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IndyCar
MILLER: The Cult Of Negativity
The message that IndyCar is always in upheaval or needs a new direction is as damaging as it is inaccurate. The constant negativity has to stop.
On the heels of announcing a 19-race schedule that is designed to provide his flock with more national television exposure, Randy Bernard should be receiving congratulations for his creative thinking and fielding questions about doubleheaders, standing starts, the Triple Crown and future venues.
We've even got an American champion, Chevy winning the engine championship and Michael Andretti's team beating up on Ganassi and Penske for the first time in five years.
Instead, and yet again, Bernard's answering questions about his future.
Because a story surfaced Monday in the Sports Business Journal that dredged up a rumor that was pretty much laid to rest several weeks ago, IndyCar’s CEO likely had to refute again that he’s not being replaced and the series isn’t being sold to a group of car owners.
The SBJ story said a group of investors headed by Tony George had made a presentation to buy IndyCar and that the Hulman & Company board was weighing the offer.
The only quote in the story came from George, who labeled the premise as “inaccurate” and Bernard tried to tell the author last week that his “scoop” had no merit.
My first reaction was to ignore it because I knew it wasn’t true but then the emails and phone calls started flying so it’s easier to put it out there in words one more time, with feeling.
Let me clear my throat one last time, ahem: Randy Bernard can’t be fired by the owners, Hulman & Company isn’t replacing him and the IZOD IndyCar Series is not for sale.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Jeff Belskus weighed in on Monday, releasing the following statement to hopefully put a nail in the coffin on this topic:
“The IZOD IndyCar Series is not for sale, and representatives from Hulman & Company and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation have not received or considered any offers to purchase the series. Further, executive management from both Hulman & Company and IMSC maintain continuous and open dialogue with INDYCAR team owners about numerous issues related to the IZOD IndyCar Series, and no INDYCAR team owner formally or informally approached either organization about purchasing the IZOD IndyCar Series.
“Both Hulman & Company and IMSC remain committed to working with the IZOD IndyCar Series and its partners as they prepare for the 2013 season and beyond. The racing in 2012 showcased great competition on track and added to the foundation for growing the series. The just-announced 2013 schedule includes several new twists that could make the racing even more exciting. The combination of the return of nearly all the 2012 venues, including all the ovals, the addition of new tracks and the revival of the Triple Crown award make this one of the most exciting schedules in recent memory.”
It would have been nice to see some kind of “vote of confidence” quote for Bernard in that statement but I guess that’s implied.
Now had the SBJ author written this six weeks ago when it seemed to have some legs it would understandable. Bernard and Belskus had both heard the rumor along with other car owners and a couple promoters, who took the time to call me and voice their concern.
Do I think there was a plan or some serious talk about overthrowing Bernard? Hell yes and I reported it as the rumor that wouldn’t go away. Are there still a couple of key players itching to run him out of town? You bet.
But whoever is keeping this story alive or feeding it to media like SBJ needs to shut the hell up. And it's not lost on me, or many others I've heard from, that this story was drudged up just hours after the 2013 schedule was released.
We've even got an American champion, Chevy winning the engine championship and Michael Andretti's team beating up on Ganassi and Penske for the first time in five years.
Instead, and yet again, Bernard's answering questions about his future.
Because a story surfaced Monday in the Sports Business Journal that dredged up a rumor that was pretty much laid to rest several weeks ago, IndyCar’s CEO likely had to refute again that he’s not being replaced and the series isn’t being sold to a group of car owners.
The SBJ story said a group of investors headed by Tony George had made a presentation to buy IndyCar and that the Hulman & Company board was weighing the offer.
The only quote in the story came from George, who labeled the premise as “inaccurate” and Bernard tried to tell the author last week that his “scoop” had no merit.
My first reaction was to ignore it because I knew it wasn’t true but then the emails and phone calls started flying so it’s easier to put it out there in words one more time, with feeling.
Let me clear my throat one last time, ahem: Randy Bernard can’t be fired by the owners, Hulman & Company isn’t replacing him and the IZOD IndyCar Series is not for sale.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Jeff Belskus weighed in on Monday, releasing the following statement to hopefully put a nail in the coffin on this topic:
“The IZOD IndyCar Series is not for sale, and representatives from Hulman & Company and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation have not received or considered any offers to purchase the series. Further, executive management from both Hulman & Company and IMSC maintain continuous and open dialogue with INDYCAR team owners about numerous issues related to the IZOD IndyCar Series, and no INDYCAR team owner formally or informally approached either organization about purchasing the IZOD IndyCar Series.
“Both Hulman & Company and IMSC remain committed to working with the IZOD IndyCar Series and its partners as they prepare for the 2013 season and beyond. The racing in 2012 showcased great competition on track and added to the foundation for growing the series. The just-announced 2013 schedule includes several new twists that could make the racing even more exciting. The combination of the return of nearly all the 2012 venues, including all the ovals, the addition of new tracks and the revival of the Triple Crown award make this one of the most exciting schedules in recent memory.”
It would have been nice to see some kind of “vote of confidence” quote for Bernard in that statement but I guess that’s implied.
Now had the SBJ author written this six weeks ago when it seemed to have some legs it would understandable. Bernard and Belskus had both heard the rumor along with other car owners and a couple promoters, who took the time to call me and voice their concern.
Do I think there was a plan or some serious talk about overthrowing Bernard? Hell yes and I reported it as the rumor that wouldn’t go away. Are there still a couple of key players itching to run him out of town? You bet.
But whoever is keeping this story alive or feeding it to media like SBJ needs to shut the hell up. And it's not lost on me, or many others I've heard from, that this story was drudged up just hours after the 2013 schedule was released.
2013 INDY 500 Practice
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