Top five races
Q: If you could see only five races a year, what would they be? — Kenny M., age 10, e-mail from Oklahoma
A: Kenny, I’d be glad to answer that. First would be the cool-weather NHRA national drag racing event at Maple Grove Raceway in Pennsylvania in September of each year, complete with all the nitro action. Second is the nighttime Nextel NASCAR race at Bristol, Tenn.; third a World of Outlaws sprint car feature at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa. (or the Knoxville Nationals); fourth would be the Daytona 500; and fifth would be the Indy 500 for Indy Cars. Honorable mention is a good SCCA or ALMS sports car event; a Formula One race in Italy; an Oswego, N.Y., Super Modified race; and a good asphalt modified race at Stafford Motor Speedway in Connecticut. Thanks for the question.
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Q: Well Greg, it seems like you put your foot in your mouth saying that you didn’t think the Champ Car World Series would survive. Well, they had 18 cars and a nice crowd on hand for the opener at Long Beach. What say you? — Robert H., e-mail from California
A: Robert, one race does not make a season, but I’ll admit the Champ Cars did much better than many detractors predicted. However, I’m still sticking to my guns that this organization is going to incur some rough roads in presenting events in the future, but I would not be upset to see the Champ Car World Series survive. I’m sure every race fan agrees that for the betterment of the sport, we still need only one governing body overseeing Indy Car racing. That organization, in my opinion, is the Indy Racing League, for two reasons.
First, Tony George has the Indianapolis 500. This is the major trump card, and no race, regardless of perceived importance, can compete. Sponsors love the exposure the Indy 500 gives their products.
Second, there are rumors that Honda has offered longtime Champ Car/CART supporter Carl Haas some $15 million to join the IRL with his own Honda-based team and leave Champ Car racing for good. If this happens, don’t look for Paul Newman, Haas’ longtime partner, to make the switch. Newman is a staunch Champ Car supporter. But the damage will be done, and Haas running in the IRL would be another major negative.
On the positive side for Champ Car, IRL supporter and team owner Ron Hemelgarn may field a team for the Champ Car race May 23 in Mexico in conjunction with Walker Racing. That’s good news!
In ending, however, when you look at the long-term facts on paper and the possibility of a full-time Haas team in IRL (Newman/Hass will field a car for the Indy 500), the prospects dim a bit more for Champ Car’s future. I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t think so.
(I have to point out that in no way am I “pulling” for Champ Car’s failure. I would love to see Champ Car and the IRL get together, patch up their differences and promote Indy car racing the way it should be promoted — with one strong sanctioning body featuring all of the best drivers. However, I don’t think you will see that anytime soon.)