Indy-car's biggest weekend has the 82nd running of the
Indy 500 on Sunday and CART's Motorola 300 at Gateway Int'l
Raceway in IL on Saturday. But analysts and media contend
that the Indy-car split more than two years ago has diluted
interest in Indy-car racing as a whole. A sampling follows:
EVERYONE LOSES? In Dallas, Holly Cain wrote that the
Indy 500 "won't be what it could be thanks" to the split
with CART, and that CART's Motorola 300 "won't garner ideal
attention either." Cain: "There's still no winner in the
Indy standoff between CART and the IRL" (DALLAS MORNING
NEWS, 5/21). In N.Y., Richard Sandomir reports that ABC's
CART ratings of a 1.5 are down from last year's 1.7, while
ABC's IRL numbers are flat at 1.8. Sandomir: "The split
hasn't been healthy for either Indy-car circuit" (N.Y.
TIMES, 5/22). In Chicago, Skip Myslenski writes that CART
is financially more secure than the IRL due to its sponsor
support from 75 Fortune 500 companies. Myslenski says that
"no longer" can the CART and IRL feud "be compared with,
say, the long war between the National and American football
leagues. It is more like how a war would be between the NFL
and Austrian Rules Football" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/22).
CAN'T COMPARE TO NASCAR? In N.Y., Sam Walker writes
that the Indy 500 is "fast becoming an also-ran to the
raucous, fender-knocking racing that shows up in NASCAR."
The Indy 500 is "even struggling to remain the biggest
Memorial Day weekend event in auto racing," going up against
NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/22). Barnes
Dyer Marketing Chair William Dyer, who is involved in auto
racing marketing, said that NASCAR's growth has helped
diminish the 500 (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 5/22). In Dallas,
Cathy Harasta writes that interest in the 500 has waned and
that the "greatest spectacle in racing increasingly
resembles an underdog" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5/22).
LOSS OF STEWART WON'T HELP: In Indy, Robin Miller
reports that the "major selling point" since the IRL's
inception in '96 "will be missing" in '99 when Tony Stewart
joins the NASCAR circuit. Miller adds that the move will
leave a "big void" for IRL Founder Tony George and that it's
"unfathomable that George ... didn't try to keep Stewart in
the league" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 5/22).
FROM THE BRICKYARD: In Indy, Mark Ambrogi writes on the
media coverage of the 500 and adds that there are "several
major newspapers that have either stopped covering or
reduced their coverage of the Indy 500 since the split."
The Minneapolis Star Tribune is "staying away from the race
for the first time in 25-plus years." Star Tribune Sports
Editor Tim Wheatly: "There is definitely a dilution interest
with the IRL. Frankly, we think our readers are more
interested in NASCAR." IMS VP/Corporate Communications & PR
Fred Nation said that the absence "isn't a trend that
concerns him" and that there has been no "significant
change" in the number of requests for credentials (STAR-
NEWS, 5/22). Also in Indy, Bill Koenig reported that 500-
related business has been "mixed." While some hotels say
business has returned to pre-split days, that's "not
universal" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 5/21).
WHAT'S ON CART PATH? CART CEO Andrew Craig is
interviewed by USA TODAY's Steve Ballard and says that CART
and the IRL are "two organizations with very different
philosophies. The best thing for us is to plan like there
won't be a reconciliation but remain open to positive
discussions" (USA TODAY, 5/22). In NATIONAL SPEED SPORT
NEWS, Craig said CART is studying a Saturday night TV
series, but "we have to look at it with great care because
Saturday, in general, the HUT scores (Homes Using
Television) is lower primarily. ... It's quite not like the
panacea it would seem" (NSSN, 5/13 issue).
14 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: INDEPENDENT LEAGUES PONDER MERGER
. The independent Northern League and the Northeast
League announced plans for a merger beginning with the '99
season. The leagues said they intend to operate under one
name, most likely that of the Northern League, with Eastern
and Midwestern Divisions. Details are being finalized, with
a merger expected to be completed by the fall. The two
leagues currently have 16 teams, with the Northeast League
awarding an expansion franchise to Quebec City, which will
begin play in '99. The leagues had a combined attendance
last year of just under 1.5 million fans (THE DAILY).
Northern League Commissioner Miles Wolff said that if the
merger is approved, the leagues could play interleague
series, an all-star game and postseason playoffs. He said
that all seven U.S. independent leagues are discussing an
"off-the-field" alliance (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/22).
