Have a FaceBook, Twitter, or other social networking account?

Link them to your fanatic account!

Add An Account

TAKE ME TO...
SPEED.com: Miller & Jensen On Bruton & Bernard
What happens when SPEED.com Editor-in-Chief Tom Jensen and IndyCar reporter Robin Miller debate the Bruton Smith and Randy Bernard debacle? Read on...
SPEED Staff  |  Posted May 14, 2010   Charlotte, NC
With just a few short sentences revealed on SPEED's NASCAR Race Hub, Bruton Smith sparked a lot of interest from the worlds of NASCAR and IndyCar. (LAT)
When Speedway Motorsports Inc. Chairman and CEO Bruton Smith broke the news on SPEED's "NASCAR Race Hub" that he wants to pay $20 million to any driver who can win the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, it immediately sent tongues wagging.

Smith and IZOD IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard had planned on a dual Indy-Charlotte press conference next month to break the news, but Smith spilled the beans early.

The thought of an Indy 500 with, say, Tony Stewart, Juan Pablo Montoya, Sam Hornish, Jeff Gordon and the brothers Busch in the field would be a tantalizing one, especially if it were followed by a Coca-Cola 600 with Danica Patrick, Scott Dixon, Ryan Briscoe, Will Power and others in it.

Is such an idea actually achievable or is it a fantasy?

The fact Bruton Smith is the co-promoter of this proposed daily double doesn't help Bernard's cause either since Smith isn't exactly a NASCAR favorite.

But, considering all the empty seats and all-over-the-board TV ratings, NASCAR should look at this as a win-win. Indy, even in its depleted state from the glory days, remains the No. 1 race in the world and would be a nice lead-in for Charlotte -- especially if Stew, Kahne, Gordo and the Busch brothers came to IMS. And the Speedway would be happy to provide as many test days as necessary to get these boys comfortable (like Monday through Wednesday so as not to mess with the Cup schedule).

SPEED.com Editor-In-Chief Tom Jensen and IndyCar Reporter Robin Miller describe why it could - and couldn't - happen.

JENSEN: First off, let me state for the record, I think this is a great idea, and I've advocated for it in the past but it will take a Herculean effort to actually happen. It's not as simple as moving times or dates around. There is an awful lot involved.

Obstacle No. 1: Automakers. When Tony Stewart made noises about jumping into one of A.J. Foyt's cars at Indy a couple of years back, Chevrolet damn near slapped Stewart with a restraining order to keep him out of the car. Would Chevrolet - or Toyota, for that matter - allow its star NASCAR drivers to race Hondas at Indy? Hard to imagine.

MILLER: You're spot on Tom because this would be the No.1 obstacle, as some of the NASCAR boys told me last year at Stewart's Prelude to a Dream at Eldora. But the good news is that Randy Bernard has been talking with Ford and General Motors about their interest in returning to IndyCar and, depending on the new engine rules, this could be the necessary breakthrough to get the big names required.

JENSEN: Obstacle No. 2: NASCAR. Clearly, if the schedules were somehow juggled to allow drivers to run both races, there's more upside for the IZOD IndyCar Series than for the NASCAR boys. And NASCAR isn't known for letting its partners get the better half of the deal.

For this to work, it would take more than changing the start time of the 500: It would take retooling the entire month of May schedule on NASCAR's side to let its drivers get lots of practice and qualifying in at Indy. Would NASCAR overhaul its long-established schedule for one month to benefit IndyCar? Signs point to no.
The possibility of AJ and Stew running together was dampened by a conflict between engine suppliers. It would certainly be one of the main issues to overcome if the Indy 500/Coca Cola 600 promotion is going to happen. (LAT)

Another nit: NASCAR would have to relax its four-car team limit, because you'd want the IndyCar drivers racing in the Coke 600 to driver for Hendrick, Gibbs, Roush and RCR instead of the backmarkers.

MILLER: From Day 1 (actually more like late February) when Bernard first told me of his idea, I said the only two problems were engines and NASCAR. Despite masquerading as Tony George's supposed "partner" when he started up the Indy Racing League, the stock car set barely lifted a finger to promote races at Phoenix, Michigan, Homestead, Chicago (gee, all ovals) and really had no interest in helping the IRL succeed.

Moving the starting time back at Indy? No problem.

JENSEN: Obstacle No. 3: Sponsors. Racing doesn't happen without cubic dollars and finding sponsor cash these days is excruciatingly difficult in every racing series. Are there enough companies out there who'd pony up the bucks for the teams in both series to add cars and crews for the crossover teams?

