roadster to today's sleek turbocharged machines, Champ Cars have always tested the mettle of the world's greatest drivers. Today, Champ Car announces its latest evolution in chassis design as the new Panoz DP01 Built by Élan Motorsports Technologies will be paired with a turbo-charged Ford-Cosworth engine on every Champ Car beginning with the 2007 season.

The new chassis and engine combination reflects the ongoing commitment by the Champ Car World Series, its owners, management and manufacturers to the long-term health and success of the series. The combination ensures a level playing field for every team and driver in the Champ Car World Series, while providing a stable technology and rules package for the future of Champ Car.

"We are extremely excited about the potential that the Panoz DP01 chassis built by Élan Motorsports Technologies and the Ford-Cosworth engine bring to the Champ Car World Series," said Champ Car President Steve Johnson. "This combination benefits Champ Car not only by providing a strong package for our current teams, but also by giving prospective teams an opportunity to be competitive right away. This package is just another indication of the progress the series has made since Kevin Kalkhoven, Jerry Forsythe and Paul Gentilozzi purchased it in 2004."

The new Panoz DP01 takes much of its look from the current Champ Car chassis, keeping alive the style that has made the series a favorite of racing fans around the globe. But the cutting-edge technology designed into the package incorporates many new aerodynamic features that make this car better suited to the urban race tracks which host Champ Car's highly successful three-day festivals of speed. The design will also lead to more competitive racing on the permanent road courses and ovals that mark the Champ Car World Series as the most diverse racing series in the world. The Panoz DP01 is smaller than the current Champ Car in both length and width and weighs 165 pounds less than the current machine, providing a more nimble and quicker machine that will put driver skills at a premium.

The aerodynamic changes on the new chassis will allow for more passing via smaller wings and bigger tunnels which will create less turbulence for cars in traffic. Another advantage is the addition of an on-board starter which will allow for less yellow-flag time during events. The new design also features safety innovations that include upgrades to the head surround and seat back areas as well as increased leg padding. The design also incorporates a collapsible steering column, new side intrusion panels and a two-stage nose crush and a rear crash structure for oval events.

"We are extremely enthusiastic and proud to be selected as the exclusive builder of the next generation Champ Car," said David Bowes, CEO Élan Motorsports Technologies. "At the outset of the process, Champ Car sought RFPs from seven manufacturers. After an exhaustive analysis, Champ Car has recognized not only the technical capabilities but also the unprecedented service, quality and accessibility that can only be offered by the leading North American based organization. We are looking forward to working with Champ Car officials to build a state of the art race car of which everyone will be proud."

Paired with the Panoz DP01 Built by Élan Motorsports Technologies will be the next generation of the fabled turbocharged Ford-Cosworth V8 engine. The 2.65-liter powerplant will feature the proven reliability of the engines which are currently built to perform in race conditions for 1,200 miles and will maintain the unique high-pitched engine note that sets Champ Cars apart.

"We are looking forward to continuing our partnership with the Champ Car World Series and are excited with the possibilities that this new package presents," said Cosworth Vice President Ian Bisco. "We have had great success with the XFE engine over the last three seasons, building a strong powerplant that has shown equality in performance and tremendous reliability, and we expect to have even greater successes with Champ Car in the years to come."

The 2007 package is also designed to reduce operating costs for both present and future Champ Car teams. A new rolling chassis will cost approximately 35 percent less than the current car while the costs of spare parts are expected to yield a savings to teams of nearly 50 percent. The design also allows Champ Car to explore new technologies such as carbon brakes which will allow for even more cost savings over the life of the car.

"The reduction in cost of the Panoz DP01 and Cosworth engine will benefit Champ Car

 

[TyraNSX]

http://www.crapwagon.com

 

[Ponyboy]

I got into open-wheel racing right before the Anti-Christ split from CART. Outside of my love for F1 and going to the USGP, I will do whatever I can to make sure the Anti-Christ never gets a red cent from me. I've never watched an IRL race, including the Indy 500, and never plan to. I'd rather watch reruns of Teletubbies and The Wiggles videos while having frontal labotamy w/o pain killers. Does that express my satisfaction and respect for the man?

To say Tony George is the Anti-Christ is a little far...but not far enough.

 

[NSX-Racer]

Just read in german mag "sport auto" that if IRL fails next year (or Honda withdraws anyway) then Honda could build a LMP 2 car for the ALMS - nice side effect, isn't it? Maybe it will be a V10 engine that we may see in a tamed version in a new car we all wait here for... :wink:

 

[NSXLuvr]

Some more opinions on the MORON

http://forums.autoweek.com/thread.jspa?forumID=20&threadID=18164&tstart=0

 

[RP-Motorsports]

One positive thing about the EARL and FTG is I LMAO reading all of the news and forums about the series, and its management staff. What a bunch of clowns. I hope the idiot grandson actually teams up with the idiot great grandson with a Grand Am team next season. It will be great reading the forums (great comedy) and I am sure plenty of racers would love to tap their ass into some armco. :biggrin:

 

[CKS Papa]

This is the reason why I have been going to the Long Beach Grad Prix for years and have never gone to the California Speedway (except for the JGTC)
for NASCAR and IRL races.

 

[schuey1010]

It is rather funny to me that it now costs more to run in the IRL than in CART!

 

[CKS Papa]

interesting

 

[RP-Motorsports]

Interesting indeed, but it looks like the IRL boys are thinking this "if you can't beat them join them" They are too proud to come back full time, so they are willing to take baby steps. I am not buying it Chippy.

 

[92 white 0650]

it looks like the IRL boys are thinking this "if you can't beat them join them" They are too proud to come back full time,

Guys, you're killing me. :biggrin: It's just business, nothing personal. They're just looking for another way to make a buck, trying to compete with the reality shows, going after the short attention span fans. It's not about racing the way we want it to be.

 

[RP-Motorsports]

Guys, you're killing me. :biggrin: It's just business, nothing personal. They're just looking for another way to make a buck, trying to compete with the reality shows, going after the short attention span fans. It's not about racing the way we want it to be.

Did you ever meet Chip? I think he is Tony's long lost 1/2 brother, and Bill France's cousin.

 

[Ponyboy]

It's just business, nothing personal.

There's so much intellectual hyprocrisy in that statement that I'm...speechless.

 

[MAJOR STONER]

carry on...

 

[92 white 0650]

intellectual hyprocrisy

Well, that's certainly a catchy little phrase. Care to expand on it's depth and innuendo? But what you really need to do is explain why, if it's not just business, the power house owners that built CART are now in the IRL.