The IRL, now in its fourth year, "has endured the
embarrassing growth spasms of a new race series, but it's
most amazing stunt to date is it's still here," according to
Tim Bergsten of the ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS. Bergsten asks,
"How long will it last? And what has kept it afloat?" If
the IRL "needs anything, it needs exposure" and it will get
it with ABC's five-year TV contract beginning next year.
IRL Exec Dir Leo Mehl: "When you have a new product, even if
it is a great product, it needs promotion. It really is
important to have a network that appreciates the potential
of the people we have." Bergsten, who also wonders if the
IRL "can survive against" CART: "It might not have to. Most
insiders agree that CART and the IRL will reunite sometime
in the future." Bergsten writes that the two leagues "must
find a way to blend those demands with the come-one-come-all
ideal of the IRL." Mehl: "I'm not sure how you do that?"
(ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 8/27). ESPN2's Robin Miller, when
asked by John Kernan about "rumors" regarding a meeting
scheduled between GM, IRL President Tony George and CART CEO
Andrew Craig: "George was in Chicago last Friday, ... and
him and Andrew went over what they're going to talk about
with [GM]. They're trying to come up with some kind of
formula for 2001 that makes everybody happy. But [GM]
couldn't be ready [yesterday], so they postponed maybe until
next week" (ESPN2, 8/26).
