Saw Tony George sitting outside the Milwaukee Mile

[iocat]

While I did not agree with the path he took the sport in the mid-90's, I will adamantly say that Tony has a true appreciation for the Speedway and its history. For that, I respect him.

+1 -- also the work he did on safety is to be commended, regardless of how you feel he ran the IRL.

It's also important to note, his family did *not* fire him from IMS, he quit. They fired him from the IRL piece.

I was not at all an IRL fan, but the past is the past guys! Let's go for some IICS unity!

[doitagain]

Thanks, iocat and BizzyV

[doitagain]

when I met him I couldn't really think of anything to say either, I just politely asked for a picture and then thanked him and walked off

You too

And that's how we move on.

[skypigeon]

It's also important to note, his family did *not* fire him from IMS, he quit. They fired him from the IRL piece.

Not exactly.
http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/racing...ory?id=4298125

[texacostar05]

Mari Hulman George was also at the track on both Friday and Saturday. We saw her in the paddock area on multiple occasions. Does anyone know if she typically travels to races outside of Indy?

I saw her as well...not sure about all the races but I know she went to Vegas last year because we actually stayed right across the hall from her in the hotel. She is an awesome lady..thanked us numerous times for coming out, we apologized in advance (we saw her on day 1) for us coming in late every night partying...she told us not to worry about that we wouldnt wake her. But the best was my brother was out in the hall getitng ice and a paper only in his boxers and she gave him a big hug and said thanks for being a fan. If I only had a camera.

[PHJIndy]

Merely stated history, too bad if that offended you.

After posting many years at TF, nothing offends me!
I'm sorry that you just can't let go and enjoy the racing!

[PHJIndy]

+1 -- also the work he did on safety is to be commended, regardless of how you feel he ran the IRL.

It's also important to note, his family did *not* fire him from IMS, he quit. They fired him from the IRL piece.

I was not at all an IRL fan, but the past is the past guys! Let's go for some IICS unity!

[Unzerdog]

I met him at the Bay Walk open-air mall in St. Petersburg at an INDYCar event before the Honda GP. I thanked him for bringing the race to my backyard and he just smiled and nodded. I really wasn't expecting a lot more. A lot of folks equate quiet with stupid and it's usually the exact opposite....

both the Bay Walk Mall and TG are gone now...and that's not good...

"it is better to remain silent and let people assume you are an idiot than it is to open your mouth and remove all doubt." Twain

[goldie19]

I'll express my opinion...Tony George SAVED open wheel racing. Cart/CCWS was headed in a bad direction....the revisionist CART fans will tell you that that series was strong, that Indy isn't special and should not have been treated as a different race...and yet this massively popular series died....was replaced....and died again

Without Tony George's startup series there might not be ANY open wheel racing today, and NASCAR might be running on memorial day weekend at Indy!

I'm simply not buying that millions of fans stopped going to Cleveland,Portland, RA, Pocono, etc because Indy was run in a different series. the business model was bad....so it died...a couple times!

Kudos to TG for saving what I love. Kudos to Randy for trying to move the bar higher. Here is to hoping for the best in the future

[Ajax]

**crickets** As usual!

Oh BS!

Nobody wanted Craig at the end, Rahal was never going to save anyone and like Pook everyone knew he was a patsy. How about the bashing Heitzlter got while in office - no one liked him. Only KK and GF were viewed positively during the OWRS years - but even then the bashing towards PG was far more then the praise for the other two. And by 2007 most CCWS fans knew the entire series was a joke.

Maybe some of you never posted or visited crapwgn often but I assure you no one was signing the praises of any of those (so-called) leaders in CART/CCWS.

There was plenty of garbage on both sides.

[IowaBoyinIndy]

Gotta share my TG story on Sunday morning of the 500. My brother and I were getting our Clabber Girl biscuits and gravy (side note, always quite good!) at the family stand near Gasoline Alley. My brother turns to me and says "that looks like Tony George in line behind us but he wouldn't be standing in line like the rest of us at his family food stand!" Well, it was Tony. A few said hello and he did crowd ahead for a few seconds - to look at the menu - and then right back to his spot in line (probably 10 deep). On race morning he was just like the rest of us - a fan watching his stepson race. IBiI

[milliesdad]

This is a great post. I really try and avoid these trollish split topics. However, I can not sit by with more TG bashing.

People here lack some of the most common manners. The guy ran the most prestigious track in the world and a top racing series. That must be easy.

