Penske buys IMS, Indy Car

donthaveanickname said:
Team Penske has "owned" this place for about 35 years but I certainly wasn't expecting this.
Is this good or bad news?
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Well..."new blood" taking over a company is almost always good as they'll be more likely to see flaws the old ownership may have been blind to. This makes Penske the most powerful man in motorsports. I also think this could be more important in the eyes of NASCAR. If NASCAR can't make changes and makes the current team owner model unsustainable financially, Roger can say to the other owners "Hey I've got this series that's growing rapidly and you can field a car and run a season for hellova lot less than this whole NASCAR deal." That's long-term and worst-case scenario. Near-term it fnalllly looks like a NASCAR/Indycar doubleheader is within grasp.

I just really really hope there is a LOT of separation between Penske racing and his Entertainment company...
 
Speedbowl14 said:
Well..."new blood" taking over a company is almost always good as they'll be more likely to see flaws the old ownership may have been blind to. This makes Penske the most powerful man in motorsports. I also think this could be more important in the eyes of NASCAR. If NASCAR can't make changes and makes the current team owner model unsustainable financially, Roger can say to the other owners "Hey I've got this series that's growing rapidly and you can field a car and run a season for hellova lot less than this whole NASCAR deal." That's long-term and worst-case scenario. Near-term it fnalllly looks like a NASCAR/Indycar doubleheader is within grasp.

I just really really hope there is a LOT of separation between Penske racing and his Entertainment company...
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A stock-car schism?! Don't say it!
 
machinistman3 said:
Well that’s very interesting. No conflict of interest?
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Superficially it's about as big of a conflict interest as a life preserver manufacturer saying they'll start making boats and make them out of Swiss cheese.

Realistically, it'll be pretty hard to "cheat". While Penske's name is attached to both his racing business and media/entertainment business...there's so many "layers" of management to navigate through it would be hard to orchestrate something in secrecy. That said I'm sure they'll sneak some things though but is a Penske car going to win every race in Indycar next year? No..
 
Wow. Bombshell news. Not surprised Hulman is selling... very surprised at who is buying. And what exactly is Penske Entertainment? Is this the media company run by one of Roger's sons?
 
I am totally in shock...... Despite the rumors that the Hulman George Family would someday part with the Speedway, I never thought it would actually happen, at least not as long as Tony is alive. I could be wrong, but I have to think that this decision was driven by Tony's sisters. It's personally sad to me to see the Speedway pass out of local hands, where it has resided for all but the years that Eddie Rickenbacker owned it, but if an outsider bought it, I can't think of anyone I would trust with the Speedway any more than Roger Penske. I just hope that the rest of the Penske family embraces it in the future the way Roger has.
 
donthaveanickname said:
Team Penske has "owned" this place for about 35 years but I certainly wasn't expecting this.
Is this good or bad news?
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It’s not a bad thing.

If the series were ever going to truly progress it needed to be out of the hands of the Hulman-George family. This is announced almost a year to the day after Mari’s passing and I don’t think that’s a coincidence, her passing was probably the catalyst for the family to finally move on.
 
The Brickyard could be modified to help it race better for Nascar, something that has been steadfastly refused for years.
 
Wow! I did not see this coming! I had no idea the Hulman's were considering selling?!?! Penske was a terrific track owner back in the day and I feel like when we sold properties it hurt NASCAR significantly. Having him as an influential decision maker was a tremendous asset during the 90's.

He has maintained close ties to Eastern PA since his time at Lehigh University. I'm hopeful this also paves the way for IndyCar to return to Pocono. After today's news I also wouldn't be surprised if Penske and Pocono's ownership team merge in some capacity.
 
Press conference streaming live now at IMS.com.

OMG... Brian Z France is on the dias seated next to The Captain (No, just kidding on that).
 
FLRacingFan said:
It’s not a bad thing.

