Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Non-Nascar auto racing anyone?

pan6467 · 11-03-2006, 09:14 AM

Ah, no need to appologize for the bust on IRL Craven... I was and shall forever be an old CART fan. Listening to those engines whine on the keyhole, standing over the foot bridge and watching them fly by. Watching truly great racers like Unser Sr., Rahal, Mears, Andretti, etc.

What George did was destroy a growing circuit that would have been far bigger and appealing to the fans than NASCAR (at the time he did his power play, CART was crushing NASCAR in sponsors, promotion and popularity).

When he took and closed Indy to CART in his power play no one could win. CART and the owners were able to hold out for awhile but without the race that made them famous and no true planning to capitalize on the road races it eventually destroyed them.

What George did was pathetic, but now that the road races are coming back, hopefully, they can get back to where they were. Which of course until George, was racing at it's finest and a circuit that blew NASCAR off the map.

Rahal had no choice but to go to Indy. That's where the sponsors are, that's where the money is. When the Champcar circuit started losing sponsorships, it became way too costly to stay in, especially for a mid tiered owner like Rahal.

IMHO, Rahal's downfall was taking the Ford/Jaguar position in Europe. He hasn't been able to build a winner since.

As for Graham, he's still young and wet behind the ears, I think Bobby wants him to get some seasoning and experience in. Bobby doesn't want to see his son hurt. Maybe it's the paternal instinct not seeing the potential....or maybe it's the seeing potential but knowing he is not yet ready.

The thing I always loved about Rahal was there was never a safer, more intelligent driver. He would calculate what he needed to do and make the move needed in the safest situation. Hopefully, that is what he is teaching his son and waiting to see from young Mr. Graham.

11-03-2006, 09:14 AM	#10 (permalink)
pan6467 Lennonite Priest Location: Mansfield, Ohio USA	Ah, no need to appologize for the bust on IRL Craven... I was and shall forever be an old CART fan. Listening to those engines whine on the keyhole, standing over the foot bridge and watching them fly by. Watching truly great racers like Unser Sr., Rahal, Mears, Andretti, etc. What George did was destroy a growing circuit that would have been far bigger and appealing to the fans than NASCAR (at the time he did his power play, CART was crushing NASCAR in sponsors, promotion and popularity). When he took and closed Indy to CART in his power play no one could win. CART and the owners were able to hold out for awhile but without the race that made them famous and no true planning to capitalize on the road races it eventually destroyed them. What George did was pathetic, but now that the road races are coming back, hopefully, they can get back to where they were. Which of course until George, was racing at it's finest and a circuit that blew NASCAR off the map. Rahal had no choice but to go to Indy. That's where the sponsors are, that's where the money is. When the Champcar circuit started losing sponsorships, it became way too costly to stay in, especially for a mid tiered owner like Rahal. IMHO, Rahal's downfall was taking the Ford/Jaguar position in Europe. He hasn't been able to build a winner since. As for Graham, he's still young and wet behind the ears, I think Bobby wants him to get some seasoning and experience in. Bobby doesn't want to see his son hurt. Maybe it's the paternal instinct not seeing the potential....or maybe it's the seeing potential but knowing he is not yet ready. The thing I always loved about Rahal was there was never a safer, more intelligent driver. He would calculate what he needed to do and make the move needed in the safest situation. Hopefully, that is what he is teaching his son and waiting to see from young Mr. Graham. __________________ I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"