INDYCAR: Bernard's "Employment Status Has Not Changed"

IndyCar

INDYCAR: Bernard’s “Employment Status Has Not Changed”

This week's latest "Randy Bernard is being fired" rumor is debunked by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Marshall Pruett | Posted October 26, 2012

The smear campaign by certain elements within open-wheel racing to destabilize the IndyCar Series and its CEO has been at an all-time high in recent weeks. (Photo: LAT)

The latest rumors of IZOD IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard's imminent termination from his post atop the open-wheel series were refuted by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday.

"Randy's employment status has not changed," Doug Boles, IMS' head of communications, told SPEED.com. "He has not been fired."

A change in Bernard's employment status would only come from a decision made by the Hulman & Co. board. The board has not met this week.

The weekly 'IndyCar is for sale' and 'Randy Bernard is about to be fired' grist continues to dominate the series' news cycle, with one or two media outlets stoking the flames of uncertainty and instability at an alarming rate.

The timing of the negative rumors has, coincidentally, reached fever pitch with the failed bid by IRL founder Tony George to buy the series and wrest control from Bernard.

George was removed from the board of the family-owned track and series late last week in an emergency meeting. George was removed for the first time in 2009, paving the way for Bernard's eventual signing to a 5-year contract, beginning with the 2010 season.

Despite assertions to the contrary, it's believed Bernard's budget for 2013 is in the final phases of approval by the board, which could also include a slight expansion of next year's calendar.

Marshall Pruett is SPEED.com's Auto Racing Editor, and covers the IndyCar Series. Before joining SPEED, Pruett worked in open-wheel racing for 20 years as a mechanic and engineer. He also contributes to RACER, Road & Track and Racecar Engineering. Follow him @MarshallPruett.