Champcar's Two Year Smear Campaign Against the IRL

[MichaelG]

This is all done via a basic Google search. I'm sure there's more if someone uses a Lexus-Nexis Search. I've found a consistent, negative, and anti-IRL message from the Champcar folks.

"I don't see anybody writing about the fact that there were only 10,000 fans at Nashville for the IRL race there. Nobody wrote that. Their average attendance was down for the year—ours was up and theirs was down." Paul Gentilozzi, Automobile Magazine 1-7-04

http://www.automobilemag.com/racing/...7_racinglines/

"I have no doubt that Ganassi's bid was Tony's money or maybe Toyota's or both," said Kalkhoven. "Obviously, they spend a great deal of time and energy trying to hurt us and that doesn't seem real productive.

"Thankfully, Ford Motor Company liked our plan." Kevin Kalkhoven in Robin Miller’s column 11-15-04:

http://www.speedtv.com/commentary/13927/

"Tony (George) has a funny way of demonstrating his commitment to open-wheel racing," explained OWRS partner Paul Gentilozzi. "His willingness to split from CART several years ago to form the IRL is largely responsible for the tenuous state of open-wheel racing today. His only commitment is to buy the assets to keep Champ Car from racing. Our commitment is to rebuild what he, in essence, has destroyed.

"He claims to have an appreciation for open-wheel racing," continued Gentilozzi, referencing George's comments in the Jan. 25 edition of the Indianapolis Star. "But in the end, his intentions have nothing to do with the future of open-wheel competition, but rather the future and profitability of his IRL series. He has every right to bid on the assets, but we take issue with his audacity to veil his intentions under the guise of unification. To challenge our appreciation and commitment to open-wheel racing is a direct assault on our integrity."

Paul Gentilozzi, Motorport.com 1-27-04

http://www.motorsport.com/news/artic...21&FS=BUSINESS

“There’s always this discussion – IRL drivers versus CART drivers – give me a break! They’re all CART guys – every one of them, there’s no IRL guys left! All of the best racers were in CART at the beginning of the split and now, all of the best racers are split. A lot of those guys [in the IRL] pounding their chests could hardly win races [when racing Champcars]. [Former CART driver] Tony Kanaan didn’t win a road race – and now I know why he likes to run a lot of ovals, and Tony’s a good friend.”

Jimmy Vasser, RFM, 8-9-04

http://www.rfmsports.com/CART/Specia...ls.vasser.html

Gentilozzi said in February that if the IRL was to procure any traditional Champ Car venues, it would have to do so by "squandering the Hulman family trust" and buying them. But the deal the IRL agreed to with the city was much the same as Champ Car's.

Paul Gentilozzi, St. Petersburg Times, 9-4-04.

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/09/04/Sp..._right_c.shtml

"People call the split a war or whatever (with Champ Car and the IRL), but the ones who are most dug in on the division line are the fans," said Vasser.
"One of the most important reasons that I stick around is for the fans. The CART fans are steadfast, they're committed and they don't jump back and forth over the line like some race teams have and some people have. It's the fans who really inspire me."
Jimmy Vasser, The Capital Times, June 24, 2004.

http://www.madison.com/tct/sports/au...d=5518&ntpid=2


Gentilozzi and Kevin Kalkhoven, who along with Gerald Forsythe make up the OWRS ownership group, said: ''We're not business fools'' and that they have put together a solid five-year plan that absolutely does not include reuniting with the IRL.

Paul Gentilozzi and Kevin Kalkhoven, Miami Herald, 1-30-04,

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...ts/7831179.htm

ARD: Do you believe that the finish at Indianapolis in 2002 contributed to your fan support?

PT: Yeah, for sure. I think people realized I was shammed there and I kind of won over a lot of people. I guess everybody at some point likes the underdog or feels for the person who was misjudged.

ARD: Would you like to race again at Indianapolis at some point?

PT: Well, I have to support CART. Right now, I'm on a team that's supporting CART and I just have to focus on what I'm doing.
Paul Tracy, Auto Racing Digest, 8-2003.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...1/ai_103563729

MO: What do you say to the people that will charge that the only reason you won this year is because the field was so watered down by the lack of good racing teams deserting to the IRL? (Running and hiding!!!) I honestly haven’t heard that answer yet Paul.. and every single driver out there has avoided answering this. Including Tag… Has there been a gag order or something??
PT: No gag order… (HA! Like anyone could put one on me anyways!) but I will say this…The IRL champ (Scott Dixon) didn’t win too much when he was in CART.. So you tell me what is easier?