So many people here think dealing with an essential take over of their family business by people with next to no skin in the game should have been a no brainer. Where are all those owners now that were so convinced they knew best?

Tg has done great things with IMS and the series. First, say you want but he re united it and things are getting better every year.

And to preface his next accomplishments IMS has never been solely an Indy car race. At one point the race even counted for the world drving championship.

He brought NASCAR( not a taxi cab fan), but the simpleton here can't see that "our" track has become the second most important race for them, if not first for many drivers.

Brought F1 here, btw the most track attended race of the entire world championship race schedule. And smartly told Bernie to fly off with his un realistic demands.

Maybe you have stopped and talked. You might have realized he tries very hard for the thing we all love.

The next time I see him(never spoke to the fellow) here's what I'll say.

Supertuner: Hi Mr. George I'm Supertuner. I want to personally thank you for everything you and your family have done for IMS and Indy car. I appreciate it very much.

Mr George: Thank You.

SUpertuner: Good luck today. (I walk away)

Pretty much sums up what I'd say, also. If I had known he was there, I might have taken another route out from the track just to say that.

Yes, I'll agree that there was a split, but there was no"reunification". It was the last man standing. If the CATRT/ChampCar/CCWS owners wanted to race, thee was only one game in town.

Time to let things go. Half of you people belong on "CrapWagon.com".



And you know who you are.

[goldie19]

He whole family is good people. Ed is always happy to talk with fans, Heather (Ed's wife) stood in line behind me at Barber to buy ECR t shirts (seriously, your husband owns the team and you are at the Indy booth buying tshirts!). Tony is friendly, his mom goes to many races.

And NEVER a tax dollar taken to support the series or IMS or Ed's team

I'd vote TG in as governor of he ran! Quality people

[Gomer Simpson]

I'll express my opinion...Tony George SAVED open wheel racing. Cart/CCWS was headed in a bad direction....the revisionist CART fans will tell you that that series was strong, that Indy isn't special and should not have been treated as a different race...and yet this massively popular series died....was replaced....and died again

Without Tony George's startup series there might not be ANY open wheel racing today, and NASCAR might be running on memorial day weekend at Indy!

That's pretty illogical. At worst CART would've still ended up where they ended up; bankrupt and on the auction block. Tony would've still had 10's (100's?) of million of family dollars that would not have been wasted away fighting a civil war that he could have used to prop up CART after purchasing it in bankruptcy court.

[goldie19]

It's possible you are right Gomer. I think Tony legitimately wanted to lower costs....taking over an expensive project may have cost more than starting from scratch

[stnkypete]

And NEVER a tax dollar taken to support the series or IMS or Ed's team

You mean in the past, right?

[ArtVandalay]

If, by some unlikely chance, I were ever to have a moment with TG, I'd ask him....... If he had a "do over"....what would he have done differently? I'm sure he's rolled this over and over in his head for years. What would his honest answer be?

[jetdoc]

You couldn't think of anything civil to say to a man whose family has been involved with racing for over 60 years? A man who grew up at the most famous race track in the world? Perhaps a little self-examination is in order.

Thanks Jim... I HATE these threads... They ALWAYS turn nasty for no reason. If that's some of these posters in pictures in their avatar, they don't look OLD ENOUGH to remember what really happened in the split, until they came HERE. TG's one of the NICEST people you'll EVER meet! Regardless of what you THINK you may know about him. Most hateful posters have never probably even MET him. TG's done A LOT for the OW community. I mean it's been THREE yrs.since he left. How about letting it REST for a while? Next time you see him instead of walking by, STOP & shake his hand. TALK to him, then come talk to me. All of you who say that you won't know anything nice to say... I think you're wrong! If you walk up and TALK to him, and can't think of anything NICE to say, then that sounds like a CHARACTER flaw that you should address fairly quickly to me

[ramberg]

You know what I'd talk about with TG if I saw him?

I would want to talk about the past. I would want to chide him and offer my opinions on what he did, what he took from the american open wheel fan.

But being a decent person who just wants to see things progress and move forward, I'd talk ECR with him. Talk about what he's doing now with the team. Their goals for the future. How running a team works. If he wants to expand to two cars, etc.

The past is the past. Lashing out at TG isn't going to undo what he (and the countless help he got) did, whatever you may think about it.

Now, TG is a team owner. I'm cool with him in that role.

