3: Owners Revolt

Like the spare parts/costs deal, this topic doesn’t need an extensive recap because of how fresh it has remained, although a bit of clarity wouldn’t hurt before closing the chapter on 2012.

So what requires clarity? IndyCar owners, by nature, are not inherently evil. (I know. Hard to believe, eh?)

Now, a precious few do act like they’re in the grips of demonic possession—I’ve experienced it firsthand—but as a collection of individuals that comprise the IndyCar team owner collective, there are more good folks among that group than bad, and that’s also something I can vouch for. Simply put, it’s easy to lump them all together and paint them as the villains in every story, but it wouldn’t be accurate or fair.

That being said, for the select few who love tapping into their darker tendencies, they managed to put up Hall of Fame numbers in the categories of ‘Panic Incited’ and ‘Destruction Caused’ this year.

That highlight reel includes chasing Randy Bernard out of town with pitchforks and torches and pulling the strings on things like the second annual ‘We Don’t Want Aero Kits’ contest and the “If You Don’t Reduce The Costs, We Won’t Be Here Next Year” derby.

It’s also worth noting that a revolt isn’t necessarily a bad thing, with the parts/costs issue serving as a prime example of a problem that needed the full might of the owners to force the series into action.

And there were other, smaller revolts that barely registered on the Richter scale yet drove a decent number of owners to flip the series a certified Will Power double bird.

The selection process and final decision to award Ed Carpenter Racing and Dragon Racing the two unused Leader Circle contracts from Newman/Haas Racing left plenty owners steaming. Turbogate steeled a few too many against the series and its CEO. We know about the aero kits, and how the parts/costs issue went Ron Burgundy in an instant. More than a quarter-million in fines at Indy was like poking a bear with a short stick. Randy Bernard spilling the beans via Twitter that a few owners were trying to get rid of him had the same effect as dumping a bucket of chum into a shark tank. And Bernard’s negotiations to replace Firestone—the final significant revolt-worthy item of the year, had the owners (and drivers) dialing 911.

Slice it however you want and apportion the blame as you see fit, but the unrest ranged from justified to over-the-top ridiculous depending on the situation and gave the series a giant black eye that was never allowed to heal.

I’d like to believe that with a few months to reflect on the 2012 season, those owners who did the most damage to IndyCar’s foundation will take more of a steward-of-the-sport approach when faced with similar scenarios in the future.


INDYCAR: New Leader Circle Program Rewards Two, Angers Many

INDYCAR: Owners Reject Aero Kits Again

MILLER: The Most Repulsive Revolt

INDYCAR: Embattled Bernard Discusses Team Owner Issues

INDYCAR: Series Clarifies Its Stance On Tire Supply Negotiations