Unlike the death of veteran Scott Brayton, the accident that
sent rookie Indy car driver Dan Drinan to the hospital this
weekend could be attributed of the IRL-IndyCar feud, according to
Joseph Siano of the N.Y. TIMES. Drinan was driving a '91 Lola,
and Siano writes, "Without the CART boycott, the only excuse a
car that old would have to be on the speedway grounds would be as
a display in the track's museum." Siano adds, the task at Indy
"is clear: Get past it safely, if not spectacularly, and come
back next year with new cars and renewed hopes" (N.Y. TIMES,
5/19).
OFF THE TRACK: IMS President Tony George is profiled in
today's N.Y. TIMES. Those who know George best describe him as
intelligent, deliberate and highly competitive. Others --
"including some car owners and their sponsors -- use terms like
aloof, xenophobic and misguided" (Joseph Siano, N.Y. TIMES,
5/20). About 20 Indianapolis area hotels still have vacancies
for Indy weekend, and some tourism companies have seen a "steep
decline" in revenue due to the Indy split (Bill Koenig,
INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 5/17). Texaco had planned to have its
primary corporate presence at Indy, but now it will be at
Charlotte for NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600. Mercedes will be at the
U.S. 500 and spend approximately $250,000 at the Michigan race
(INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 5/18). BUSINESS WEEK examines the split
and the awkward position of sponsors. Ad rates for ABC's Indy
500 broadcast are down to $160,000 per 30-second from $200,000
last year. ESPN has sold out ad time for an estimated $35,000
per 30-second for the U.S. 500. But BUSINESS WEEK's Kerwin &
Koenig note if IndyCar's popularity suffers, NASCAR will likely
benefit as it broadens its fan base and TV ratings continue to
rise (BUSINESS WEEK, 5/27 issue).
