The corporate structure of the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway and its parent company, Hulman & Co., "continues to
undergo upheaval," according to Bill Koenig of the
INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS. There has "been more executive
turnover in the last three years than the preceding 30.
Long-time executives have been forced out or agreed to leave
under pressure." Hulman & Co. "has shifted from a
hodgepodge of businesses to a company focused on
motorsports," from the IRL to the Indy 500. Hulman &
Co./IMS President Tony George: "We're trying to sell and
promote a league now. At times it's overwhelming. ... It's
very fluid. You have to keep adjusting things." The
formation of the IRL is "a big reason" for many of the
changes, as it aims to obtain more corporate support.
Koenig: "As a result, there's been pressure on Speedway
marketing activities. And that resulted in major changes."
In the past year, IMS Exec VP Bill Donaldson and Dir of
Marketing Kurt Hunt have left after 31 IMS years between
them, and of the 15 people currently part of the IMS sales
and marketing staff, "only four have been employed there for
more than a year." IMS has also changed its PR effort,
adding staff and "a bevy of new faces" (STAR-NEWS, 5/16).
TRIAL TALK: In Indy, Robin Miller examined attendance
at the 500 time trials and takes exception to Saturday's
estimation of 90,000-100,000. He estimated 40,000 were at
IMS and wrote that the Speedway should announce attendance,
something it has never done since Hulman & Co. took over in
'45. Miller added that the first five-day practice crowds
"were embarrassing." But the weekend crowds were "much
better than the past two Mays" (STAR-NEWS, 5/17).
BRUT-ON FORCE: Speedway Motorsports Chair Bruton Smith
said he has no plans to "break away from NASCAR to form his
own circuit," according to Leah Beth Ward of the CHARLOTTE
OBSERVER. Smith said rumors of him starting his own league
are "built on nothing" and are "trash." Ward also examined
the limited number of Winston Cup events and SMI's pursuit
to add Cup events for its tracks (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/17).
OFF-THE-TRACK: BUSINESS WEEK's Brad Wolverton examines
Washington-Erving Motorsports, which "still" is seeking an
$8M sponsor for its Winston Cup team. Julius Erving said
his "notoriety" is not "enhancing [his] role as a business
person" on the circuit. Erving: "If anything, it's a bit of
a distraction." Erving said he may "start a camp to develop
minority drivers" (BUSINESS WEEK, 5/25 issue).
