Published: September 25, 2007 10:50 pm            

de la BASTIDE: IRL looks at revenue sharing

Nextel Cup driver Edwards shouldn’t have lost points because of technicality

Officials of the Indy Racing League are considering a new and unique approach to increase the number of teams competing in the open wheel series.

Since its inception, the IRL has offered exciting side-by-side racing on oval tracks and this year started competing on road courses, with favorable results.

The problem facing the IRL is similar to the woes experienced by CART and Formula One — a lack of competitors. This year the IRL averaged 18 cars for most of its events with the notable exception being the Indianapolis 500.

IRL events have been dominated by three teams the past few years, Ganassi Racing, Team Penske and Andretti Green Racing. Under the current system those three teams received about 50 percent of the available prize money.

To encourage participation of more teams and to even out the playing field, the IRL is considering using a revenue sharing system, according to the Indianapolis Business Journal.

Teams that commit to running the full series schedule will each receive $1.3 million from the IRL. There will be no purse money for the races, with the one exception being the Indy 500.

The purse for the Indy 500 will be increased by 20 percent with the winner expected to earn $2 million and the 33rd and last car in the race guaranteed a minimum of $300,000.

The idea of revenue sharing is an interesting concept. If the end result is more cars in the starting fields, I’m all for it.

Of course, teams will have to be paid at intervals to ensure that they compete in all 16 events. The money can’t be provided up front because by the mid-point some teams will disband and walk away with the lion’s share of the money.

A revenue sharing system could help the smaller teams be more competitive. Of course, the teams that are able to attract the major sponsors will continue to have a competitive advantage. After all, speed is dependent on how much money you want to spend.

With at least $1.6 million available, assuming a team qualifies for the Indy 500, this might be the shot in the arm the IRL needs to attract new teams to the series starting in 2008.

Once the plan is formalized by the IRL it will be interesting to see if revenue sharing means more cars in competition. With great racing now taking place with 18 cars, how much more exciting will it be at Chicagoland, Richmond, Kansas and Texas to see 25 or 30 cars on the track?

No ordinary fine

Speaking of money, it was had to imagine that Formula One hit the McLaren-Williams team with a $100 million fine for stealing technical secrets from Ferrari. A fine should have been leveled against McLaren, but $100 million seems out of line.

Where does the $100 million go? There has been no word on how the money will be used by Formula One, but one has to believe that F1 owner Bernie Ecclestone just received a nice Christmas present.

My suggestion to Bernie the czar is to immediately contact IMS owner Tony George and ask for a 10-year contract for the U.S. Grand Prix to be run in Indianapolis. Instead of asking $13 million for the sanctioning fee, Bernie could use $10 million from the McLaren fine for each of the next 10 years and then request George put up the remaining $3 million on an annual basis.

Other racing news

The Nextel Cup race at Dover was a disaster with 13 caution flags on a track that has clearly outlived its right to be on the schedule. I do like the Monster Mile as a track, but without any infield area, a crash on the front or back straight away results in multiple car pile-ups like the one at the finish of Sunday’s race.

NASCAR should demand that Dover do something to provide drivers with some space to the inside to avoid wrecks.

• Dover winner Carl Edwards was penalized 25 points by NASCAR because his Ford failed post-race inspection. The ride height was not correct on one corner of the car.

To penalize Edwards during the hyped-up chase for the championship is disappointing. The penalty is not as big as previous penalties in Brick on Wheels (Car of Tomorrow) races, but it does diminish Edwards’ chances of winning the title and officials should not determine the outcome.

Officials should have taken into consideration that Edwards’ Ford just raced for 400 miles around Dover. Edwards should not have been penalized for failing the post-race inspection because of a ride height concern.

Ken de la Bastide may be reached at (765) 454 -8580 or via e-mail at ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com

        

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