Paul Tracy, RFM, 1-22-04,

http://www.rfmsports.com/CART/Specia...als.tracy.html

If there is no CART in his (Paul Tracy's) or anybody’s future, there may not be any open-wheel racing for him, given his bad experience with the politics of the IRL and what he calls their “CWs.”
Performance Racing News, 1-23-04,

http://www.motocrosscanada.ca/demos/...rder=0&thold=0

All to distract us from the reality of:

The Sunday crowd appeared to be about half of what Champ Car, formerly known as CART, used to draw at PIR. The number of sponsor chalets has dipped from about 30 in the good years to fewer than 10 last year and this year. The number of recreational vehicles parked at PIR has visibly decreased.

Portland Tribune, 6-22-04:

http://www.portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=24837

[GrandView]

"They're killing the IRL!"

"Those b@st@rds!"



That's not smear...........it's enlightenment.

GV

[Brickman]

This is all done via a basic Google search. I'm sure there's more if someone uses a Lexus-Nexis Search. I've found a consistent, negative, and anti-IRL message from the Champcar folks.

This should be good.

"I don't see anybody writing about the fact that there were only 10,000 fans at Nashville for the IRL race there. Nobody wrote that. Their average attendance was down for the year—ours was up and theirs was down." Paul Gentilozzi, Automobile Magazine 1-7-04

http://www.automobilemag.com/racing/...7_racinglines/

Which as far as I know was partially a true statement, his point was the IRL got no negative reporting as of that date, which actually wasn't a true statement, on the heels of CART folding the IRL just looked better.

"I have no doubt that Ganassi's bid was Tony's money or maybe Toyota's or both," said Kalkhoven. "Obviously, they spend a great deal of time and energy trying to hurt us and that doesn't seem real productive.

"Thankfully, Ford Motor Company liked our plan." Kevin Kalkhoven in Robin Miller’s column 11-15-04:

http://www.speedtv.com/commentary/13927/

[b[That's as true as it gets, they were trying to put that last nail in the coffin.[/b]

"Tony (George) has a funny way of demonstrating his commitment to open-wheel racing," explained OWRS partner Paul Gentilozzi. "His willingness to split from CART several years ago to form the IRL is largely responsible for the tenuous state of open-wheel racing today. His only commitment is to buy the assets to keep Champ Car from racing. Our commitment is to rebuild what he, in essence, has destroyed.

"He claims to have an appreciation for open-wheel racing," continued Gentilozzi, referencing George's comments in the Jan. 25 edition of the Indianapolis Star. "But in the end, his intentions have nothing to do with the future of open-wheel competition, but rather the future and profitability of his IRL series. He has every right to bid on the assets, but we take issue with his audacity to veil his intentions under the guise of unification. To challenge our appreciation and commitment to open-wheel racing is a direct assault on our integrity."

Paul Gentilozzi, Motorport.com 1-27-04

http://www.motorsport.com/news/artic...21&FS=BUSINESS

Again a true statement. George was out for control, unification by writing a check, writing a check isn't unification, it's a buyout


“There’s always this discussion – IRL drivers versus CART drivers – give me a break! They’re all CART guys – every one of them, there’s no IRL guys left! All of the best racers were in CART at the beginning of the split and now, all of the best racers are split. A lot of those guys [in the IRL] pounding their chests could hardly win races [when racing Champcars]. [Former CART driver] Tony Kanaan didn’t win a road race – and now I know why he likes to run a lot of ovals, and Tony’s a good friend.”

Jimmy Vasser, RFM, 8-9-04

http://www.rfmsports.com/CART/Specia...ls.vasser.html

Well duh. Without checking the roster of drivers I would guess not even 10% are IRL only drivers.

Gentilozzi said in February that if the IRL was to procure any traditional Champ Car venues, it would have to do so by "squandering the Hulman family trust" and buying them. But the deal the IRL agreed to with the city was much the same as Champ Car's.

Paul Gentilozzi, St. Petersburg Times, 9-4-04.

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/09/04/Sp..._right_c.shtml

True, his point was that they will have to spend to get races at Champ Car venues. Next on the list... Long Beach

"People call the split a war or whatever (with Champ Car and the IRL), but the ones who are most dug in on the division line are the fans," said Vasser.
"One of the most important reasons that I stick around is for the fans. The CART fans are steadfast, they're committed and they don't jump back and forth over the line like some race teams have and some people have. It's the fans who really inspire me."
Jimmy Vasser, The Capital Times, June 24, 2004.

http://www.madison.com/tct/sports/au...d=5518&ntpid=2

Fans from either side aren't very inspiring.

