photo by Bob Jennings

I was watching ESPN2’s RPM2night last evening (12/9) with great interest, to hear the latest news about the IRL. These are very good days for IRL fans. The eminent demise of CART and the subsequent conversion of teams to the IRL has made this a time for celebration, especially for those of us who have persevered through the dark ages of CART since their inception in 1978.

As usual, Robin Miller made his appearance and gave his latest assessment of the scene in big-league open-wheel racing. These days, Robin seems to vary between downright bitterness to reluctant acceptance of the fact the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has again asserted itself as the preeminent power in major league automobile racing in this country.

I want to comment on a particular remark Robin made during his report. Robin says the IRL fans that are happy Roger Penske is joining the IRL for 2002 are hypocritical. This is further proof that Robin Miller, the so-called racing expert, still doesn’t get it. He has never understood what this whole war between the Speedway and CART has been about.

Of course we are happy to see Penske come to his senses, even if reluctantly so, and join with the IRL. Who wouldn’t be? Penske has always been the “New York Yankees” of auto racing. Sure, some of us have rooted strongly against him over the years. But that doesn’t mean we didn’t understand what he represents or disrespect his accomplishments. Any animosity towards him concerning the CART/IRL split in 1995 was not meant to single him out over the other car owners and teams who chose to remain loyal to CART.

Most people have forgotten that when CART was originally formed in 1978, among the car owners helping to get the CART organization off the ground was A. J. Foyt. When I first heard about the formation of CART and their blatant grab for control of Indy Car racing (following the death of Tony Hulman and, later, several key officials of USAC in a plane accident), I was livid with them. Especially Foyt. Nobody ever benefited more from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway than A. J. Foyt. Within weeks, however, Foyt came to his senses and came back into the Speedway’s fold where he has remained ever since. It was as easy for me to forgive Foyt and welcome him back then as it is now for me to do the same with Roger Penske. And it will be the same for the other teams in CART as they return also.

It is wonderful for me to see that the sport of Indy Car racing will be governed by third party officials who will be more interested in keeping as level a playing field as possible in the future. It has been a long, bitter struggle to overcome the disparity of CART. The fans of Indy Car racing will be the big winners in the long run. Sometimes, to cure the disease, you must take bitter medicine. We’ve been taking it for the past six years or so and the benefits are beginning to show. The IRL is growing while CART is evaporating.

Welcome back, Mr. Penske. Robin, get a clue.