According to USA Today, the 93rd Indianapolis 500 scored a 3.9 Nielsen rating, comparable to the postponed and rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 that was run on Monday in Charlotte.

The 3.9 rating represents the lowest television rating of a live flag-to-flag Indy 500 broadcast.

It’s hard to spin the obvious: there are fewer people enthused about this race and “re-unification” of two weak series into one has not strengthened Indy car racing.  I’m sure the consistently absymal performance of ABC and the lack of serious television coverage in May contributed to the poor showing.

I know I keep hammering on the same point, but we really have to face it… I’m a racing fan and even I didn’t know half the drivers in that field Sunday.  It amazes me that there are people out there who still refuse to recognize this as a serious problem.  The AJ Foyts, Rick Mears, Mario Andrettis, Al Unsers and Johnny Rutherfords are long gone… and the current crop of drivers replacing them don’t have the image and widespread visibility to fill their shoes.

I know… I’m talking crazy again.

Let’s File This Under “Oops”

Speaking of crazy… Robin Miller must be feeling a bit red-faced today after “breaking” a story on SPEEDTV.com that Tony George had been ousted as CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway by the Board of Directors.  The Board, of course, is comprised of his own mother, sisters, and a few others.  The story had it that the Board was fed up with George’s “spending” and they voted Tuesday night to release him as CEO.

George held an impromptu press conference of sorts for local Indy media to refute the story, indicating that he remains CEO of the Speedway and that no such discussions have occured that he is aware of.  Later, Mari Hulman-George, Tony’s mother, released a statement that essentially declared the story to be false.

George has brought a lot of changes to the Speedway since becoming CEO — including the addition of new races like the Brickyard 400 NASCAR race in 1994 and the US Grand Prix Formula One event.  Also in 1994 George announced that the Speedway would create the Indy Racing League under USAC sanction to rival the established CART series.  That undertaking and subsequent struggles of the IRL have likely dipped deeply into the Speedway coffers.

George has also been criticized for spending too much money on updates to the facility, e.g. in preparation for the Formula One event.  But George addressed that criticism in the press conference, saying that overall the Formula One venture broke even: the first four races drew a large enough profit to recuperate the costs and the losses generated with the final four races.  The Speedway abandonded the Grand Prix after the 2007 season.

Under George’s leadership the Speedway invested heavily in safety improvements — including higher fences, new pit exit / entrance lanes and a new pit divider.  The Speedway was the primary financial driver of the now ubiquitous SAFER barrier.

So… it looks like Tony George isn’t going anywhere.

That Robin Miller… always trying to stir up controversy.

Parity…? What Parity?

After that, it’s hard to believe anything Robin Miller has to say… but he gave some eyebrow-raising statistics on SPEED the night after the 500.  He said that Team Penske and Target Chip Ganassi Racing have combined to win 49 of the previous 51 oval races, including 9 of the prior 10 Indy 500s.  Now the teams have had a variety of drivers over the years, but it’s scary to think that those two paint schemes have been first to take the checkers on such a consistent basis.  When racing becomes predictable… well… it becomes boring.

Humpy Time

Scuttlebutt out of Indianapolis is that H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler — famed NASCAR promoter for Charlotte Motor Speedway (”retired”, of course) — would make a fantastic addition to the Indy Racing League.  Apparently the Gene Simmons “I am Indy” advertising campaign didn’t pan out.

It would be quite an ironic twist to see Wheeler — who spent his life trying to get the Coca-Cola 600 to outshine the Indy 500 — working for the IRL.  I think it might be a good idea… at this point the IRL has to try everything.  I just hope Wheeler’s idea of promotion doesn’t include school buses jumping 30 wrecked cars with pyrotechnic explosions down Indy’s front straightaway.

I think the IRL needs to make some moves of a little more… substance?  This dog is on life support and I don’t know if even Wheeler could save it.

Thoughts, anyone?