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IRL Fines Kanaan’s Owners For
Autograph Boycott |
The IRL fined Andretti Green Racing (AGR) co-Owners Michael Andretti, Kim Green and Kevin Savoree an undisclosed amount for not having their drivers participate in a mandatory July 23 autograph session, for which they were “upset that the IRL set up an autograph area for [Danica] Patrick separate from the other 21 drivers,” according to Shav Glick of the L.A. TIMES. AGR driver Bryan Herta: “We felt the league should treat all drivers the same. What the media says, or the fans feel about Danica, is their prerogative, but our feeling is that the league itself should be impartial.” IRL VP/PR John Griffin said of the fine, “We pride ourselves on accessibility to our drivers. It has been an IRL policy since its founding to have mandatory appearances. Skipping one is a serious matter.” Patrick, on other drivers: “I think they recognize that I don’t control the autograph sessions or anything like that. That’s in the hands of the series and the tracks” (
L.A. TIMES, 7/29).
REAX: In Dallas, Terry Blount writes AGR’s complaint is not “about Patrick’s gender. It’s about a rookie driver who hasn’t won a race getting tons more attention than the drivers from the best team in the league.” AGR drivers have won six of ten races this season and team officials “believe they aren’t getting the credit, praise and respect due them.” Blount notes the IRL sent out a news release last week stating the TV ratings, attendance and souvenir sales are all up this year, and adds, “Instead of walking out in protest, AGR should bow at Patrick’s feet and thank her for what her sudden fame has done for the league” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/29). In Detroit, Angelique Chengelis writes AGR driver Dan Wheldon “might have a point when he says IndyCar officials are spending too much time promoting Patrick. ... Then again, was boycotting an autograph session really the class thing to do? Absolutely not. It was foolish and smacked of childish behavior” (DETROIT NEWS, 7/29).
