The IRL on Friday "restored the open competition
element for drivers interested in competing" at the Indy
500, and providing that they meet IRL requirements, new
engine manufacturers "will be welcome to join the IRL
beginning June 1, 1998 and new car constructors may compete
starting in 1999," according to Robin Miller of the
INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS. The announcement "didn't guarantee"
that CART "would be back" at Indy in '98 or '99, "it merely
makes is possible." IRL Exec Dir Leo Mehl said that
qualifying for Indy "would return to its original framework
-- the fastest 33 drivers -- and he said the IRL's
guarantees no longer would be enforced." IRL Founder Tony
George had created the 25/8 rule last May for qualifying at
Indy, where 25 of the Indy's 33 starting spots were
"conditionally guaranteed to IRL entrants in the top 75
percent of the point standings." Miller: "While the IRL
abolished its 25/8 rule, it did not change its chassis or
engine specifications. Therefore, CART's teams may compete
without qualifying restrictions in '98, but still must adopt
IRL's specs." CART Chair Andrew Craig: "The elimination of
the 25/8 rule is a positive first step toward resolving the
differences that exist between the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway, IRL and CART. ... But there remain many major
issues that separate CART and the Speedway" (INDIANAPOLIS
STAR-NEWS, 5/17). More Craig: "A sense of perspective needs
to be maintained here, and I certainly wouldn't want any
fans to be misled into believing that a resolution is
imminent" ("SportsCenter," 5/16). IRL's Mehl, asked what he
thought would be CART's response: "I have no feel for what
their reaction will be" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 5/17).
AND THIS MEANS...: In Indianapolis, Bill Koenig
examined the IRL's move under the header, "Fans Shouldn't
Hold Breath Waiting For CART's Return To Indianapolis."
Koenig: "The 25/8 is history, but the IRL made no changes in
its basic car and engine rules. ... The differences in IRL
and CART rules make participating at Indy an expensive
proposition for CART teams and sponsors. As a result, few,
if any, CART teams may return" (STAR-NEWS, 5/18). In
Detroit, Charlie Vincent: "Whatever the purpose, IRL's
changes were not nearly enough to impress many people"
(DETROIT FREE PRESS, 5/17). On Sunday, as Indy 500
qualifying concluded, the IRL allowed 35, not the customary
33, cars to race next weekend. The beneficiaries of the
change are Lyn St. James and Johnny Unser. IRL's Mehl: "The
fairest thing to do was start the fastest 33 cars. To do
that, we'll start 35. ... It was a difficult situation to
look at, where the fastest 33 weren't going to start. We
couldn't let that happen" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/19).
QUIET IN INDY? With the Indy 500 Sunday, many in the
media examined the state of the event and the impact the
CART-IRL feud has had on one of racing's marquee events. In
Indy, Robin Miller: "This month no longer qualifies as auto
racing's big dog. Right now, it's whimpering like a puppy.
Whether it's the empty seats, lack of atmosphere, absence of
name drivers or shortage of intense competition, if you have
any emotional connection with the Speedway, it should make
you sad" (STAR-NEWS, 5/18). In Chicago, Skip Myslenski:
"[W]here hotel rooms in and plane flights out of
Indianapolis once were booked solid long in advance of the
race, both were available late last week" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE,
5/18). In Orlando, Charean Williams writes that Memorial
Day weekend is still "motor sports' biggest, but the
Indianapolis 500 has lost its reputation as the weekend's
best," as both the CART Series and NASCAR's Winston Cup "can
offer bigger names" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 5/18). In Detroit,
Charlie Vincent: "While CART and the IRL break into splinter
groups ... NASCAR is winning away the majority of Americans
who care about auto racing" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 5/17).
