MILLER: No Month Of May-hem

IndyCar

MILLER: No Month Of May-hem

As much as it probably pains Donald Davidson and the rest of The Oldtimers Club, cutting back the Month of May schedule is long overdue.

Robin Miller | Posted December 15, 2009 Indianapolis, IN

A consolidated qualifying format and less overall time on the ground is just what the Indy 500 needs right now, says Miller. (LAT)

The hot rumor six weeks ago had Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation president & CEO Jeff Belskus trying to convince Mari Hulman George and her three daughters that it would behoove everyone involved to streamline the month of May.

Wisely, the majority of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s board of directors agreed with Belskus and now we’ve got a sensible schedule for 2010.

Six straight days of practice leading into only two days of qualifying is the smartest move since Bobby Unser figured out how to cheat the pacer lights in the mid-70s.

The Speedway opens with rookies on May 15th, it’s an all-skate May 16-21, qualifying follows on May 22-23, Carb Day is May 28 and the 94th Indy 500 is May 30.

Of course this isn’t the first time qualifying has been reduced from four to two days. It also happened in 1997 when there weren’t enough cars or money – kinda like today.

As much as it probably pains Donald Davidson and the rest of The Oldtimers Club, cutting back the schedule is long overdue.

Sure it was always cool back when the track opened on May 1 because there were so many cars and combinations to sort out. Four days of time trials made perfect sense when an honest 50-60 cars were vying for 33 spots.

But we haven’t needed four days to qualify since the split in 1996 and, lately, most Mays it’s been a scramble to find 33 competent cars. Since everybody runs the same chassis and engine, there’s little need for development.

Burning up fuel, tires and putting miles on engines is expensive, just like spending a month at 16th & Georgetown. Teams used to claim they spent 30-35 percent of their budget on May.

And, let’s face it, without Eagles, Marches, Lolas, Penskes, Reynards, McLarens, Wildcats and turbine cars, there’s little interest in practice. Without track records, calling it a qualifying crowd is a misnomer.

It’s not a stretch to say the whole Indy experience could be handled in one week but at least having two weeks keeps the tradition of carb day, parties, the parade, etc.

This isn’t just about cutting costs for the teams either. The Speedway figures to save a ton of money as well. For example, let’s say there are 1,000 Yellow Shirts working 10 hours a day at minimum wage. That’s roughly $75,000 a day and, some days, there are more guards than paying customers.

For argument’s sake, I’d venture to say that IMS only makes money on Pole Day, Carb Day and Race Day. Everything else is a loser.

Hopefully, the Speedway brass will see fit to pro-rate the suites, hospitality and motorhome spaces to reflect the reduced time. Last year, one of the IRL’s most generous sponsors inquired about getting a deal on a suite and was foolishly rejected. And making the guys who put on the show pay anything for a motorhome spot is just wrong.

As far as Indy’s hotels and restaurants, getting a room or reservation wasn’t in demand except on race weekend so this new format shouldn’t change anything.

Many of us who grew up in Indianapolis always salivated for May because it was a month of innovative cars, fresh ideas, daily drama and new track records. You always felt like you couldn’t miss a day.

But IMS tradition took a gut shot back in ’96 and open wheel racing has been bleeding profusely ever since. The supposed tourniquet of spec cars/engines is still way too expensive for what Indy car can generate in sponsorship, so anything that helps with budgets is welcomed.

Reducing the month of May is practical and efficient so good for Belskus and the IMS board: they did the right thing. Last year’s race day attendance was the best of the decade and this new format might generate even more interest.

“Obviously, it’s a sign of the times,” said Chip Ganassi, whose Target squad along with Team Penske has dominated IndyCar the past two years. “We all have to adapt and if that’s what the Speedway feels is best, then I’m fine with it.

“Because it will still be the Indy 500 on Memorial Day weekend and I’m still going to want to win it.”

The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEEDtv.com, SPEED, FOX, or NewsCorp.

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.

The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or SPEED

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robin Miller

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