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Dear Mr.
Penske,
I have read your remarks quoted in the
Autoweek article
and was amazed, amused, bemused, confused and angered by them. It seems that you are having some difficulty trying to understand why (1) CART is not returning to Nazareth and Michigan, and (2) what "direction" CART is headed.
As a very successful businessman, and one of CART's founders, I find your comments disingenuous at best. One of your principal reasons for forming CART was that USAC/IMS did nothing to promote the series outside of the Indy 500. Now we have seen at both Nazareth, Homestead and Michigan a dearth of promotional activity. In fact at Michigan, any visible promotion of the "500" was more scarce than driving talent in the IRL. It's a no-brainer! Why race where (1) the Promoter could care less and does nothing to promote the event, and (2) where no one comes to watch. You certainly understand that because you are a successful businessman.
As a former track operator, you knew how to put people in the stands by "whatever means necessary". I am perplexed as to why you don't understand CART's reticence in returning to Nazareth and Michigan. Your comments read as so much corporate "mumbo-Jumbo". Why try to obfuscate such a very complicated and complex issue at a time when CART is trying to "Right it's Course.
You certainly were not unhappy and dismayed with CART when you sold your "CART STOCK" at an enormous profit. You certainly were not unhappy with CART when you won your 100th victory, or, when Gil De Ferran took his championship last year.
As a businessman, you must know that CART must go where it will do "BUSINESS". I am sure you are not disappointed when 116,000 people jammed into Fundidora Parque in Monterrey, Mexico, or 100,000 jam their way into Surfer's Paradise or Long Beach. You have done much for the sport of Champ Car racing and you deserve all the credit you have been given.
According to Tony George, one of his main reasons for starting the IRL was to "provide a level playing field". This, some observers say, was do to the fact that your company Ilmor, developed the Chevrolet engine, and limited it's availability giving rise to accusations of "Conflict Of Interest". That has been a debatable issue, because of the limited resources to produce mass quantities of that engine. However, it was also alleged that when you replaced Chevrolet with Mercedes, you angered GM's Herb Fishel to the point that he became the primary
"benefactor" of the IRL. Yet, all of your decisions were mandated by "business necessity". I stand by those decisions as reasonably prudent business decisions.
Therefore, why is it now that you are unable to comprehend why CART cannot continue to race at Nazareth before 15,000 and at Michigan before 25,000 fans!
I think that now is the time for candor. Your remarks insulted not only my intelligence, but also my loyalty as a CART fan. I expected so much more from a leader in American Open Wheel racing. CART needs your help...your leadership, not this type of self-serving polemics!
Sincerely,
Steven N. Levinson
Studio City, CA
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