With 50-90% of any Indy-car sponsorship's value tied to the
Indy 500, sponsors are trying to avoid the growing conflict
between CART and the IRL over 500 qualifying. In this morning's
N.Y. TIMES, Joseph Siano reports the IRL has not only mandated
new qualifying rules for the Indy 500 in an attempt to grow the
new circuit, it has also tried to leverage sponsorship of the
Indy 500 into deals for its other four races. PPG, which has
been a major sponsor at Indy for ten years, has yet to renew for
'96. PPG VP Kears Pollock says his company wants IRL organizers
(who run the Indy 500) "to get together and give us something of
value." Pollock says the Speedway wants to tie sponsorship to
the other four IRL races to Indy, something PPG has refused to go
along with. However, Pollock said PPG is not ready to support
the proposed Anti-Indy race as an alternative. Wayne Donaldson,
Dir of Public and Government Affairs for Texaco, says many
sponsors are "loathing" the potential conflict: "We're not
making any firm decision about it, because we're hoping that we
don't have to." However, it the sponsors could decide where CART
racers will be come Memorial Day. Bobby Rahal, who recently
extended his relationship with Miller for five years, will be
asked for his opinion, according to Miller officials. But
ultimately, Miller's VP/Marketing Neil Harrison, said they
"should make the final decision" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/20).
EARLY RETURNS: The IRL has received commitments from 15
teams for the IRL's inaugural race, the Indy 200 at Walt Disney
World. The entries came back just 24 hours after being
distributed, according to this morning's ORLANDO SENTINEL. Mike
Zizzo reports A.J. Foyt is the most prominent name among the 22
entries. Forty invitations were sent out, with 23 to IndyCar
teams and 17 to newly-formed organizations "that will make up the
bulk of the series' competitors" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 10/20).
Meanwhile, in Indianapolis, Speedway Events President Bill
Donaldson said reports of civic leaders being upset with the
possibility of a "diluted May" have been overblown. Donaldson
claimed community leaders have been "very supportive." IRL Exec
Dir Jack Long: "The Indy 500 makes stars ... stars don't make
the Indy 500. We'll have great new drivers and the cars will be
the same" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 10/19).
