Motorsports

A fading circuit faces worst loss

By BRANT JAMES
Published July 11, 2006

Much has been made of the possible reunification of the Indy Racing League and Champ Car, which would end an 11-year split that has done nothing but diminish the prestige and prominence of open wheel racing as a whole. NASCAR's ability to figuratively drive its stock cars right through the chasm and into the preeminent position in North American racing will make the job of mending open wheel racing even tougher, if IRL principle Tony George and counterpart Kevin Kalkhoven strike a workable plan.

They should hurry. Much to the delight of NASCAR officials, who have watched their series grow from a Southern-centric pastime to a major-league sport, the Nextel Cup series is becoming a destination for open wheel talent.

Jacques Villeneuve said he is open to trying the series if he cannot find another Formula One ride for 2007.

Juan Pablo Montoya went a step further in validating image-conscious NASCAR on Sunday when he lent his considerable reputation - he's a former Champ Car series champion and Indianapolis 500 winner - to the series, agreeing to replace Casey Mears in the No. 42 Dodge at Ganassi Racing in 2007.

F1 will survive without them. Both were struggling anyway.

But Monday's revelation, according to the Chicago Tribune, that 2005 IRL rookie of the year and media icon Danica Patrick is negotiating with at least two NASCAR teams is particularly troubling for North American open wheel racing. Yes, Patrick has done little statistically, less this year than last when she started and finished fourth and led a lap in the Indy 500, all records for her gender.

Yes, her father and negotiator, T.J., could be using NASCAR as leverage. Drivers who have won in Indy-style cars - Christian Fittipaldi and former Champ Car champion Paul Tracy this season - have struggled with heavier, less sophisticated stock cars. But the loss of one of its precious few marketable, recognizable names would be a blow to open wheel racing.

"Wow, that would be another huge one for sure," Nextel Cup driver Mark Martin said. "I think it would be great and absolutely fantastic. She is definitely a major, major, major draw. It would be fantastic to see her getting involved at this stage of her career, which is in the early stages. It would give her enough time to really adapt to the cars and make a go of it."

For NASCAR, it would be further proof that the France family's half-century march into the American mainstream is digging even deeper roots, no matter how it tinkers with the system.

It would also give the series its first full-time minority and woman drivers.

T.J. Patrick and his wife, Bev, attended Sunday's race at Chicagoland Speedway because "we've had some inquiries" from NASCAR teams, he told the Tribune.

DUE UNTO OTHERS: Jeff Gordon insisted that bumping Matt Kenseth off the lead with four laps left at Chicago on Sunday wasn't retribution for Kenseth doing something similar at Bristol this spring. But, Gordon said, he would have understood if Kenseth came down pit road after the race for a little stress-relieving shove, as Gordon did to Kenseth at Bristol.

"I think in Matt's mind, it's probably payback for Bristol, so if he would have come and shoved me, then everything would have been good," Gordon said. "It would have been a clean slate."

ONE MORE TIME: Martin said he would consider running a limited Nextel Cup schedule in 2007, even though he originally planned to retire from the series after last season. Martin, 47, plans to run a NASCAR truck series schedule next year but is awaiting a contract from Roush Racing, which also fields his No. 6 Ford in Nextel Cup.

Martin returned to the No. 6 this season when Kurt Busch's departure from the team last summer left his long-time owner a driver short. Martin is sixth in the driver standings after finishing fourth in 2004 and 2005. He has won three of seven truck races he has entered this season.

"I would consider doing a limited Cup schedule if it was with the right team," he said. "I'm not saying that this is my last year on Cup. I'm not saying anything if you get my drift."

[Last modified July 11, 2006, 01:00:25]