Motorsports

The Racing Page

By BRANT JAMES, Times Staff Writer
Published October 6, 2007

Open letter to open wheel racing

Open-wheel racing is too important a part of the national sporting foundation to let it be even more marginalized as NASCAR continues its boa-grip on the consciousness of American motorsports fans.

And the fact is, open-wheel racing, though its on-track product has been compelling, is in major trouble.

At Talladega Superspeedway this weekend, one of the hardest-core bastions of NASCAR fervor, was defending Indy Racing League and Indianapolis 500 champion Dario Franchitti, preparing to join Chip Ganassi's Nextel Cup team next year. Three-time series champion Sam Hornish will attempt to qualify for his first Nextel Cup race today as he ponders switching from Roger Penske's open-wheel outfit to his stock car program. Scott Speed, the one-time great American hope in Formula One, took his first stock car laps preparing for a full-time ARCA run in 2008. Former F1, CART and Indy 500 champion Jacques Villeneuve ran his second truck race and attempted to make his Cup debut while readying for a full-time run next season with Bill Davis Racing.

Certainly, young stars will come along to replace them. But open-wheel racing cannot afford to wait as its viability diminishes.

There's a solution, though a painful one for the IRL and its ruling George family, which will have to admit it is in a subordinate position to NASCAR: Cut a deal with the stock car series to become a touring part of its weekly undercard. Benefit from the exposure NASCAR would bring.

Retain developing jewel venues such as St. Petersburg and Detroit for standalone weekends.

Move the start time of the Indianapolis 500 to the morning so that both it and the Nextel Cup Coca-Cola 600 could be viewed in their entirety and contested by anyone with the desire for a busy day.

Allow the scores of open-wheel expatriates who have come to NASCAR to participate in that great spectacle. Allow stock car drivers with open wheel pedigrees or curiosities - 1997 IRL champion Tony Stewart, 2000 Indy winner Juan Pablo Montoya, heck, Jeff Gordon or Ryan Newman - to add star power to the field.

It would be a marketing dream. Once the 500 is done, the victor's milk consumed, drivers who would contest the Coca-Cola later in the day would parade in their fire suits across a tarmac onto a NASCAR plane and on to Charlotte, N.C.

The result would be a unique American racing spectacle for one day, more robust, diverse racing for seasons. It would be hard to pull off, but worth doing. Because even though NASCAR is clearly the alpha male, open wheel is worth saving.

Timeout

NASCAR parked Denny Hamlin, 12th in the Nextel Cup standings, for the final few minutes of the first practice and 15 minutes of the second on Friday because, officials said, he failed to heed NASCAR commands to cease bump-drafting. Hamlin said he did not plan to practice more anyway. Driver questions over how the so-called "Car of Tomorrow" will handle in its first use at Talladega have heightened concern in the garage.

So close

Eight more laps might have had a mammoth impact on David Reutimann's rookie season in Nextel Cup. But when the engine in his No.00 Toyota expired late in the spring race at Talladega, some encouraging, much-needed points were lost, replaced with another frustration in a season in which he has failed to qualify eight times and hovered around 40th in points.

"It's funny how you can have a rotten season and then have one good race and it feels like it turns it completely around," he said "That could have been our race, gained a little bit of momentum."

Reutimann, who has finished 18th or better in two of his past three and had a strong car wrecked at Kansas last weekend, said he has been encouraged by his team's recent progress. Which is why he might soon sign the contract extension offered him recently by Michael Waltrip Racing.

"We're getting closer," he said.

Easy sell

One phone call influenced Scott Riggs to sign with Haas CNC Racing for next season after being left in limbo by Gillett Evernham Motorsports. It wasn't from Gene Haas, but Rick Hendrick, whose powerful team supplies CNC with much of its cars and engines.

"I talked to him a little bit about how that team is structured and the kind of resources that team is a part of," said Riggs, who has failed to qualify for six of 29 races and is 36th in points. "That was what made my decision pretty definite."

Riggs' No.10 Dodge at GEM could be phased out if the team merges with Petty Enterprises.

Quotable

"I was the first one to drive around this racetrack in a car on the bank, and I was in awe."

Donnie Allison, of Talladega Superspeedway

Open for business

Two-time ARCA champion Andy Hillenburg purchased North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham this week, hoping to restore some vitality to a venue that hosted NASCAR races from 1965 to 2004.

"We're hoping to have a positive impact on the folks of Rockingham and Richmond County and make a difference in the sport that has been good to all of us," he said. "We have big plans for the track and announcements will follow in the immediate future."

Big chance

Valrico's Michael Cherry and Sarasota resident Danny Martin are among 24 vying for one spot in the NASCAR diversity programOct.15-16 at South Boston (Va.) Speedway.

Pole dancing

Somewhere, Tony Kanaan and Dan Wheldon must be bummed. Turns out their mutual friend Helio Castroneves may be too talented to harass mercilessly for agreeing to appear in the new season of Dancing With the Stars. The two-time defending winner of the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (and 2001 and 2002 Indianapolis 500 victor) and partner Julianne Hough enchanted judges with their performance of the Foxtrot on Tuesday, earning a score of 25 out of 30 and advancement in the competition.

Which gets one thinking. What other big-time drivers would make interesting contestants?

Sterling Marlin: Two words, Electric Slide.

Milka Duno: Two words, evening gown.

Boris Said: You laugh just thinking about it.

Power under the hood

NASCAR figures dot BusinessWeek's annual sports "Power 100" list, topped by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

Driver Carl Edwards was a member of the 20-person selection panel.

The names with motorsports connections .

6. Brian France Chairman, CEO, NASCAR

23. Dale Earnhardt Jr. NASCAR driver

54. Roger Penske Owner, Penske Racing

56. Jeff Gordon NASCAR driver

57. Bernie Ecclestone Head of Formula 1

62. Jack Roush Founder, CEO, Roush Fenway Racing

65. John Henry Red Sox owner; Roush Fenway Racing

74. Tony Stewart NASCAR driver

84. Bruton Smith Chairman, CEO, Speedway Motorsports

93. Joe Gibbs Redskins coach; NASCAR team owner

98. L. France-Kennedy President, Interna tional Speedway

Worth a fast bid

Wouldn't a genuine Dale Earnhardt race car set off your front yard?

Since the closing of the Motor Sports Museum of Orlando, collector Boyd Uzzell has decided to liquidate his collection of motorcycles and motorsports memorabilia. Bidding begins Oct. 7 at LiveAuctioneers.com.

Among the items: the only known Earnhardt No. 3 race-used car not owned by Richard Childress Racing, and Steve McQueen's 1967 Triumph Bonneville bike, with certificate of authenticity, ridden in The Great Escape.

Socialized racing

The IRL is to announce Tuesday a "restructuring of earnings distribution for the 2008 IndyCar Series ," according to a league release. SpeedTV.com speculated that full-time teams would receive upwards of $1.3-million a season, while race purses would be eliminated except for the Indy 500. The plan is designed to relieve current struggling teams and attract new ones.

[Last modified October 5, 2007, 20:51:58]