Comments on: The Woes Of Change

By: Ron Ford

Ron Ford — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 17:36:38 +0000

Of course change is not always good (G.W. Bush comes to mind) The specific changes that George is referring to would definitely not be good in my opinion. Perhaps I am not evolving. As someone suggested here, if lights were added to the speedway you can predict with absolute certainty that sooner rather than later some TV suit will push for the 500 to be run at night. The only change that is always good would be underwear. I can embrace that.

By: John

John — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:47:18 +0000

I have no problem with lights. Sometimes, change is good. If I lived there, I might feel differently. But, the speedway was there before any of the current residents, so they knew what they were getting into. It’s like living near an airport. If you buy a house there, you know you’ll be having a lot of noise. I agree that it does sound very expensive.

As to the chase idea, bad, bad, bad. As has been mentioned, the season is too short as it is. There’s no need to cut it into regular season and then the chase. Also, IndyCar is very exciting, and the goal is to win as many races as you can. We don’t need no stinkin’ chase!

By: billytheskink

billytheskink — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:33:17 +0000

What I think is interesting is that NASCAR’s Chase has not consistently tightened up the championship, but it has made mid-season races more compelling (perhaps artificially so). Jeff Gordon was a complete non-factor in the Chase, but his second place at Richmond became important because it qualified him for the “playoffs”. This is the one positive I find in a “chase”/post-season points format.

NASCAR’s silly “playoff” is, at the very least, better than the absurd system the NHRA now uses…
“Three drivers with a chance to win the championship at the final event? We cannot allow this to happen! Change the points system so that a maximum of two drivers can win the championship at the final race. Brilliant!”

By: redcar

redcar — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:30:08 +0000

Playoffs–in Nascar–are just a way to artificially insure competition instead of rewarding excellence or domination. Playoffs–in Indycar–are unnecessary. If anything, just simplify the points system they have. There are plenty of areas where Indycar needs work more than concentrating efforts on playoffs.

As far as lights at IMS. Not against it, although budget-wise it seems like an enormous expense. And sooner or later, some TV guy would want to schedule the 500 at night and I’m not sure how I feel about that.

Tradition is good. Change is good. Balance is tricky.

By: JohnMc

JohnMc — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:27:12 +0000

I don’t see the benefit of a “chase” for INDYCAR nor adding lights to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. First, the series doesn’t have anywhere near the races that NASCAR does and our chase happens when the green flag drops. It works well, too. As for the lights, that is for NASCAR and NOT the 500. The reason NASCAR isn’t getting the fans is because their race is a bad one and the “Goodyear fiasco” is STILL remembered by the fans (as well as me).

There is no place to catch a game like Wrigley Field. I like the lights, too.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:03:19 +0000

Wrigley Field is a dump

By: pressdog

pressdog — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:01:07 +0000

Change is good. Embrace change. If your not changing to meet the evolving tastes of your customers you’re dying.

By: Carburetor

Carburetor — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 14:57:01 +0000

I despise change and love being in a rut as well, however every time I look in the mirror I am reminded that change is inevitable (where did all my hair go???). Lights at the speedway do not bother me; an artificial playoff system for racing is beneath IndyCar in my opinion. The Chase at NASCAR is phony hucksterism as far as I am concerned–especially with a season/schedule that is far too long to begin with. A better move would be to get the IndyCar schedule up to about 21-24 races and strengthen fan awareness of the oval and twisty sub-championships as these help distinguish IndyCar from other racing series.

It is good to hear some new ideas from the top guy however, because the current rut doesn’t look to lead somewhere favorable…

By: SkipinSC

SkipinSC — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 14:11:23 +0000

The Chase idea is one best left to NASCAR. Attempting to dodge both NASCAR and NFL in the fall is an iffy propostition at best. Additionally it is ONE thing to have a 26 race schedule leading up to a 10 race “Chase.” But how do you divide a 16, 17, or 18 race schedule to do such a thing? (Not to mention that huge gap at the end of the season.) Maybe, if IndyCar got to the point of a 24 race schedule, you could do an 18 race regular season followed by a 6 race playoff, but until you build the series to that point, I just don’t see it. And, once you get to THAT schedule, haven’t you solved enough of the problems as to make such an enticement meaningless?

I think any discussion of lights at IMS must first take into account wishes of the residents of Speedway. I can certainly think of several years when lights would have allowed the 500 to be run to completion (or even started) on the scheduled day had there been lights. However, turning loose 300,000 people of questionable sobriety at 11pm or midnight (or even the 150,000 that might attend the Brickyard) is to me an invitation to a tragedy. (I’ve spent the night before the 500 out at 16th and Georgetown on several occasions, and that’s plenty enough crazy for me.)

By: Bent Wickerbill

Bent Wickerbill — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 12:40:23 +0000

Sounds like a couple of cut and paste solutions to a much larger long term problem…