Bleacher Report - Articles by David King

One Indy Car Series: Will Fans Return?

David King — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 01:49:18 -0500

Now that the merger between Indy Racing League and Champ Car will hopefully once and for all unify IndyCar Racing, what's really hard to believe is these guys had enough money to survive these two long-running, mediocre racing series.

I guess it's just an indication of how much money there is in the sport, and how much they had to lose before there was no choice but to get back together. Let's hope this is the start of one great Indy Car series that will bring the Indy 500 back to the glory of years past.

They were so desperate to unify, that Indy President Tony George even agreed to allow one more Champ Car race. This was perhaps the last stumbling block to overcome, and one of the few details revealed at the press conference yesterday announcing the long overdue merger of Open Wheel/Indy Car racing in the United States.

The one hurdle that was finally overcome by agreeing to one more Champ Car race was the schedule conflict between the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach and the IRL race in Motegi, Japan, the same weekend.

This will be the final awkward situation with both events taking place as scheduled with points from Long Beach being counted in the IndyCar Series.

In the meantime, both teams will gear up for the season opener March 29 at Homestead Miami Speedway, which will be a big challenge to those preparing about a dozen cars for the teams and drivers coming over from the now defunct Champ Car Series.

It will be very interesting to see if this new reborn racing series can bring back fans many of whom long ago changed their allegiance to NASCAR as their favorite American Racing Series.

Open Wheel Racing Merger Finally a Reality

David King — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 07:30:32 -0500

The owners of the Indy Racing League and Champ Car (Tony George and Kevin Kalkhoven) have scheduled a news conference at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday (tomorrow) at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Of course it is expected the two will announce a merger of Open Wheel Racing under the banner of the Indy Racing League.

It will be interesting to see how this merger results in terms of a blend of oval and road course open wheel racing formats and whether or not this long awaited unification can bring a renewed interest to Indy Car Racing in the United States. NASCAR has gained so much popularity during these 10 years since the split in open wheel racing that has fractured and nearly ruined the fan base since the split between CART and the IRL some ten years ago.

I still love open wheel racing—and believe me, there is nothing like seeing a field of a dozen or more cars roaring out of turn four down the straight of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway wheel to wheel. It's still the most exciting sight to see in motor racing or any sport for that matter.

For sure it will take some time for some fans to return but getting back to one series will go along way in making the series more exciting which is what will get fans back.

Indiana Hoosiers Must Pull Together Without Kelvin Sampson

David King — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:52:01 -0500

It was a very big win for the Indiana Hoosiers, against struggling Northwestern, in their first game without Kelvin Sampson.

While the expectation had to be an easy win over Northwestern, which hasn't won a Big Ten game, a win in this situation is more important even if by the skin of their shaky teeth. Coming on the heels of the forced resignation of Sampson due to alleged NCAA phone recruiting violations , the team was visibly upset although still determined to win, if not for themselves, to honor their former coach as many players wrote his initials KS on their shoes. It's obvious this was a shaken young bunch Saturday night and Hoosier fans can only hope these young men will be able to pull together and meet the tough challenges ahead for the remainder of the season.

Certainly they have the ability to win the Big Ten and to go deep into the NCAA tournament. It will depend on the ability of their team leader D. J. White, and freshman floor leader Eric Gordon to lead this team through the difficult adjustment of loosing their father like coach Sampson, and pulling together behind the very capable interim coach Dan Dakich.

I think the Hoosiers will show they are a great team that is improving as the season goes and will continue to do so under Dakich.

They will want to honor Sampson whom they have obvious respect and admiration for as a coach and father figure even though he may not have followed the rules with regard to alleged recruiting and phone use violations.

With tough games this week against OSU and MSU it won't take long to see what this IU team is made of.

It will be fun to see what happens.