Comments on: Changes Are Afoot At INDYCAR

By: JRK

JRK — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:42:04 +0000

You are the younger brother, of a friend, of his wife, and know first hand he is as you described? Interesting. If so, maybe you should suggest to your older brother, to suggest to his wife that she divorce him twice because as the younger brother, of her friend, you seem to know him well, from Indianapolis, probably never met the man. This should remain a discussion about Indycar racing. Also probably why there are less than 10 comment. Who cares if he’s a jerk “in real life”

By: M

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 06:44:41 +0000

I also hate when people are hoping for someone to lose their job in these hard times (other than Colts coach Caldwell) and means to a living, so I am happy he is no longer head of race control, but still has a job. I agree with just about everything you say here other than one sentence – “I consider Brian Barnhart to be a good and decent man.” I am from where he lives and I know things that maybe not everyone does. The woman he has been married to twice is someone from here and a friend of my older brothers and I can tell you from what I know, that he is in fact NOT a good and decent man. That does not mean he should lose his job, but don’t be fooled. He is the same arrogant, pompous, unaccountable asshole in real life that he has been at the head of race control.

By: Justin Beeper

Justin Beeper — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:43:05 +0000

“I’ve watched the highlights of old races, and it looks to me like they started spreading ‘em out sometime in the 80′s (perhaps a reaction to the Kevin Cogan incident).”

Probably had a lot more to do with the proliferation of road racers into the race itself. Many of those guys and gals weren’t used or aren’t used to actually having cars close to them. You start like that all the time in AOW oval racing.

By: SkipinSC

SkipinSC — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:28:57 +0000

While I agree that Barnhart had to go after Loudon, I completely understand Randy wanting to get to the end of the season before making this public. For a job as difficult as chief steward/referee/wet nurse, you’re not going to find someone to replace Barnhart overnight. Even with his departure, someone had better re-write the rule book, as it is still open to “interpretation.”

As to Brian being the reason “IRL has been a spec series…” I have TWO problems: First, team owners haven’t exactly been clamoring for something else. If this was THAT big an issue, Tampa Joe, why then would the owners push back the release of the aero kits to 2013.

Second, “IRL” hasn’t been the title of the series for almost two years now. Get with the times.

By: Tampa Joe

Tampa Joe — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:18:01 +0000

What is this great experience you say TGBB brings? He is a circus clown and nothing more. He’s the reason IRL has been a spec series for years. If he has any power left, its way too much. He needs to go.

By: H.B. Donnelly

H.B. Donnelly — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:53:56 +0000

Good comments, George, and I have to say I agree for the most part.

My one quibble comes with the notion that Barnhart invented spread out the starts at Indianapolis. I’ve watched the highlights of old races, and it looks to me like they started spreading ‘em out sometime in the 80′s (perhaps a reaction to the Kevin Cogan incident). I distinctly remember watching on TV as the rows picked up speed at the north end, maintained about 50 yards between themselves and were jostling for position on the front stretch — all while Barnhart was still working the pits with Rick Galles. Certainly, Barnhart didn’t make the starts better, and I think he went over RB’s head in helping the drivers get the start/restart cones moved back in ’11, but let’s make sure we’re not blaming him entirely for the Indianapolis starts.