Formation of the Indy Racing League Champ Car

criticism of cart built in 1980s, led andy kenopensky of machinists union racing, emerged leading critic of body often-confrontational discussions on body s rules , officiating; led owners meetings became acrimonious, notably in 1989 in pair of meetings @ michigan , pocono when shouted down several drivers lobbying expensive changes cars, changes felt benefited wealthy owners roger penske.

in 1991, tony george, president of indianapolis motor speedway, approached cart board of directors, proposing new board consisting of representatives of series tracks, team owners , suppliers. rebuffed members of cart board, george took non-voting position on cart board.

george later expressed concerns (similar kenopensky s) restrictive engine leases , capricious rule enforcements (e.g. banning of carbon fiber tub introduced march in 1990, ostensibly safety reasons, until 2 more popular cart chassis manufacturers – penske , lola – catch up). well, there lack of american drivers in series (there ten in 1996). furthermore, young open-wheel sprint car drivers jeff gordon began turning away indycar due lack of opportunity, , usac series became more , more of feeder nascar (especially after gordon found success in stock cars). other targets criticism cart s move include more road racing on schedule , escalating costs.

george wanted greater voice indianapolis 500, held @ indianapolis motor speedway. problem indy 500 not sanctioned cart, usac. usac did use same rules package cart did, except few squabbles here , there. cart did leave 3 weeks around indy (two weeks qualifying , race weekend) open during time.

george resigned cart board of directors , formed new racing series, indy racing league, in 1994 using building blocks of indy 500 / usac faction foundation. first race in 1996, irl included all-oval schedule, races on soil, , american drivers. george shut out cart regulars 500 guaranteeing top 25 drivers in irl points spot in race, leaving 8 of 33 grid positions available cart regulars. known 25/8 rule.

in march 1996, cart filed lawsuit against indianapolis motor speedway in effort protect license indycar mark indianapolis motor speedway had attempted terminate. in april, indianapolis motor speedway filed countersuit against cart prevent them further use of mark. settlement reached in cart agreed give use of indycar mark following 1996 season , irl not use name before end of 2002 season.

in response, cart attempted create rival showcase event, u.s. 500, @ michigan international speedway on same day indy 500 in 1996. race failed attract network tv coverage, , substantial promotional efforts required fill estimated 80,000 seats @ mis. race had disastrous start ten-car crash involving many of cars; further hurting cart s credibility, teams allowed hastily bring out backup cars though had crashed out of race. race date changed 1997 did not run against indy 500. u.s. 500 name was, however, retained through 1999, , affixed existing july race @ michigan.

cart s next strategy hold race day before indy 500 @ gateway, failed draw attention away irl s famous race. tony george s next move specify new technical rules less expensive cars, , production based engines outlawed cart-spec cars had been mainstay of races since late 1970s. cart teams forced buy different cars if wanted chance qualify indy 500.

from 1997 1999, no cart teams , drivers competed in indy 500. allowed many american drivers participate in event might otherwise have been unable afford, bitterness of turbulent political situation, along absence of many of top cart drivers, big-name sponsors, , faster cart-spec cars cast shadow on race. arguable average fan, replacement of @ least known foreign drivers almost-unknown american ones not perceived real gain. because of this, indianapolis 500 began see significant declines in attendance , television ratings.

in 1998, following highly competitive irl 300-miler @ texas won billy boat, cart mandated handford wing superspeedway cars; goal increase drag , return drafting effect similar nascar , similar irl had achieved use of bulkier car bodies.