It's Indy Car Time

After watching the Outlaws run Knoxville Saturday, we're headed south to the Kansas Speedway to watch the Indy Racing League Kansas Lottery Indy 300. Historically the IRL shows at Kansas have been very competitive and fun to watch. I hope that's the case this year, the first few races of the IRL season haven't been the most action packed.

Some have said this is a big year for the IRL and major open wheel racing in general. I think that's been said every year since the split. Seems sort of anti-climatic at this point. Regardless of what happens in open wheel racing, the only winner to come out of the open wheel split is WWE-NASCAR edition.

In spite of that I love IRL racing. I'm also glad that they moved the date of this Kansas race from the scorching heat of July to this last weekend in April. It's the last race before the teams head to Naptown and I think it gives the series a little more momentum. In prior years the IRL raced in Japan before heading to Indy. At least there will be a little more interest if they're running stateside.

Perhaps we'll even benefit from a few more cars running at Kansas to get ready for the Month of May. It also looks like there's going to be a healthy field of cars competing for the 33 spots at Indy this year. It may make Bubble Day worth watching again. Don't get me wrong, I watch every minute of Indy qualifying they put on TV. I grew up watching it as a kid and have some great memories from it. However it is obvious that the last few years have been a little lean, and the usual drama of Bubble Day (or Bump Day, whatever you want to call it) has subsided.

I think the biggest reason for this is Indy racing is just too damn expensive. What's ironic about this is the original mission of the IRL was to lower the costs. Of course the original mission of the IRL was also to get more American grassroots racers into Indy Cars, and run ovals only. Ten years later none of those missions have been accomplished.

Personally I feel if they want to completely separate themselves from CART, and lower the costs, why not run a steel block, American V8? Hell just fuel inject a NASCAR small block and there you go. I'm sure it's a little more complicated then that, but tell me why that wouldn't work.

I know those NASCAR small blocks aren't cheap, but compared to the price of one of those 'Honda' motors, a small block is a bargain. Maybe then you'd see more than one brand of engine running open wheel again. It's obvious that the American public isn't really concerned with being cutting edge when it comes to their racing. Look no further than the big, ugly, NASCAR monster as proof of that. I don't think people would care of Indy cars were running Ford, Chevy, and Dodge small blocks. I would think that team owners would love to run something that put out power but at a cheaper cost.

And while I'm proposing that crazy idea...Here's another, front-engines. Talk about lowering the costs! Maybe if they were running front engines at Indy our open wheel guys would stop going to fenders.

I know, it's going back 40 years but what does that hurt? Run front engine cars with small blocks and call them Indy cars. Sounds like a series I'd like to follow. Maybe the IRL could scoop up the fans that NASCAR is losing-and maybe a few of their drivers while they're at it. Where are all those PRA cars? I'd even watch those USAC hammerheads.

Don't misunderstand me; I am a HUGE fan of the IRL. I think it's a great series with great drivers. I'd just love to see bigger fields at their events, and more of an American driver presence. I think people would love to follow their favorite dirt track drivers to Indy. It worked for open wheel for years, and it works for NASCAR now. Combine some of our local heroes with the foreign talent that's out there and you got 1964 all over again.

Maybe this is all just nonsense from some kid sitting in Nebraska who doesn't have a clue. Indy returning to front engine is about as likely to happen as Nebraskans losing interest in football. Just something to think about.

As it is I'll be in the stands for at least three IRL shows this year, including the 500. Good races or bad, I'm sure I'll enjoy every minute of them.