INDYCAR: WHAT’S MISSING AT ST. PETE?

Posted on March 8, 2018 by MartynL

Stephen Cox examines the decline in overall entries at Indycar events over the years and looks at what, if anything could or should be done about it. Qualifying for an Indycar race is no longer considered an accomplishment of any value in the auto-racing world. Of course, qualifying well is still valued. But qualifying itself is not, because every team that shows up automatically makes the race! This is one of the unspoken differences between Indycar racing today and Indycar racing of the...

SAFETY: THE REAL RISKS OF AUTO RACING!

Posted on December 7, 2015May 15, 2017 by MartynL

If we actually did eliminate all danger from auto racing, would we really like what was left, blogs Stephen Cox? Ed Carpenter, 2015, IMS I began driving racecars in 1985. In the thirty years since, I've had a total of one serious neck injury while racing. It was...

DIRT VERSUS PAVEMENT: RACINGIN.COM’S SCOTT KOSAK!

Posted on May 26, 2015May 15, 2017 by MartynL

Paved ovals have been placed on a financial red alert. Times are tough for America's asphalt bullrings even while dirt tracks seem to be thriving, primarily due to the popularity of sprint car racing. Stephen Cox talks with Scott Kosak. I was recently talking with the owner of a well-known asphalt late-model Touring Series who made a remarkable observation. Here is a guy who has been in auto racing his entire life, and when offered an opportunity to operate a racetrack he responded, “You'v...

INDYCAR: THE SERIES THAT SOLD ITS SOUL!

Posted on May 19, 2014May 15, 2017 by MartynL

Stephen Cox is awaiting the day when Indycar dumps its failed experiment with spec cars. Then we won’t need gimmicks any more. I grew up in Indianapolis and I live for the Indy 500. I’ve worked on the TV crew during the month of May. I’ve watched Indycar my whole life. But I have no idea how the pole position will be determined today. The problem is not that the process is too complicated. I’m watching it on TV right now. The real problem is that I don’t care anymore. I don’t care anymore...

ROAD RACING AT INDY: GRAND PRIX?

Posted on October 2, 2013May 15, 2017 by MartynL

‘It’s a Band-Aid for a broken arm,’ blogs Stephen Cox about road racing at IMS. I love the idea of adding a road race for Indycars at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. What worries me are the reasons for doing it. In this afternoon's press conference at IMS introducing the new Grand Prix of Indianapolis, Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles asked, “What if we could jump start May? Ignite May in a way that brings more people here?” “That was the premise. We did a lot of work on it, and we conclude...