IRL’s Barnhart Defends Decision To Race After Dana’s Death

Barnhart Defends Decision To Race Toyota Indy 300 Following Dana’s Death

IRL President & COO Brian Barnhart said of the decision to proceed with last Sunday’s Toyota Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway (HMS) after the death of driver Paul Dana during a practice run that morning, “After the drivers’ meeting and talking with all of the participants, we felt it was the best decision to move forward. We were in agreement with the teams and participants. Looking back on it, I think it was the right decision.” Noting some fans’ displeasure over Rahal Letterman Racing (RLR) pulling its other two drivers, Danica Patrick and Buddy Rice, from the race, Barnhart said, “I understand people want to see Buddy and Danica, but I would hope they have enough respect for Bobby Rahal and his race team.” RLR said that Dana’s No. 17 car would not be in the field for the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg this Sunday, and Barnhart said he did not know whether Vision Racing would enter the No. 20 car driven by Ed Carpenter, who was released from the hospital yesterday after being involved in the fatal wreck. Barnhart said, “If Danica and Buddy run, which [Rahal] told me they would, then we’ll have 18 [cars], and I consider that a full field” (IRL). In N.Y., Dave Caldwell reports IRL officials and participants, “still resolute that they made the correct decision to race Sunday,” will continue with a previously scheduled testing session at HMS today (N.Y. TIMES, 3/28).

DID THEY MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION? Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti said the decision to conduct the race was “insensitive and callous. ... What would have been so wrong with delaying it a day or two? ... Is the IRL so hard-up for that TV slot of three hours and for that money from those 30,000 fans that they had to keep going?” Dallas Morning News columnist Tim Cowlishaw said, “It would be better to wait a day but there’s no easy answer. ... This was an unprecedented thing -– even for racing –- to have a death the morning of the race” (“Around the Horn,” ESPN, 3/27). ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser said, “This is a very tough call. People journey long distances to watch these sorts of auto races. ... I think you maybe poll the drivers and if there’s an overwhelming feeling that the race shouldn’t go on, people will then understand it” (“PTI,” ESPN, 3/27). In Chicago, Carol Slezak writes, “Cancelling the race would have been the honorable thing to do” (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/28). ESPN.com’s Mark Kreidler: “They ran because that’s what they do. They race.” However, he added RLR withdrawing Patrick and Rice “was the right move,” and wondered, “Why wasn’t it the right move in total?” (ESPN.com, 3/27). ESPN’s Marlo Klain said, “I don’t think they were very close to not running this race” (ESPNews, 3/27).

Pundits Weigh In On Both Sides Of IRL’s Decision

LETTERMAN: During last night’s edition of CBS’ “Late Show,” RLR co-Owner David Letterman said drivers “know the risks that they’re taking, and they don’t do it because the sport is dangerous. They do it because they love what they do, they enjoy what they do and they’re very good at what they do. But having said that, it’s a terribly, terribly sad day when this eventuality seems to strike” (“Late Show,” CBS, 3/27).

WORST-CASE SCENARIO: Neurosurgeon Steve Olvey said that Dana’s crash was a “worst-case scenario,” dismissing questions about whether the “speed of IndyCars -– which travel about 40 mph faster than stock cars at [HMS] –-should be looked into.” Olvey: “I don’t think they are going too fast. It can be a dangerous sport, but it has become relatively safe” (USA TODAY, 3/28).