Back to the Future?
In recent history, every May talks turns towards the Indy 500 and what type of crowd they will draw for the first weekend of qualifying, the race, etc. Also many talk about possible changes they would like to see. For me I think I would chose more diversity in the cars and engines.
The talk amoungst the racing crowd is also picking up speed with this subject. It seems to be getting louder and it's possible that the Indy Racing League might hear this and make the changes needed in the future to make this happen.
So what changes could be made? For starters, not naming a specific make of a few chassis. Instead naming the chassis rules, which include the possibility of interesting diversity and multiple manufacturers. In addition, the series needs to open up the engine area once again. Meaning not naming one or two specific engines, but opening the engine specs up for more diversity. Where we are at today is not where many would like it to be. This is no refelction on Honda’s engine or Honda, it’s and they are great. In fact, if we had more company's like Honda that place this comitment to racing, wow, what a great place racing would be in. This is by no means to slight any of the already involved manufacturers in the many other forms of racing, because let's face it, there are quite a few.
Anyway back to engine diversity. . .The teams don't and haven't for quite a few years, worked on the engines in the race car. All of this is and has been handled by the engine manufacturers. In effect, engines are now like bullets. Shoot one and re-load with another. But these are very expensive bullets. Some of what happens behind the scenes in the leasing of the engines to go racing today in many forms of racing, is beyond unbelievable by past standards. Another side effect of this, when you only have one brand of engine, is that the engines are de-tuned. Since you don’t have to worry about another brand of engine winning, why stretch them to the limits? Again, another varible that adds excitement and suspense (possible engine blow-up) is eliminated.
One of the critical things that made the legend of the Indianapolis 500 was the testing of new ideas and the possibilities that exsisted. While the last great diversion was, when Roger Penske showed up with a push-rod motor. With Al Unser, Jr. behind the wheel they won the 500 in 1994. Go back 30 more years to 1964 and this might be the ultimate poster child of the diversity arguement. Front engine roadsters (Watson, Trevis, Kurtis, Epperly, Walther, and Ferguson), Rear engine cars (Lotus, Halibrand, Huffaker, Thompson, Vollstedt and Brabham). That's 12 different chassis' in the race. You can't forget Smokey Yunick's Hurst Floor Shifter side car that did not qualify. AJ Watson had both front and rear engined cars he had built in the race. When it came to engines you had Novi powered cars, Ford powered cars, and Offy powered cars.
All this results in a lot for the race fans to talk about and a lot for the press (like me) to talk about. This my friends results in tremendous free publicity and helps to improve ratings and overall interest in the event and series. Now I know anytime this subject comes up today, the general negative response will be, that this is now and that was then. Or that is a time that is gone forever. Obviously, there is some truth to both of these and some of the other common responses, but it is also still possible to encourage diversity if you have the desire to work on it. It's obvious the incredible diversity that happened in 1964 doesn't happen all of the time, but who knows what the future holds unless it has a chance to reveal its-self.
Here's something to consider. Is a TV show that has a diverse cast of characters (Big Brother, Wifes of the OC, LOST, Dancing with the Stars, Saturday Night LIVE, and any of the other popular contemporary shows) more fun to watch than one that every character is exactly the same except they wear different colored pants? Well Indy Car and NASCAR are the guys that are only wearing different colored pants, but instead of pants its paintjobs.
Copyright MMIX Ed Justice, Jr.