If the series were ever going to truly progress it needed to be out of the hands of the Hulman-George family. This is announced almost a year to the day after Mari’s passing and I don’t think that’s a coincidence, her passing was probably the catalyst for the family to finally move on.
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Move on to WHAT? Pissing away the empire Grandpa Hulman built? They have now sold off pretty much everything he every accumulated, now they can blow all the money that came with it.
 
Formerjackman said:
No, the Brickyard road course is a joke. If F1, sports cars and Indy cars can't put on a good show there, what makes you think NASCA could?
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pretty much a terrible badly planned road course. Lay a half mile dirt track in it's place for dirt open wheelers. I don't think Penske is a golfer hmmm
 
Formerjackman said:
It has been suggested that removing the rumble strips would help NASCAR considerably. I understand Indycar's belief that they need them for safety reasons. What if they used removable ones?
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Seems a reasonable solution.

I would just prefer not to have the track's configuration changed in any way. Too much history.
 
sdj said:
Yep, that is what I am afraid of! :( ( the brickyard 400 is a joke, JMHO, now run the road course at Indy, then you have something of interest)
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You're entitled to your opinion but mine is of the theory Cup doesn't need to race the road course or at IRP. They need to be on that oval for what little traditions sake is left in big time auto racing and...because quite frankly I enjoy Cup racing at Indianapolis
 
A few things I remember from the press conference...

>> RP: Keeping same management team in place.

>> RP gave max support to Nascar at Indy, it is obvious that it is baked into this deal from his perspective. Also mentioned F1 and sports cars. Non-committal on installing lights, but did include "24 hour race" in a string of possible ideas.

>> RP been working the phones. Mentioned telecons with Mario, AJ Foyt, most Indycar teams, Jim France.

>> RP will now step down off the pit box as in-race strategist of IndyCar races because will be busy with other things. When asked about conflict of interest, he said track and sanction and race team are separate companies, but more importantly... you'll have to ask other race team owners if we have integrity or not.

>> Refused to disclose purchase price.

>> Refused to speculate on whether full time IndyCar teams will get protection from Indy 500 cherry pickers (a concept RP has supported previously).

>> No dilution of RP's interest in his existing race teams, specifically Nascar. If you can add some weekends to the year above 52, I'll need more race teams... it is what I do.

 
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LewTheShoe said:
A few things I remember from the press conference...

>> RP: Keeping same management team in place.

>> RP gave max support to Nascar at Indy, it is obvious that it is baked into this deal from his perspective. Also mentioned F1 and sports cars. Non-committal on installing lights, but did include "24 hour race" in a string of possible ideas.

>> RP been working the phones. Mentioned telecons with Mario, AJ Foyt, most Indycar teams, Jim France.

>> RP will now step down off the pit box as in-race strategist of IndyCar races because will be busy with other things. When asked about conflict of interest, he said track and sanction and race team are separate companies, but more importantly... you'll have to ask other race team owners if we have integrity or not.

>> Refused to disclose purchase price.

>> Refused to speculate on whether full time IndyCar teams will get protection from Indy 500 cherry pickers (a concept RP has supported previously).

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The addition of lights and a 24 hour race intrigue me. I wouldn't be opposed to NASCAR running The Brickyard at night. Think of it like this: NASCAR running at night could be their own thing, their own tradition they add to the track
 
StandOnIt said:
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I respect and admire Roger Penske as much or more than anybody, but he is full of crap on the guaranteed starting spots for the 500. With all of the built in advantages the full time teams have, and as many chances as you have to get a car in their field, the full time teams have less than ZERO excuse to not get it done. Any team owner that advocates this position should be ashamed of themselves, and for the most part, it's an answer looking for a question anyways. I am of the tough love school for NASCAR too. I'd give each full time car two provisional for the YEAR and start the fastest 38 cars, plus up to two provisionals. Miss the race, too f******g bad. Get your crap together and try again next week.
 
gnomesayin said:
I can't believe the idea that the Brickyard 400 was ever in jeopardy of being eliminated persists.
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It's of my opinion it should never even have been discussed to be in jeopardy, that talk came from fans who have no sense of tradition, the majestic grandeur of Indianapolis and that need their attention span whetted every 15 minutes with live and exciting action. The joke was I always found Indy to be exciting whether it was F1, Indy 500 or the Brickyard 400, that place is a crown jewel in whatever you race in.
 
