In pre-race festivities for yesterday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Brickyard 400, TONY GEORGE was "revealed to have become chairman" of the BOD at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, according to Brant James of USA TODAY. It "later was confirmed" that George also "holds the same position" at IndyCar parent company Hulman & Co. George has "held these positions -- mainly procedural ones -- since March." Hulman & Co. CEO MARK MILES said, "All is well and I think it’s all a very stable situation and I don’t think our fans see us skip a beat.” James noted George has "served multiple terms at various times on the 11-person board, which is elected by shareholders." The entire BOD was "re-elected this year and George’s election as chairman coincided with a change in roles for his mother and family matriarch MARI HULMAN-GEORGE," who had been Chair since '88 (USATODAY.com, 7/24). In Indianapolis, Curt Cavin notes George became IMS President in '90 and "was later named" CEO. The Indy Racing League he founded started racing in '96. George was "forced out of his leadership positions" in '09 but rejoined the BOD in '13 (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 7/25). ESPN.com's John Oreovicz wrote this marks a "comeback that rivals any we've ever seen" on the exec side of the sport. With George's 82-year-old mother "in failing health, his recent ascension to the chairman role doesn't come as a surprise." It is "just family business." Still, the fact that Hulman & Co. "chose not to publicize the move indicates they understand the perception of putting George back in charge still carries some public relations baggage with longtime Indy car fans -- even though as the board chairman, he will have little or no influence on the company's day-to-day operations" (ESPN.com, 7/24).
