the lull

The lull

Waiting is the hardest part.

Six weeks inbetween races is too long, I don’t think anybody would disagree with that. What I’m told with regards to this season is that there was the possibility of adding a race around this time somewhere in Argentina. That’s what I heard anyway, so take it for what its worth. Nevertheless it is very difficult for a series to carry momentum with such a long break. I’m sure Champ Car is aware of this and is working on it.

Still waiting on the announcement of Long Beach. The closer it gets to the Indy 500, the more I worry. Somehow a big announcement right around the time of the Brickyard could be big news for the struggling IRL. Pleases Dover, Jim and whoever else is involved, make the right decisions. Don’t think short term, think long term.

That is the biggest barrier right now with Champ Car, in my opinion. Sponsors, cities and teams are still looking at the Champ Car World Series with an eye of uncertainty. Its understandable, to a certain extent. It was barely a year ago that the series was in complete turmoil. It was just over two years ago that the series changed dramatically by bringing in Chris Pook and taking some gambles. It was barely three years ago that many of the big teams in CART were already planning their exits from the series.

Building a solid foundation takes time. Building a solid foundation with a company that’s been bankrupt and chastised is even more difficult. But the three amigos are doing it. They, along with Mr. Eidswick are creating stability within the series. But stability, by definition, can’t be achieved without a certain amount of time. In this case, a few seasons.

Long Beach and the city council need to do what they feel is best for Long Beach. Period. Its unfortunate, but the sport, in their eyes, comes second. They want to make money, as do most of the venues. There was a time in the sport when the racing came first, but now its money. We live in a “now” society, not a “long-term” society. People seem to be looking for the quick fix. The quick payout. If the IRL waves all sanctioning fees for the next three years, it will be difficult for LB to say no. But, again short term thinking. Will the IRL be around in three years?

Frankly, I think it will be. Don’t shoot me for saying that, but I don’t think the IRL is going anywhere, unless they miraculously unify or George just gives up. But he won’t give up. As long as he has the Indy 500, as well as the Brickyard 400, he has enough money. The real question is which series will be prominent by then? I firmly believe that Champ Car will have prevailed by then because it’ll be a few years of stability and the influx of young drivers will turn heads. Perhaps the IRL will go back to what they originally intended on doing, run an all-oval series for all Americans. It’s a safe bet they won’t have Honda and Toyota in a few years, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens. Nevertheless, Tony George seems like a very proud man, one who thinks that admitting defeat is showing weakness.

If I was in Marketing for Champ Car, I would focus my entire campaign on Jimmy Vasser. For an American based series in a country that is so rich on its tradition and heroes, who better do we have then Mr. Jimmy Vasser? He’s a name that is known in every American household, fan or not. He’s not on the same level as Jr. maybe, but he still a household name. he should be our poster boy. An all-American playboy, a champion with good looks and a great personality. Maybe Jimmy is at a point in his career where he doesn’t want to be a poster boy anymore. But he’s also such a diehard supporter of Champ Car, I think he would be willing to go the extra mile for the series. Its impossible not to like Jimmy. Its impossible to find someone more knowledgeable then Jimmy. Its hard to find someone more articulate them Jimmy. Heck, I would call it the Bridgestone Presents the Jimmy Vasser Champ Car World Series powered by Ford.

By the way I like to end my blogs with a term coined by Jimmy. I was walking in Long Beach in 2004 when Paul Newman passed Jimmy. Jimmy called him out, hit his own chest a couple of times and said:

Champ Car baby! Champ Car for life!