INDYCAR: CEO Randy Bernard Fired During Emergency Board Meeting

IndyCar

INDYCAR: CEO Randy Bernard Fired During Emergency Board Meeting

An emergency meeting by the Hulman & Co. board was convened on Sunday to weigh the fate of Randy Bernard, who was ultimately fired.

Marshall Pruett | Posted October 28, 2012

Randy Bernard, middle, was fired three years into a 5-year contract. (Photo: LAT)

An emergency meeting by the members of the Hulman & Co. board was convened on Sunday to weigh the fate of IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard, who, at the end of the deliberation, was fired from the role.

Bernard is being kept on in a token advisory role, but is not expected to be involved with the series during the final two years of his contract.

“We are very grateful for the tireless effort that Randy has invested into learning, understanding and working to grow the IndyCar Series over the last three racing seasons,” said IMS and now interim IndyCar CEO Jeff Belskus. “As both Randy and our organization have reflected on the past season and as we look toward the opportunities ahead and how to best take advantage of them, we agreed that the timing was right to pursue separate paths.”

Bernard offered a rather neutral quote after waiting most of Sunday to learn how the votes by the members of the Hulman & Co. board had been cast.

“I have enjoyed the opportunity to work with the entire INDYCAR community, its teams, drivers, loyal partners and fans,” he said. “The last three years have produced some exciting, and some difficult, times. But we have created a foundation for INDYCAR that positions it to grow over the next several years, and I am proud of what everyone at INDYCAR has been able to accomplish since I came on board.”

IMS' release on Sunday, titled "RANDY BERNARD STEPS DOWN AS CEO OF INDYCAR," provides no official explanation--positive or negative--for the board's hurried decision to remove Bernard.

Bernard's position atop the IndyCar Series--and the ownership of the series--has been the subject of endless rumors and speculation of late.

Behind the scenes, that instability had been highlighted by a failed bid by IRL founder Tony George to purchase the series and, on Oct. 19th, his subsequent departure from the Hulman & Co. board during an emergency meeting when he was given an ultimatum to either relinquish his seat and save face or be met with forcible removal.

George chose the peaceful option, which was reflected in the release distributed by IMS, but the wave of dissatisfaction that had been building against Bernard within some members of the board, and by influential members outside of Hulman & Co., continued to escalate.

On Friday, and after the most recent report of his firing, IMS sent out a thin quote to refute the assertion and did little to calm the waters.

“Randy has not been terminated and his employment status is the same as it was last week and last month,” said Doug Boles, IMS' VP of communications. “At this point, Randy is not fired. That is the case in the moment and in the future.”

Unfortunately for Bernard, "the future" lasted less than 72 hours.

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