My only beef with IMS is the fact that NASCAR ditched IRP off the Truck & X schedules. Probably because of sanctioning fees and an aging facility, but I've always felt like the lower series racing at IRP fed into the big league race at IMS.
 
StandOnIt said:
Indy is their only big money race. Giving preferable treatment to teams that commit to a full season instead of catering to bushwackers make sense from a big picture economic outlook
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The tradition of Indy is that you start the 33 fastest cars, no matter what. There are 7-9 more positions in the field than there are full time teams running, so the chance of a full time car getting shut out is slim to none, especially when the only two engine suppliers tightly control the supply, which is why it has been a struggle to even get a full field for the last several years, and there is no indication of that will change anytime soon. Understand to that many of those non-full time cars are being fielded by the full time teams, so in essence, they are slitting each other's throat. In a practical sense it is a non-issue. In a philosophical sense, Roger is dead wrong and he should know better. The very fact that there are no guarantees is one of the primary reasons Indy is so special in the first place. Indy doesn't give a damn who you are or what you did last year. Go fast or go home.
 
ive been to both for different kind of races.and you are right trucks and infnity should be at irp.
 
Formerjackman said:
The tradition of Indy is that you start the 33 fastest cars, no matter what. There are 7-9 more positions in the field than there are full time teams running, so the chance of a full time car getting shut out is slim to none, especially when the only two engine suppliers tightly control the supply, which is why it has been a struggle to even get a full field for the last several years, and there is no indication of that will change anytime soon. Understand to that many of those non-full time cars are being fielded by the full time teams, so in essence, they are slitting each other's throat. In a practical sense it is a non-issue. In a philosophical sense, Roger is dead wrong and he should know better. The very fact that there are no guarantees is one of the primary reasons Indy is so special in the first place. Indy doesn't give a damn who you are or what you did last year. Go fast or go home.
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Well then I hope they put the bricks back..tradition n all. Just making a point that times do change and the 500 is Indycars only big money race. Puzzled that some of the so called traditionalists think it is a bad idea to guarantee older more traditional teams a spot in the only big money race while favoring the relative newcomer bushwackers who can build a one off car, take the money and run. Boy I wouldn't want to hear all of the wining and the puffed up indignant comments if that happened. But whatever floats your boat. I have a sneaking suspicion Roger Penske is going to make some changes pretty quickly and there will be plenty to mourn and complain about.
 
StandOnIt said:
Well then I hope they put the bricks back..tradition n all. Just making a point that times do change and the 500 is Indycars only big money race. Puzzled that some of the so called traditionalists think it is a bad idea to guarantee older more traditional teams a spot in the only big money race while favoring the relative newcomer bushwackers who can build a one off car, take the money and run. Boy I wouldn't want to hear all of the wining and the puffed up indignant comments if that happened. But whatever floats your boat. I have a sneaking suspicion Roger Penske is going to make some changes pretty quickly and there will be plenty to mourn and complain about.
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I agree in that I am of the theory that since the Indy 500 is your biggest race and most widely watched it hurts the series when your biggest teams and star drivers miss the race. It may not have hurt in 1979 but it sure as hell hurts now in 2019. Add in the fact that you really dont have 50 cars or teams showing up anymore to get in the field and I am fine with guaranteeing full time teams, I want to see the best and brightest go at it. I dont care about some small funded team knocking out Hinchcliff like what happened to him in 17, its stupid and counter productive. I bet you couldnt even name what team and driver it was that made it instead of Hinch that year or Alonso this year. In fact I was bummed Alonso missed it this year, its a treat to watch that guy race. I'd carve out a block of time to watch him race a big wheel if he did that.
 
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