With IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard reaching the midway point of his five-year contract, Bob Kravitz of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR wrote under the header, “Give IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard Some Credit -- And Plenty Of Blame, Too.” Kravitz wondered if Bernard “is really the right man for this difficult and often thankless job.” Bernard in recent months “has dealt with the Dan Wheldon tragedy, the unfortunate tweet, the Belle Isle mess, the mixup in Milwaukee, the bogus Justin Wilson win in Texas, the loss of the China race and several other issues.” But Bernard is “pretty accurate in his self-appraisal.” Bernard said, “I’d give myself a C. Until we’re hitting more home runs, that’s the highest I could give myself.” Kravitz: “Who could disagree with that?” But when Kravitz described Bernard’s path as “one step forward and two steps back,” Bernard was not “even willing to concede there’s been one step back.” Bernard: “I don’t think that’s fair. In any business, there are going to be setbacks. You build your character and image by the way you handle them. What I’ve learned about racing is, there’s criticism around every corner.” Still, Kravitz wrote, “IndyCar has had a credibility problem in recent months. Give it high grades for transparency. Give it higher grades if it stops making these same mistakes in the first place. A ‘C’ will stand halfway through this season, but it’s not good enough, not nearly good enough, and Bernard knows that all too well” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 6/24).
WHO'S GOT NEXT? Also in Indianapolis, Curt Cavin noted IndyCar is “believed to be asking for upwards of $1 million from promoters” to host the cancelled China race. Several tracks “have said no, including Texas Motor Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and, in a roundabout way, Watkins Glen International.” Road America President George Bruggenthies said that the track and IndyCar “are six figures apart.” Bruggenthies reportedly wanted a decision “by Sunday night.” Cavin noted Bruggenthies’ offer “apparently was well short of IndyCar’s number, and it’s difficult to argue with that” (INDYSTAR.com, 6/23).
