'CAR NUT' STEVE PARKER SPEAKS OUT ON THE DEATH OF IRL RACER PAUL DANA. THIS TRANSCRIPT, FROM THE APRIL 6, 2006 "MOTORSPORTS UPDATE", A REGULAR SEGMENT OF "CAR NUT TV", SEEN ON TIME-WARNER CABLE SYSTEMS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY AND THE COACHELLA VALLEY (PALM SPRINGS, LA QUINTA, INDIO, ETC). THE SAME BASIC THOUGHTS WERE SHARED BY STEVE ON HIS 'CAR NUT RADIO SHOW' HEARD EVERY SUNDAY FROM 8-10am ON NewsTalk 920 KPSI, PALM SPRINGS.
"WHAT WE HAVE TODAY IN OPEN-WHEEL RACING IN THIS COUNTRY ARE TWO SERIES OFFERING ON-THE-JOB TRAINING TO AMATEUR-LEVEL DRIVERS IN THE FASTEST AND POTENTIALLY MOST DANGEROUS RACE CARS IN THE WORLD."
WHY WAS INDY RACING LEAGUE RACE CAR DRIVER PAUL DANA KILLED DURING PRACTICE FOR THE SERIES’ OPENING RACE OF THE SEASON?
BECAUSE SOMETHING VERY UGLY AND UNSAFE HAS HAPPENED TO OPEN WHEEL RACING IN AMERICA.
WHEN THE CART AND IRL SERIES SPLIT UP, MANY OF THE TRADITIONAL BIG TIME SPONSORS IN THE SPORT DROPPED OUT. THE TV RATINGS FOR BOTH SERIES WERE TERRIBLE FROM THE START AND GOT WORSE.
EVEN THE INDY 500 WENT FROM A MONTH-LONG TO A WEEK LONG EVENT, ITS TV RATINGS PLUMMETED AND TICKETS FOR THE EVENT ARE AVAILABLE THE DAY OF THE RACE.
ESPECIALLY IN THE IRL, IT SEEMED THE SPORT HAD BECOME MUCH MORE DANGEROUS, WITH MORE WRECKS, SERIOUS INJURIES AND EVEN DEATHS.
IT USED TO BE THAT A DRIVER WAS ALLOWED TO GET INTO THE FASTEST CARS ONLY AFTER MANY YEARS OF ESTABLISHING HIM OR HERSELF ON SMALLER RACE TRACKS AND IN SLOWER CARS. ONLY THEN COULD THE DRIVER HOPE FOR A CHANCE TO GET A TRY-OUT AND OFFERED A SPOT ON A TEAM.
AFTER PROVING HIM OR HERSELF ON THE TRACK, A TEAM COULD GO OUT AND GET A CASH SPONSOR. THAT WAS BASICALLY THE WAY THE OPEN-WHEEL RACE SERIES WORKED FOR ALMOST 70 YEARS IN THIS COUNTRY. BRINGING MONEY NEVER HURT, BUT DRIVER SKILL WAS OF PARAMOUNT CONCERN.
TODAY, THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN DANGEROUSLY TURNED ON ITS HEAD.
PAUL DANA REPLACED VITOR MEIRA LAST YEAR ON THE RAHAL/LETTERMAN TEAM BECAUSE HE BROUGHT A SPONSOR TO THE TEAM. TODAY, A RACER HAS TO GET A SPONSOR FIRST, THEN FIND A TEAM TO TAKE THE MONEY.
WHAT WE HAVE TODAY IN OPEN-WHEEL RACING IN THIS COUNTRY ARE TWO SERIES OFFERING ON-THE-JOB TRAINING TO AMATEUR-LEVEL DRIVERS IN THE FASTEST AND POTENTIALLY MOST DANGEROUS RACE CARS IN THE WORLD.
THAT’S WHAT KILLED PAUL DANA: HIS OWN INEXPERIENCE AND ALMOST EVERY TEAM BEING FORCED TO DO BUSINESS THIS TERRIBLE NEW WAY.
THIS SITUATION EXISTS BECAUSE OF TONY GEORGE AND HIS OWN SELFISH DESIRE TO PERSONALLY DOMINATE THE SPORT.
IMAGINE ANY OTHER PROFESSIONAL SPORT WHERE THE GOLFER, FOOTBALL PLAYER, BASEBALL STAR OR BASKETBALL PLAYER HAS TO FIRST GET A SPONSOR BEFORE THEY ARE ALLOWED TO PLAY!
WE ALL BETTER START REMEMBERING THAT THOSE ARE HUMAN BEINGS IN THE COCKPITS OF THOSE RACE CARS, NOT ATM MACHINES FOR THE USE OF THE RACE TEAMS.
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