Gentilozzi and Kevin Kalkhoven, who along with Gerald Forsythe make up the OWRS ownership group, said: ''We're not business fools'' and that they have put together a solid five-year plan that absolutely does not include reuniting with the IRL.

Paul Gentilozzi and Kevin Kalkhoven, Miami Herald, 1-30-04,

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...ts/7831179.htm

What's negative about not wanting to reunite? Tony would say the same thing.

ARD: Do you believe that the finish at Indianapolis in 2002 contributed to your fan support?

PT: Yeah, for sure. I think people realized I was shammed there and I kind of won over a lot of people. I guess everybody at some point likes the underdog or feels for the person who was misjudged.

ARD: Would you like to race again at Indianapolis at some point?

PT: Well, I have to support CART. Right now, I'm on a team that's supporting CART and I just have to focus on what I'm doing.
Paul Tracy, Auto Racing Digest, 8-2003.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...1/ai_103563729

Well Paul felt he was robbed and no one has ever shown photographic proof otherwise so 1-800-Wahhh


MO: What do you say to the people that will charge that the only reason you won this year is because the field was so watered down by the lack of good racing teams deserting to the IRL? (Running and hiding!!!) I honestly haven’t heard that answer yet Paul.. and every single driver out there has avoided answering this. Including Tag… Has there been a gag order or something??
PT: No gag order… (HA! Like anyone could put one on me anyways!) but I will say this…The IRL champ (Scott Dixon) didn’t win too much when he was in CART.. So you tell me what is easier?

Paul Tracy, RFM, 1-22-04,

http://www.rfmsports.com/CART/Specia...als.tracy.html

Eh who cares?


If there is no CART in his or anybody’s future, there may not be any open-wheel racing for him, given his bad experience with the politics of the IRL and what he calls their “CWs.”
Performance Racing News, 1-23-04,

http://www.motocrosscanada.ca/demos/...rder=0&thold=0

???
All to distract us from the reality of:

The Sunday crowd appeared to be about half of what Champ Car, formerly known as CART, used to draw at PIR. The number of sponsor chalets has dipped from about 30 in the good years to fewer than 10 last year and this year. The number of recreational vehicles parked at PIR has visibly decreased.

Portland Tribune, 6-22-04:

Yea and guess what, Cleveland sucked so bad they didn't release the attendance numbers, Laguna had only 5,000 and so on and so on. There is much legitimate criticisim of BOTH series coming from fans and the press.

No one is distracting anyone from the reality that open wheel racing is second class to NASCAR.

Both series have their good venues, both have their bad ones.

[Turn13]

Really, this collection of OWRS press comes off as whining malcontents. I seriously doubt one can compile something contemporaneously comparable from the IndyCar side.

However, I just think OWRS is less interesting because their cars are older, there's no chassis or engine competition, the drivers are less notable and accomplished, and the races are boring on the few U.S. venues they bother to attempt. Oh, and KK reminds me of a demented leprechaun

OWRS is dumping U.S. fans at Elkhart Lake, Laguina Seca, and Mid-Ohio for China, but look who OWRS fans call yen whores. Maybe they should consider the application of the term yuan whores?

[SteveH]

Originally posted by Turn13
Really, this collection of OWRS press comes off as whining malcontents. I seriously doubt one can compile something contemporaneously comparable from the IndyCar side.

I honestly don't know what anyone asociated with the IRL has said about CART and/or Champ Car. Don't really care and I doubt if anyone will even try to compile such a list. I really don't know of anyone as preoccupied with the other side as I find here. Seriously, you guys know much more about Champ Car than most. Isn't that a little odd?

[Rommey]

I think someone is mistaking "true, but negative" with "smear".

Tell me how a true, but negative statement equates to a smear campaign. A smear campaign would be statements with no basis in fact.

Of all the statements in the first post, which are factually incorrect?

[Turn13]

Originally posted by SteveH
I honestly don't know what anyone asociated with the IRL has said about CART and/or Champ Car. Don't really care and I doubt if anyone will even try to compile such a list. I really don't know of anyone as preoccupied with the other side as I find here. Seriously, you guys know much more about Champ Car than most. Isn't that a little odd?

I haven't watched a CART/OWRS race for a couple of years. And come ON - I doubt any group is more collectively and enviously attentive than the crappy contingent I hear they're our biggest fans

[Turn13]

Originally posted by Rommey
I think someone is mistaking "true, but negative" with "smear".