And would sponsors pitch a fit about top teams in either series moonlighting and therefore diluting their main effort?

MILLER: TOM, are you kidding? Finding an American sponsor for Bernard Baguette or Sebastien Saavedra is damn near impossible but getting funding to run the red, white and blue heroes like Kahne, Stewart, Gordon, Johnson, Harvick at the mecca of speed is a slam dunk. The potential sponsors have actually heard of those guys and can pronounce their names so you and I could sell that package.

Let's see, I'm Z Line Designs and I sponsor Justin Wilson (who speaks very good English and is a helluva driver) in IndyCar and Kyle Busch in Nationwide and THEY COULD BE TEAMMATES for the Indy 500!

The Indy 500 wouldn't dilute anything; it would actually get these NASCAR stars even more publicity for their sponsors and followers.

JENSEN: Obstacle No. 4: Drivers. Last year at this time, I asked Stewart and Kurt Busch about doing Indy and Charlotte. Both of them told me essentially the same thing: That while they liked the idea of doing the double, they wouldn't step in without extensive testing and, ideally, even doing a couple preliminary races in the IndyCars. Stewart told me that today's IndyCars are technical enough that you can't simply jump in one and go like you could in the old days.

MILLER: Stew has hit his head on something. THE CARS ARE TOO TECHNICAL THAT YOU CAN'T JUMP IN? HAS HE EVER HEARD OF MILKA DUNO? She can't drive a nail into a snow bank but she can run wide open around the Speedway. For god's sake, he's a real racer who loves challenges and I have a hunch that he'd be with a team that would make it pretty comfortable, pretty quick. Extensive testing? Yeah, it would probably take about six hours of running a car with 150 less HP than his Cup car. Let's not forget that Juan Montoya ran flat out at Indy on his FOURTH LAP ever back in 2000 and it's not changed very much.

Obviously, getting one race in before Indy would be ideal and maybe that could happen if IndyCar had another Saturday race in early May when Cup runs on Sunday.

JENSEN: One final observation: As noted, I would love to see this happen, despite the myriad serious obstacles in the way. For this to become a reality, NASCAR will have to be flexible and IndyCar smart, two things neither organization is known for.

But here's what could jump start the deal: If International Speedway Corp., the France family-controlled race track company, somehow manages to acquire Indianapolis Motor Speedway - a scenario that's been rumored for the last several years - then all of sudden the game changes.

MILLER: Back when men were men, guys like Cale Yarborough, Lee Roy Yarbrough, Bobby Johns and the Allisons (Bobby and Donnie) wanted to be measured against the best so they'd come to Indy to run against AJ, Mario, Rutherford, and the Unsers. Only the Allisons had top-line equipment but it didn't matter because all these guys were RACERS (and Cale was the most impressive). Jimmie Johnson has conquered one domain. Ditto for Jeff Gordon and Stewart. Kevin Harvick grew up idolizing Rick Mears and Kasey Kahne figured he was bound for Indy cars after coming through the USAC ranks and testing for Bobby Rahal. They've all had OPEN WHEEL fever at one time or another and this would satisfy a craving.

Sure, it's a different world than it was in the '60s and '70s, contracts are more constrictive, sponsors more demanding and there's never enough time. But these guys are all big enough stars with enough clout to make time for the Indy 500. And it's been a long, long, long time since the starting lineup at Indy had anything close to the "best" drivers in the land. This would lend credibility to their careers and to this institution.

And you're right Tom, IndyCar/IRL/Champ Car/CART/USAC hasn't had a free-thinking/autonomous leader in my 43 years but they do now. This $20 million double was Bernard's idea and I hope NASCAR plays along. If they don't, maybe Mari Hulman George tells them to go away.








Play! SPEED Fantasy Racing Cup Edition - Spring Series




The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEEDtv.com, SPEED, FOX, or NewsCorp.
speed_staff's avatar

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SPEED Staff

SPEED.com

MORE BY THIS AUTHOR
Advertising | Jobs | Feedback | FAQ | Terms of Use | NEW Privacy Policy | Ad Choices | Site Map
Fox Sports | FUEL TV | FX Network | National Geographic | IGN | AskMen
The Motor Sports Authority, SPEED and associated logos are registered trademarks of Speed Channel Inc.
All Rights Reserved © Speed Channel, Inc. 2012

All external links will open in a new browser window. SPEED.com does not endorse external sites.