[Bob Tanner]

Mike Mulhern is a writer I don't especially care for. I think he lakes a lot of literary license and sometimes is prone to confuse conjecture with fact. But, the piece he wrote today brings up some questions that might inspire some discussion.

In part he writes:
" Just what the Hulman George family might be thinking is not clear.
However the Speedway has been subsidizing the Indy Racing League, and those subsidies have been abruptly cut off, leaving the IRL's fate up in the air (particularly in light of the relatively weak TV package). The Indy 500 itself is no longer the premier event it once was. The 2005 F1 race at Indy was a farce. And the 2008 Brickyard 400 at the Speedway was embarrassing. "

The whole thing can be read at: Thinking outside the box: What if the NASCAR Frances were to buy Indianapolis Motor Speedway..... | MikeMulhern.net

[Racer Duck]

I don't think there's any new questions .. just the same one that came up when Tony was "fired": "What's gonna happen to IMS?" This is just another round of the same thing.

Grand Am testing at IMS is a non-starter. Jim (whose baby Grand Am is) has been actively expanding that series for the past several years. IMS happens to have a good facility for road course type testing .. and it's relatively close to many of the teams.

One wonders if the same speculation would be going on if say, Infineon, were in interchanged with IMS? I think not. Some people just need to manufacture stories and it appears Mulhern is one of them.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

I don't think there's any new questions .. just the same one that came up when Tony was "fired": "What's gonna happen to IMS?" This is just another round of the same thing.

Grand Am testing at IMS is a non-starter. Jim (whose baby Grand Am is) has been actively expanding that series for the past several years. IMS happens to have a good facility for road course type testing .. and it's relatively close to many of the teams.

One wonders if the same speculation would be going on if say, Infineon, were in interchanged with IMS? I think not. Some people just need to manufacture stories and it appears Mulhern is one of them.

Yep. I found that his title question was never actually addressed in the piece, just more of "What's the story on IRL?"

I don't think ISC is in any position to purchase farmland in Nebraska, much less a prestigious site such as IMS. Plus, I don't think the Hulmans' are in any pressing need to part wit the property. Especially to an organization like NA__AR. Personally I'd love to see Humpy take over IMS/IRL promotions and then watch it soar to the place it held in the 1950's.

Glad to see you hold Mulhern in the same esteem as do I - not too high. He's always tried to be the contrarian that David Poole was, but he lacked David's talent and credibility.