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IndyCar
INDYCAR: Changes To TEAM Funding For 2011
Robin Miller reports the IndyCar Series will reduce the number of teams eligible to receive series funding, and also provides updates on races at Las Vegas and Edmonton.
Champ Cars flew on the Las Vegas street circuit in 2007. Could a street/oval double-header come to fruition for 2012? (LAT)
Two of IndyCar’s “little guys” are taking a hit in the new TEAM money parameters, but Randy Bernard claims it’s the best thing for the credibility of the series.
Since unification in 2008, teams competing in the full IZOD IndyCar series were awarded $1.3 million per car in TEAM (Team Enhancement & Allocation Fund Matrix) money.
For the past two seasons that has included the Top 24 in entrant points but, beginning in 2011, SPEED.com has learned only the Top 22 in the final 2010 standings will be allowed to partake in the TEAM funding.
And that leaves out one car each for Eric Bachelart’s Conquest Racing and Dale Coyne’s operation.
“Our fans want credibility and they ridicule a couple of our drivers for not being good enough so if those people are still going to try and compete, IndyCar is not going to pay for them,” said Bernard, who singled out Milka Duno in the owner’s meeting last week as he informed his paddock of the TEAM change.
“We’ll put that money back into the series.”
Bachelart began the year with his No. 34 car driven by Mario Romancini before adding a second entry with Bertrand Baguette (No. 36) in the third race. Romancini competed in the first 11 races, was replaced by the unheralded Francesco Dracone for two races, then Tomas Scheckter competed twice before Roger Yasukawa ran Japan and Baguette finished the season in the No. 34 – which wound up 21st in the standings.
The No. 36 car, driven by Sebastian Saveedra in the finale, finished 12 points behind the third KV Technology entry for 22nd place. Baguette had some impressive runs but missing the first two races cost Conquest dearly.
“This is going to make things more challenging,” said Bachelart, who quit driving in CART in 1995 and started Conquest in 1997. “What really hurts is that in Japan all the owners agreed to take less money and that we should keep 24 cars.
“Dale (Coyne) has been supporting racing for 30 years and I’ve been doing it for 15 years. I’m busting my ass to keep my team going but I don’t see a sense of loyalty here.
“But I still feel confident we can field two cars in 2011.”
Coyne fielded one car for rookie Alex Lloyd, who wound up 17th in the standings, and a CITGO-sponsored car for Duno, who started 16 out of 17 races (she failed to qualify at Indianapolis) and finished 24th.
“Obviously, two of the owners reacted with some negativity but most of the owners applauded our stance,” Bernard replied. “We need to build credibility in this sport and with our fans and this is a good place to start.
“People don’t buy tickets to an NFL game expecting to see inferior players and our fans are entitled to see the best drivers.”
NOTHING NEW ON VEGAS, EDMONTON
Bernard has been talking openly for months about a season-ending doubleheader in Las Vegas for 2012 – a street race on Friday followed by an oval show at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday.
But it’s all contingent on getting a race on one major element.
“If we do it, the only way it’s going to work is to have it on The Strip in some capacity,” said Bernard, who is currently in Vegas. “Tony Cotman has looked into a possible place and it would be very cool.
“But no deal is done and we’re working on it.”
Formula One raced in the parking lot at Caesar’s Palace in 1981-82 before being replaced by CART for two years but neither drew much of a crowd. Champ Car staged a street race in downtown Vegas in 2007 that produced a great circuit and pathetic turnout.
As for the 2011 race at Edmonton being rescued, Bernard said: “Terry Angstadt is working on it and there is still a chance but it’s not nearly done yet.”
The July 17th race was cancelled a few weeks ago when new promoters Octane balked at the city’s surprise financial increases to the event around the downtown airport.
Robin Miller became an Indy-car junkie in late 1950s and stooged for his hero, Jim Hurtubise, at the 1968 Indy 500. He went on to work as a vent man and board man on Indy pit crews from 1971-77. Miller bought a Formula Ford from Andy Granatelli in 1972 and raced it in SCCA until 1974 when he purchased a midget from Gary Bettenhausen, competing in the USAC midget series from 1975-82.
