Motor Sports: CART overtaken? I think not

This past weekend was a pivotal point in the flailing realm of American open wheel racing. The IRL Indy Car Series was in it first weekend of qualifications for its hallmark race, the Indianapolis 500. Meanwhile, CART's Champ Car World Series had two races on CBS this past weekend, with one being tape delayed from Brands Hatch, England. The other was on same day delay from outside Dresden, Germany. Many teams who were stalwarts in CART jumped the ship to IRL this winter, with the only main reason given as finances. CART was given no chance at all to survive and field a full grid of 18 cars. The IRL, however, was being looked at as a great contender for the throne of number one open wheel series in America, and Tony George finally starting to look smart for his splitting of the two series. Some neutral observers were projecting 30 cars for the season-opening race in Miami.

However, it was CART who had defied expectations.

The Champ Car World Series had 19 cars for its season-opening race in St. Petersburg, Florida, while Indy Car had only 22 for its season opener. Also, attendance at St. Pete was at a three day total of 70,000.

Indy Car might have drawn 25,000 over its three days in St. Pete.

Just hold off on grabbing that baton so quickly, there, Tony George.

The one thing that has not been touched on so far is the quality of the racing, which, to many including my self, is the most important thing. Last year, the quality of racing was undoubtedly in the IRL's favor.

The IRL had a championship that was not decided until the final lap of the final race. CART had a championship which was basically decided after the seventh (of 19) race. Indy Car had several races which were literal photo finishes at over 220mph. Champ Car had snooze fests in traditionally exciting races like Road America, Toronto and the debacle that was Surfers' Paradise.

So far this year the Champ Car World Series has had three fabulous races out of five, while the Indy Car Series has lived up to the "How the hell can four left turns be so hard?" stereotype.

Another thing that has made this years' Indy Car series so atrocious is the injuries and the wrecks. Gil de Ferran, Dario Franchitti, Tony Kanaan, and Scott Dixon, all of whom were stars in Champ Car, have wrecked and gotten injured in an Indy Car. Could it be the fact that Indy Cars race only on high speed ovals? Well, actually no. Champ Car ran their first oval of the season on Sunday, in Germany, and the only accident was a fluke pit lane wreck where Michel Jourdain Jr. sent Patrick Lemarie into the outside pit wall after Jourdain came out of his pit box too wide.

Speaking of this past weekend, on Saturday, the two series were supposed to go head-to-head on their respective networks, but the original pole day was rained out, giving the advantage to CART in ratings. On Sunday, was the real Indianapolis pole day, and frankly, it was unwatchable, due to the downright sucking up of the commentators to all the drivers, owners and the IRL executives. Meanwhile, the Champ Cars had an awesome race on TV at that time. The highlights were somewhat impossible to watch as well, because Helio Castroneves, the twice-defending Indy 500 champ, cried after winning the pole. I just don't seen to get why you would cry for a race in which the pole winner is basically jinxed after turning his fast laps. Oh, another thing, the Indy field is NOT FULL, for the first time in well over 30 years.

After the buildup and gloating from IRL fans over the offseason, I believe they got what they deserved: to be laughed at when the Indy field does not get filled.

Compliments have to go to Champ Car CEO Chris Pook on this one, scheduling the German 500 on the main weekend of qualifications. In the process, he pretty much disallowed his teams to compete in the "greatest race in the world." Many people in the motor sports world questioned him for the move, but Pook gets the last laugh, should Tony George not feel like digging deep into his pockets to get the Indy field at 33.

While it may sound like I am a CART diehard, last year, I was a completely neutral observer, and even went to an Indy Car race at the Texas Motor Speedway. Unfortunately, open wheel racing in the US is at a sad stage, and Champ Car's side is the more sensible option, now and probably, always.