I think that is a great reply and I would have been very comfortable talking with him about ECR. Good thought...

[Iam Tellin]

A few years ago i may have wanted to say something to him but i have grown up i like to think. i realize he is only human and humans make mistakes.

[Spike]

I'd vote TG in as governor of he ran!

I'd vote for TG as governor of Iran.

[Gomer Simpson]

I'd vote for TG as governor of Iran.

[ZRLIII]

I'd vote for TG as governor of Iran.

LMAO!!!! Post of the thread!!!

[doitagain]

Thanks Jim... I HATE these threads... They ALWAYS turn nasty for no reason.

On the contrary, I view these threads as documenting our slow but steady progress towards moving on

As a group, anyway.

[Spike]

I'll express my opinion...Tony George SAVED open wheel racing.

Really? He sure had a funny way of doing it.

...the revisionist CART fans will tell you that that series was strong, that Indy isn't special and should not have been treated as a different race...

No. That statement is revisionist nonsense. What CART fans would tell you is that the series/sport was strong (it was - as evidenced by sponsorship, manufacturer involvement, attendance and TV ratings the IRL/ICS can only dream of) and they would tell that Indy was very special. The damage to the sport and to Indy was not done by CART fans.

I'm simply not buying that millions of fans stopped going to Cleveland,Portland, RA, Pocono, etc because Indy was run in a different series. the business model was bad....so it died...a couple times!

The series and vision that TG started died too. On top of that, it never turned a single dollar in profit. How healthy is that? How many more times would it have died without the Hulman-George checkbook providing ongoing life support?

[speedgeek]

I'd vote TG in as governor of he ran!

I'd vote for TG as governor of Iran.

He may have gotten it mostly correct.

The Herans are a species in the Star Trek: The Next Generation novel Infiltration.

The Herans are descendants of Humans who left Earth during the Eugenics War in order to create a perfect society based under the ideals of then-ruler of Earth, the Augment tyrant known as Khan Noonien Singh. They travelled to the planet Hera where they established the Heran Modality. The original humans succumbed to inbreeding, but later generations genetically modified their species to be superior to 'old humans' in strength, speed, stamina and intellect, and became known to their descendants as the 'Originators'. They then planned to release a virus that would have genetically rewritten the DNA of human newborns so that all of them would become Heran Augments, their ultimate plan being conquering and replacing their progenitor species. This plan was thwarted by renegade Herans who were aided by the crew of the Enterprise-D.

OT, perhaps the reason that so many are apt to rehash Tony's Big Mistake, is that (if rumors are true) he keeps trying to get back in and take his old job(s) back. That should frighten any fan.

[lindaw]

Prior to the beginning of the race Saturday, followed Tony George walking thru the tunnel from the infield to the grandstand area (he had no golf cart -- was walking like everyone else -- Tony is not quite as personable as his 30 year old son Tony Junior (whom I think should be groomed to take over operations some day.) Tony Jr. is an excellent listener which is something lacking in the series (in my opinion)

[speedgeek]

I'll express my opinion...Tony George SAVED open wheel racing.

Really? He sure had a funny way of doing it.

the revisionist CART fans will tell you that that series was strong, that Indy isn't special and should not have been treated as a different race

No. That statement is revisionist nonsense. What CART fans would tell you is that the series/sport was strong (it was - as evidenced by sponsorship, manufacturer involvement, attendance and TV ratings the IRL/ICS can only dream of) and they would tell that Indy was very special. The damage to the sport and to Indy was not done by CART fans.

I'm simply not buying that millions of fans stopped going to Cleveland,Portland, RA, Pocono, etc because Indy was run in a different series. the business model was bad....so it died...a couple times!

The series and vision that TG started died too. On top of that, it never turned a single dollar in profit. How healthy is that? How many more times would it have died without the Hulman-George checkbook providing ongoing life support?

Great post Spike, but I'm guessing it will not fall on fertile soil.

[Spike]

Who's actually met Robin Miller as well as TG? I've met both. TG is probably more of a nice guy but Robin has more knowledge.

I've met them both, I didn't have enough time to give either of them an IQ test, how'd you pull that off?

anybody who'd consider Robin "knowledgable" is suspect.

Knowledge and IQ are two very different things.

Anyone who doesn't know that is suspect.

Robin writes stuff down and then denies he wrote it....

Please provide some examples of when he has done so.

[foxtwo]

Good to see TG alone. He can't damage the sport any more than he has by being alone.