Robin flunked out of Ball State College in 1968 and began working at The Indianapolis Star sports department in 1969, covered motorsports there from 1969-2000.
In addition to his broadcast work. Miller's also covered IndyCar racing for Autoweek, Autosport, Car & Driver and On Track magazines over the past 35 years.
Since unification in 2008, teams competing in the full IZOD IndyCar series were awarded $1.3 million per car in TEAM (Team Enhancement & Allocation Fund Matrix) money.
For the past two seasons that has included the Top 24 in entrant points but, beginning in 2011, SPEED.com has learned only the Top 22 in the final 2010 standings will be allowed to partake in the TEAM funding.
And that leaves out one car each for Eric Bachelart’s Conquest Racing and Dale Coyne’s operation.
“Our fans want credibility and they ridicule a couple of our drivers for not being good enough so if those people are still going to try and compete, IndyCar is not going to pay for them,” said Bernard, who singled out Milka Duno in the owner’s meeting last week as he informed his paddock of the TEAM change.
“We’ll put that money back into the series.”
Bachelart began the year with his No. 34 car driven by Mario Romancini before adding a second entry with Bertrand Baguette (No. 36) in the third race. Romancini competed in the first 11 races, was replaced by the unheralded Francesco Dracone for two races, then Tomas Scheckter competed twice before Roger Yasukawa ran Japan and Baguette finished the season in the No. 34 – which wound up 21st in the standings.
The No. 36 car, driven by Sebastian Saveedra in the finale, finished 12 points behind the third KV Technology entry for 22nd place. Baguette had some impressive runs but missing the first two races cost Conquest dearly.
“This is going to make things more challenging,” said Bachelart, who quit driving in CART in 1995 and started Conquest in 1997. “What really hurts is that in Japan all the owners agreed to take less money and that we should keep 24 cars.
“Dale (Coyne) has been supporting racing for 30 years and I’ve been doing it for 15 years. I’m busting my ass to keep my team going but I don’t see a sense of loyalty here.
“But I still feel confident we can field two cars in 2011.”
Coyne fielded one car for rookie Alex Lloyd, who wound up 17th in the standings, and a CITGO-sponsored car for Duno, who started 16 out of 17 races (she failed to qualify at Indianapolis) and finished 24th.
“Obviously, two of the owners reacted with some negativity but most of the owners applauded our stance,” Bernard replied. “We need to build credibility in this sport and with our fans and this is a good place to start.
“People don’t buy tickets to an NFL game expecting to see inferior players and our fans are entitled to see the best drivers.”
NOTHING NEW ON VEGAS, EDMONTON
Bernard has been talking openly for months about a season-ending doubleheader in Las Vegas for 2012 – a street race on Friday followed by an oval show at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday.
But it’s all contingent on getting a race on one major element.
“If we do it, the only way it’s going to work is to have it on The Strip in some capacity,” said Bernard, who is currently in Vegas. “Tony Cotman has looked into a possible place and it would be very cool.
“But no deal is done and we’re working on it.”
Formula One raced in the parking lot at Caesar’s Palace in 1981-82 before being replaced by CART for two years but neither drew much of a crowd. Champ Car staged a street race in downtown Vegas in 2007 that produced a great circuit and pathetic turnout.
As for the 2011 race at Edmonton being rescued, Bernard said: “Terry Angstadt is working on it and there is still a chance but it’s not nearly done yet.”
The July 17th race was cancelled a few weeks ago when new promoters Octane balked at the city’s surprise financial increases to the event around the downtown airport.
Robin Miller became an Indy-car junkie in late 1950s and stooged for his hero, Jim Hurtubise, at the 1968 Indy 500. He went on to work as a vent man and board man on Indy pit crews from 1971-77. Miller bought a Formula Ford from Andy Granatelli in 1972 and raced it in SCCA until 1974 when he purchased a midget from Gary Bettenhausen, competing in the USAC midget series from 1975-82.
Robin flunked out of Ball State College in 1968 and began working at The Indianapolis Star sports department in 1969, covered motorsports there from 1969-2000.
In addition to his broadcast work. Miller's also covered IndyCar racing for Autoweek, Autosport, Car & Driver and On Track magazines over the past 35 years.
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