(Tony George at the IMS pogoda)

The cat is out of the bag.  Robin Miller, who writes for the Indianapolis Star and is a contributor on Dave Depain’s TV program Wind Tunnel, has reported that Tony George has submitted a bid to purchase the Indy Racing League/IndyCar Series.  The IndyCar Series is . . . → Read More: Tony George Wants To Buy The IndyCar Series]]>

(Tony George at the IMS pogoda)

The cat is out of the bag.  Robin Miller, who writes for the Indianapolis Star and is a contributor on Dave Depain’s TV program Wind Tunnel, has reported that Tony George has submitted a bid to purchase the Indy Racing League/IndyCar Series.  The IndyCar Series is presently owned by Hulman and Company, of which Tony George was formally the CEO.  Hulman and Company are also the owners of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and many other products including “Clabber Girl” baking powder.  For those who may not be aware, Tony George is the grandson of  the late Tony Hulman who bought IMS from Eddie Rickenbacker after WWII.

For those of you who do not remember the “hair-brained” idea that Mr. George came up with beginning in 1996, let me refresh your memory.  George announced in 1994 that beginning in 1996 he was going to start the Indy Racing League.  The premise for this new sanctioning body was “to keep the cost lower for the car owners” by having one type of chassis and two engines.  The engine selection was either an Oldsmobile Aurora or a Acura Infinity, both had a tendency to “grenade”!

George’s plan was for the IRL to race solely on ovals.  He also develped the 28-5 plan for the 1996 Indy 500.  That plan established 28 slots at the 1996 Indy 500 for his IRL competitors, and 8 slots for the non-IRL competitors. 

That idea went over like a turd in a punch bowl!

With that grenade thrown by Tony George, the division in US open wheel racing began a long and downward spiral that was to last for more than a decade.  The end results was CART, the sanctioning body for open wheel racing, filed for bankruptcy in 2008 and merged with the IndyCar Series, additionally, as a direct results of this ill conceived idea, the attendance has been down at most all open wheel racing venues over the past 16 years!

However, the scuttle butt is that the IRL board is not entertaining the idea of selling the IRL to Tony George.  Their idea is to let the new team of directors try to iron out the IndyCar Series deficiencies, and try to promote the sport back to a healthy status.  After all, Tony George had 15 years in control and really couldn’t make it work prosperously, so why would they want to return him to the throne of control?

What is your view on Tony George trying to purchase the IndyCar Series?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(photo courtesy Indy Racing League)

Another chink in the armor of Tony George was unveiled today.  George announced that he is suspending the operations of Vision Racing, his IRL race team also co-owned by actor Patrick Dempsey.  George’s step-son, Ed Carpenter, drove for the team, which was purchased in 2005 when Mr. . . . → Read More: More Troubles For Tony George]]>

(photo courtesy Indy Racing League)

Another chink in the armor of Tony George was unveiled today.  George announced that he is suspending the operations of Vision Racing, his IRL race team also co-owned by actor Patrick Dempsey.  George’s step-son, Ed Carpenter, drove for the team, which was purchased in 2005 when Mr. George bought the assets of  Kelley Racing.

This move is the latest blow to Tony George and his racing empire.  2009 was a catastrophic year  for Mr. George.  In June of 2009, Tony George was forced to resign as the CEO of The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which his family has owned and controlled since the end of WWII, and relinquish all control of the many family corporate businesses.  Two weeks ago he resigned from the IMS Board of Directors.

George has also resigned from a leadership role of The Indy Racing League, which he founded to be a more affordable alternative to CART.  Effectively, the IRL did more to damage the health of open wheel racing than good in the US.  By starting his own sanctioning body, the IRL, and reserving 2/3 of the starting positions for Indy 500 for the IRL competitors, it drove a huge cavern between CART and the IRL that took 12 years to resolve.  Ultimately forcing CART into bankruptcy and dissolving all together.

Tony George single handedly put open wheel racing in the US on life support for the 12 years that there was a division between CART and the IRL!  The Indy 500 has lost a large portion of glitter of being “The Greatest Spectacle In Racing”.  Thank you Tony George!

So with this latest announcement, the high flying Tony George is looking for a place to dock and right his sinking ship!  The once very influential executive is grasping for a life vest!

What is your take on Mr. George’s fall from his Titanic leadership roll?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!