Open Wheel Racing in North America dead …

UPDATE Another reader adds, In response to all of the talk about the Champ Car – IRL split and all of the resulting fallout, I think everybody is missing the point. Open wheel racing in America is now devoid of the basic premise that propels professional sports of any kind. And that is, the appearance that the sport "matters". That it makes enough of a difference in people's lives that they should, and must, "care."

Professional sports marketing is based on the fact that we, as fans, "care". Why do fans often cry when their teams are eliminated from the playoffs? Why do some fans paint their faces and/or bodies at a pro football game? Why do many fans HATE players from the team of their rival? The answer is because all fans have been programmed to believe the fate of their team "matters" – that the scores and results are so important and relevant to their lives, it should effect them in a very real way. Baseball, in particular, does a great job of this by so honoring the statistics of past teams and players. Thus, today's games are not only important for who wins or loses, but also because they are constantly being judged against history.

Professional sports commissioners and owners realize this and it is an ingenious marketing plan; because in realty, professional sports have no bearing on the quality of our lives in any way, shape or form. Fans have only been programmed to believe they do.

And this is the exact reason that Champ Car and the IRL are now dead. Before the split, it all seemed so important: when Bobby Rahal or Penske failed to qualify at Indy or when Michael Andretti returned to CART, with Chip Ganassi, to battle his Dad and Nigel Mansell. I'm sure we could all go on and on with examples of the very real drama a CART race would offer us each week.

However, now who really cares if Bourdais and Tracy don't like each other? Who cares if anyone can dethrone Bourdais? It just doesn't matter. The only thing left for either side is that Champ Car has awesome machines and the IRL has the history (NOT the present) of the Indy 500. And the only drama left is who going to win the split – the IRL or Champ Car?

So if open wheel racing wants to survive, both sides must unite and prove to us that it is, once again, important! Fans from both sides can then argue about Bourdais being better than Hornish; and Newman/Haas being stronger than Andretti/Green. Then this united open wheel series can sell us on the fact that each race will be filled with great storylines, subplots and drama!

Then, and only then, will it all "matter" again. Mark Maslona, Cleveland, Ohio

10/11/06 A reader writes, Dear AutoRacing1.com, Just a quick shout out to let you know that many of the top karters in North America see their future only in NASCAR or Sports Cars at this point if they wish to pursue motorsports as a career…

Everyone knows that Scott Speed and AJ Allmendinger were anomalies and the norm is to never advance on talent alone, especially American talent. Unless they have a checkbook to run in Champ Car or the IRL. The egos that are thinly veiled in each series is amazing, as they continue to ruin a once great formula with no end or merger in sight for the benefit of everyone, including themselves … Oh, too bad what money alone without passion will get you …The recent driver tests and picks of those such as RuSPORT, ROCKETSPORTS and others where they pass up solid proven and incredible up-and-coming American talent to go with guys like Bremer, Briscoe, Pizzonia and the lot of the F1 castoffs makes Champ Car look like a joke to many of the young guys with their hearts set on open wheel as a passion and future.

No offense to the fine Euro drivers mentioned, as it is not their fault that F1 is crowded and the money they have that won't cut it there will buy them an easy seat here, however, what is happening when the Jon Fogartys, the Ryan Hunter-Reays, the Leo Maias, the Jonathan Bomaritos, the Alex Gurneys, the Joey Hands, the Alan Sciutos and so many others get passed by after proving that they are worthy champions, cast off to the land of sports cars on most occasions after a lifetime of chasing the open wheel dream of driving in Champ Car. What of certain team's mission of being the best open wheel team in North America .. with all American drivers … the Americans they started with are long gone after a couple of short years … Americans put Champ Car on the map … Americans will be this series savior, unless the egos forget this is America and corporate America is not buying Champ Car … NASCAR's formula is simple, it's as American as apple pie and all of the best racers in that formula run at the same track roughly 40 times per year to packed houses and BIG sponsor and fan loyalty …

People in the karting game don't wonder why there is no interest in their sport or their young, talented Stars of Tomorrow … Open Wheel at the highest level in North America has it all wrong, a business that is paid for by its talent … Let's try that on baseball or football .. Let's tell the players in High School and College they can play for the best teams if they pay for their spot on the team … We will then see how fast that sport dies too …

Too bad young, passionate champions, the true Stars of Tomorrow are losing faith in what was once a great American pastime …

I know this sounds like everyone else these days, but it's not a "whine" more than a broken heart because these guys are breaking the hearts of the little champions I see realizing their dreams end because no one cares enough to make things right at the top. Mark Maloney

Dear Mark, I suggest you send your letter to Tony George. CART, now Champ Car, was a fantastic sport up until 1995 with lots of great talent, many lucrative sponsors and good TV ratings. Then Tony George started the IRL and destroyed it all. Here it is 11 years later with the sport is as you see it. Mark C.