Blake wrote:
Yes, the powers of Penske & Ganassi were not willing to give up the Indy 500. There is a reason.
If CART were truly "big money", "prolific results", "best drivers, mechanics & engineers".... then they would not have needed the Indy 500. That was not the case.
Despite CART's best efforts the could not offset the realities known as the Indianapolis 500. A legendary race at a legendary track. A race that is still perhaps the first name that comes to mind when you ask the populous about car races. And at that time, the name was even bigger. It was the race of A.J.Foyt, Mario Andretti, the Unsers, Emmo, and on and on. That is what mattered... like it or not. There was/is no race course in North America, even much of the world, as well known as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. And even in it's "down" years, it still brought in more fans than most likely any other race in the world. It was still an American "tradition" to be tied to the TV for the Indy 500... as it was televised all over the world. There was nothing on the CART schedule that could give Penske or Ganassi that kind of impact.
Nor did winning any other race on the IRL or any race on the CART schedule carry the status/impact/financial rewards for the drivers than did the Indy 500. Being an Indy 500 winner was as big a "feather in the cap" that an open-wheel driver in North America could get. Even those who moved on to F1, were almost always referred to as an Indy 500 winner... CART could not match the impact of the Indy 500, so it made sense for Penske (his team an Indy 500 legend itself) and Ganassi to be a part of the IRL if for no reason than to be in the Indy 500.
In '96, CART tried to match/take out Indy 599 by scheduling their U.S. 500, at Michigan International Speedway on the same day as the Indy 500. in 1996. The race was a dismal failure despite the money spent to promote the race as an Indy 500 rival. From failed TV coverage to small attendance numbers it seemingly only further secured the status of the Indy 500.
It wasn't only a case of Ganassi (2000) and Penske (2001) deflecting for the Indy 500 glory that sunk CART, it was also case of other teams becoming disenchanted with what was seen as mismanagement issues in CART. Engine manufactures being unhappy.... and quite frankly sponsors wanting what sponsors need... exposure for their name to as many potential customers has possible. The INDY 500 gave them that.
Listening to Newman/Haas would not have saved ChampCar, and would not made the IRL history, in my opinion. In my opinion and with the advantage of hindsight, as much as I enjoyed CART, the series was doomed from the time of the split because of one thing more than any other... CART did not have the Indy 500. If even having Indy legends Penske & Ganassi take their game to CART did not make CART the success most of us had hoped for at the time, then nothing was going to.
To say that the world "would be a be'etter place" without the IRL and the Indy 500 is very foolish in my opinion. As I have said before, I have been to several Indy 500 and hope to see more of them. I would also like to see some of the IRL races on other circuits. I would like to see the current batch of IRL drivers racing, as I rather like this field.
So no, I do not think that the world would be a better place without the IRL. However, if you feel that way, arai, then don't watch it, no one forces you to do so.

It seems you're focussing only on what you like which seems to me is the Indy 500 and completely overlook the premise for which the split occurred. If you think IRL was the superior series because they had the supposed "most prestigious race on earth" you weren't watching both series. IRL was utter trash in comparison to CART and it wasn't even close. CART had ALL the top engines, chassis, the vast majority of top drivers and most of the best teams on earth. While IRL was floundering about trying to land halfway decent sponsorships, CART
HAD the much more prominent portfolio of sponsors and the exposure they provided for ALL those sponsors was phenomenal and top notch. In contrast IRL resorted to gimmicky promotion practices like having hollywood weekend warriors, one of which nearly died a horrific death, to try and help bring the series to the mainstream and it was simply tragic in every respect.
While I did enjoy countless Indy 500 races before the split, the CART series simply had more of the superior venues, teams, drivers and more than anyone outside of F1, brought the show and I'd even say CART had periods where they were indeed better than F1 with the quality of racing. Remember Roberto Moreno's very first win in his Visteon Reynard Ford? What a moment!!!!
Adrian Fernandez's successfully starting his own team with outstanding sponsorship and some stellar results. Target, Marlboro, LCI, Toyota, Honda, Ford-Cosworth, Kool, Miller Lite, Havoline, Valvoline, and a slew of massive sponsors littering the CART Series. They were obliterating the IRL in every regard with the exception of not running Indy. Then when the CART guys were allowed to run the Indy 500 they swept the top 6 spots.
Seriously, I realize the history, allure and legend that is the Indy 500 and all the legendary drives, drivers, teams, privateers and races, but to say IRL was better simply because they had that one race is replete with absurdity.
Like I said, It's perplexing that given all the pros CART had over IRL with seemingly just a single con, that IRL is the series that prevailed. Much like Bernie in F1, behind the scenes, cash changed hands and deals were made by key people to advance their positions at the detriment of the series for many years until it ultimately proved to be its undoing. NOTHING more.
As for NASCAR yet again tonight, How about that nasty brake check and flying fists of Judah launched after the race in seeming darkness, with juuuust enough light to be able to broadcast it.

I watched the whole race (or tried to as I snoozed all over the place) but did watch the last 50-60 laps and I fail to see the euphoric excitement the commentary team was trying to sell me on. It wasn't bad, but could've been better.