Comments on: Will There Be A Chassis Update Today?

By: billytheskink

billytheskink — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:09:09 +0000

I’d argue that any grade for Bernard is pushing it, even from a business perspective. A grade for the series on the other hand…

Sadly, IndyCar is not in an industry conducive to rapid turnarounds, nor does the series have the resources to quickly address its many problems. Bernard took the helm of a weak and dysfunctional company, and has unfortunately had to spend much of his first 4 months fighting internal fires and repairing relationships with desperately-needed partners.
I think he’s done well so far, and Schottle actually seems to agree. What we both wonder is whether it will be enough, whether IndyCar can be “saved”.

But that’s the problem I have with the article. It is a very fair assessment of IndyCar’s shortcomings, but a poor assessment of Bernard.
Schottle does a good job of listing the many serious problems IndyCar needs to address. He also realizes and, early in his article, acknowledges that he should be grading Bernard on a curve if at all. Despite this, he doesn’t, he grades Bernard on expectations he knows are unrealistic and projects IndyCar’s failures onto a guy who has had half a season (and pretty much no offseason) to tackle them.

Schottle’s article would have been much better if he had avoided judging Bernard and instead focused on what he needs to address as CEO, knowing he hasn’t had the time to make anything close to the impact, good or bad, that he will ultimately make on the series.

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:57:07 +0000

In defense of Anthony at IBJ, they are a business publication. In order to deserve an A Randy needed to hit the ground running. Since he came on board the ratings and attendance haven’t improved. He is known as a promoter yet it is entirely unclear what elements of the series he will be pushing or how he will push
them. Yes engine rules have been announced and chassis will soon be here, but the overall strategy of the series is entirely unclear.

If you were a business partner would gou be ramping up investments that depend on indycars success right now. Bear in mind that a huge percentage of US businesses will be starting a new fiscal year this week. Their budgets are set right now. Ask PT how that pacts racing!

From a business perspective a C is pushing it.

By: Jim Gallo

Jim Gallo — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 10:21:13 +0000

According to Indycar.com this morning, it looks like July 14th there will be an announcement in Indianapolis. No other comments until that time.

By: Savage Henry

Savage Henry — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:28:27 +0000

I predict that they won’t kill off the DeltaWing until the last possible moment. If you want to create a buzz, you need to keep your most contriversial item in the conversation. Killing off DeltaWing prematurely would be like the writers of Dynasty killing off Alexis Carrington halfway through Season 2. Love her or hate her, that’s the character people were tuning in to see. Same with DeltaWing – its the only design that anyone seems to have strong feelings about. People who love it will stay engaged in the hopes it will be selected, people who hate it will stay engaged in the hopes it doesn’t, and those who are indifferent will be interested to witness the wild celebrations and apoplectic hissy fits when the announcement is made.

This announcement is kind of a snoozer without the DeltaWing.

By: redd

redd — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:43:23 +0000

I think the engine spec announcement was a hint that they won’t be going with the Deltawing. And to me, the only thing keeping the idea of a multi-chassis series afloat is the boat called Wishful Thinking.

I think they’ll go with Dallara. And I’m not sure that’s a bad thing for now. Reliable, safe, experienced. It’s the safe and logical choice in this stage of series development and in the unsure economic times.

Is it as exciting as some of the other designs or as futuristic and outside the box as the Deltawing? Nope. But the new Dallara designs were much better than the current tub and if I was an owner I think it would be the least disruptive and safest bet at this time.

By: Tom G.

Tom G. — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:33:37 +0000

I’m thinking that they won’t divulge any information. Not that they haven’t made a decision. I’m sure the ICONIC committee will present their decision today, however, Bernard will rightly wait for the right “stage” to make the announcement. I trust that between Bernard, and Izod, they will do it with “panache”. I’m just wondering what “event” is happening in mid July that would be the logical place to make an announcement? The Brickyard 400 perhaps????

Wouldn’t that be another coup!

And as for Mr. Schoettle, this is the 3rd inane piece he has posted on the Izod Indycar series. The first demanded that Bernard “apologize” for the split. The second claimed that a public feud between Danica and TK would “destroy” the series. And now this twaddle. I’m guessing that he has figured the only way to get traffic to his website is to write stuff like this that will infuriate the Indycar blogosphere. In which case, mission accomplished.

By: JamesO

JamesO — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:58:41 +0000

I’ve been mostly pleasantly suprised numerous times with decisions, and since I’m normally a skeptic/cynic, I’m not even going to guess what I think will happen. For me it’s a 33% chance of no annoucement (or postphonement), 33% “here are our finalists” and 33% “this is your new chassis.”

Just as long as its not “we’re going to stay with the current setup through 2013.”

By: Brian McKay

Brian McKay — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:15:26 +0000

As in days of yore, when I was in Malaysia, several time zones ahead, I am the first (I guess) reader of the blog today! Woo-hoo!

I would have liked to vote “No chassis will be eliminated yet, but they will announce (that) there will be multiple chassis” suppliers. I believe, as you do, that competition (even among suppliers to athletes) is good (aside from a tire war) and that variety is the spice of life!
But I guess that today we’ll hear a non-announcement, a postponement of decision (poll choice 1).