Tell me how a true, but negative statement equates to a smear campaign. A smear campaign would be statements with no basis in fact.

Of all the statements in the first post, which are factually incorrect?

The first one, the second one, and the third, for starts... The fourth is subjective, but still unnecessary and lamely spiteful, IMO... the fifth - sorry Jimmy, but there is no CART... besides, CART was mainly notable for racing at Indy in the first place...

Brickman disagrees with the sixth. Again, it's subjective, but if hatespeech is a sign of good fans, then, yeah, Vasser's correct.

In the seventh, PT proves he's not just a loser, but a poor one as well. Other than that, no truth there. He also fails to realize, in the ninth and tenth, I guess, his "championship" came after the big boys left him to pick on little kids What the heck is "CW's"?

I don't think there's much "truth" there, dude. Just the eighth one, partially, maybe I sure don't view PT as heroic or deserving, which typically characterize "underdogs".

[AlJRFAN]

Thats funny, i dont see the IRL trashing CCWS every single week, its not like its hard either.

[MichaelG]

To be clear, the ninth one is a comment on Paul Tracy. It is included to provide evidence of his coining the term CW.

[Turn13]

PT didn't. Mike Kellner did.

Somehow PT managed to put his power-starved, over-downforced CW into the wall on Pole Day. He was lucky to make the field, thanks to Michael's help.

The guy's cost his teams more championships over the years than he'll ever win, even in OWRS. Quite a legacy.

[MichaelG]

I didn’t realize that. There was this link, which I probably should’ve included, but didn’t because it was a bit long, where David Phillips says that Tracy coined the term CW.

http://www.speedtv.com/commentary/7453/

I guess it's just like the Indy 500 where he finsihed second--somebody else thought of it first

[Turn13]

Just more crap that isn't true - on both counts

[GrandView]

Originally posted by Turn13
PT didn't. Mike Kellner did.

Hmmmmm.......

I don't think Mike coined that one.

He had a more creative contribution.

GV

[Kurt Cobain]

There's more than enough hate from the IRL on CART to go around. I have my sources and I also have a quote or two, but beings I'm not a journalist it's hard for me to verify that via a suitable newspaper quote or tape recording.

But from a major principal of Panther Racing (who shall go nameless) at last year's Indy 500 when I ventured over to their garage and was wearing a Pennzoil shirt of Gil de Ferran, circa 1996.

"That's when Pennzoil wasn't any good. We've done a better job with Pennzoil than Jim Hall did."

I guarantee you that if Jim Hall decided to get back into racing and needed Pennzoil as a sponsor, the red bell would bolt from Panther so fast, the Panther shop would close its doors in less than two weeks.

[Turn13]

Originally posted by GrandView
I don't think Mike coined that one.

He did, trust me

And check your PM's.

[Turn13]

Originally posted by Kurt Cobain
There's more than enough hate from the IRL on CART to go around. I have my sources and I also have a quote or two, but beings I'm not a journalist it's hard for me to verify that via a suitable newspaper quote or tape recording.

Surrrrre

That quote doesn't even compare. It's not even hateful. I mean, come ON

Keep digging.

[Kurt Cobain]

Originally posted by Turn13
Surrrrre

That quote doesn't even compare. It's not even hateful. I mean, come ON

Keep digging.

No YOU keep denying

[Kurt Cobain]

Originally posted by Turn13
PT didn't. Mike Kellner did.

Somehow PT managed to put his power-starved, over-downforced CW into the wall on Pole Day. He was lucky to make the field, thanks to Michael's help.

The guy's cost his teams more championships over the years than he'll ever win, even in OWRS. Quite a legacy.

If PT were to come to the IRL you'd probably be among the first to embrace him.

PT is a great racer, but you don't have the racing knowledge to know that. If you did, you would have acknowledged it years ago.

Quite a legacy indeed.

[Turn13]

Originally posted by Kurt Cobain
No YOU keep denying

Ok

[Turn13]

Originally posted by Kurt Cobain
If PT were to come to the IRL you'd probably be among the first to embrace him.

PT is a great racer, but you don't have the racing knowledge to know that. If you did, you would have acknowledged it years ago.

Quite a legacy indeed.

Whatevah

Me 'n' Roger Penske 'n' Michael Andretti... stoopid, stoopid, stoopid...

[chicanery]

Silly thread. Bad thread. Down, boy, down.

[Turn13]

Note that MichaelG just rounded up the quotes. They speak for themselves, and pretty much validate the topic title. It's interesting that for a series that is so often accused of being out to kill another, so little is said the other way.

I guess that's what happens when you are out attracting new manufacturers, developing new chassis, developing the SAFER barrier, securing the best paid TV contracts in U.S. open wheel racing, putting on the USGP, hosting the Brickyard 400, renovating stands, building a new Pagoda, and adding new venues to the schedule

You know, building a series and being a good steward to IMS

[IndyIRLman]

Originally posted by Turn13
Whatevah

Me 'n' Roger Penske

My memory on the subject may be wrong on this but didn't Paul win a couple of races with that Penske Chassis the season that he was fired? As I remember AUJ did not win in it. Am I wrong on this?

[ErwinRommel]

Originally posted by Turn13
And come ON - I doubt any group is more collectively and enviously attentive than the crappy contingent I hear they're our biggest fans

Don't confuse Champ Car fans with paper's fanclub

[Rommey]

Originally posted by Turn13
[B]The first one, the second one, and the third, for starts... The fourth is subjective, but still unnecessary and lamely spiteful, IMO... the fifth - sorry Jimmy, but there is no CART... besides, CART was mainly notable for racing at Indy in the first place...

1st one: Maybe accurate, maybe not. Neither you nor I know the actual numbers and neither you nor I can prove one way or the other. Its hardly "smear" as there is some circumstantial evidence to support portions of this statement.
2nd one: What's inaccurate: Ganassi's bid, or Ganassi's bid was Tony's money, or Ganassi's bid was Toyota's? In any event it was his opinion and it was prestented as such.
3rd one: "Tony (George) has a funny way of demonstrating his commitment to open-wheel racing," -Opinion
"His willingness to split from CART several years ago to form the IRL is largely responsible for the tenuous state of open-wheel racing today.- Fact
His only commitment is to buy the assets to keep Champ Car from racing. - Fact
Our commitment is to rebuild what he, in essence, has destroyed. -Opinion
"He claims to have an appreciation for open-wheel racing," continued Gentilozzi, referencing George's comments in the Jan. 25 edition of the Indianapolis Star. - Fact
"But in the end, his intentions have nothing to do with the future of open-wheel competition, but rather the future and profitability of his IRL series. - Fact
He has every right to bid on the assets, but we take issue with his audacity to veil his intentions under the guise of unification. To challenge our appreciation and commitment to open-wheel racing is a direct assault on our integrity." - Opinion

Brickman disagrees with the sixth. Again, it's subjective, but if hatespeech is a sign of good fans, then, yeah, Vasser's correct.

"People call the split a war or whatever (with Champ Car and the IRL), but the ones who are most dug in on the division line are the fans," said Vasser.
"One of the most important reasons that I stick around is for the fans. The CART fans are steadfast, they're committed and they don't jump back and forth over the line like some race teams have and some people have. It's the fans who really inspire." Hatespeech? All it says here is that the fans matter. He went positive about the fans of the series he's in, but nowhere is there anything negative about any other series' fans. So what exactly is hateful in this quote?

In the seventh, PT proves he's not just a loser, but a poor one as well. Other than that, no truth there.

Debateable...but a case could be made that he is a poor loser as you say, however he was asked his opinion about the 2002 race and how that affected his fan support. His opinion was that the final result wasn't the correct result. It was his opinion, not hatespeech.

He also fails to realize, in the ninth and tenth, I guess, his "championship" came after the big boys left him to pick on little kids What the heck is "CW's"?

Wow, I can feel the love there.

[IndyIRLman]

Originally posted by Turn13


The guy's cost his teams more championships over the years than he'll ever win, even in OWRS. Quite a legacy.

He also has a ton of wins. And lots of talent. He does a lot of dumb stuff too. He is aggresive and can be controversial. Some folks think that the rivalries in Nascar help keep people coming back for more. PT is the type of guy that could add that sort of thing to the IRL. jmo

[Turn13]

Just as long as he ties a kerosene-soaked rag around his ankles, sure...

[Turn13]

Originally posted by Rommey
All it says here is that the fans matter. He went positive about the fans of the series he's in, but nowhere is there anything negative about any other series' fans. So what exactly is hateful in this quote?

Nothing in his quote - I was referring to the typical and overwhelming expressions of hate by crappies - but I've now been told they don't count as fans. Live and learn

IndyIRLman - Scheckter is agressive and controversial, too, and his talent took him a lot closer to the pinnacle of road racing than PT's did. PT's ready to retire, I think.

[Bob the Builder]

not much meat in that opening post mike....

preachin to the choir........

and more than a bit of projecting going on.............