The 2003 IRL Indycar season has been the best and most entertaining since the series began in 1996. The racing has been close, fast and frighteningly competitive with five drivers going to the final round in Texas with a shot at glory. But the racing has at times been too close, too fast and now it seems very frightening for drivers, teams and fans. The IRL faces some tough decisions, of that there can be no doubt.
The tragic death of Tony Renna at Indy this week came hard on the heels of Kenny Brack's sickening shunt at the Texas season finale. Brack's multiple injuries and the seriousness of the accident overshadowed Scott Dixon's championship, and now Renna's death has compounded the subdued atmosphere. Both accidents on their own raise serious questions about the IRL, but taken in the context of a rough and tumble season and questions have to be asked. Drivers being seriously injured and killed, debris entering spectator enclosures, and somersaulting cars are dangerous trademarks for any championship.
This season has thrived on what is fast becoming the IRL's trademark - super fast, wheel to wheel racing borne out of tight technical regulations, normally aspirated V8 engines and the natural excitement of all-oval racing. Unfortunately it is hard not to trace the causes of many of this seasons accidents back to these 'positives'. Finely honed aerodynamics naturally creates close racing and the lack of any additional engine power to push competitors past each other has bunched up fields leading to close, but eminently dangerous racing. The IRL is facing something akin to a fork in the road - it has to balance the excitement and the inherent danger.
Despite the influx of teams, sponsor cash and manufacturer interest, the IRL is still a championship struggling to grow. NASCAR's stranglehold, the continuing feud between CART and the IRL and race-day apathy by fans leaves the series unable and unwilling to tamper with its 'formula' if this means that its product (close, fast racing) is diluted and its appeal damaged. Equally though there are clear dangers in continuing to pursue this path.
The introduction of energy absorbing materials to the traditional concrete walls solved to some extent the problems inherent in the IRL since its beginning: cars backing into concrete walls at around 200mph and seriously damaging drivers. However the problems have advanced to a different level: airborne vehicles. Mario Andretti and Dan Wheldon did it at Indy, Kenny Brack did it far worse at Texas and now Renna had died as the result of slamming into the retaining fence above the concrete walls. The IRL will now need to address this issue and unfortunately the solution will not be as simple as foam barriers.
Close wheel to wheel racing at high speeds in open-wheel cars will lead naturally to the chance of cars leaving the ground. But lower speeds will mean
The IRL has perhaps found the correct balance between safety and excitement and strayed beyond that equilibrium. A small adjustment will return the sport to a valuable position but the problem is finding the right small adjustment. Too much one way and the sport will undo the progress of the past 2 years, too much in the other and the sport may not be allowed to continue. Indeed recent events may have jogged the memories of those who had forgotten about the IRL fans killed by flying debris in 1996. Engineers and drivers strive to find the perfect balance, so to now must the IRL championship itself.
Back to IRL News & Discussion Page
Back to Main Page
Visit
Linksheaven! The Motor Racing Directory
© 2000 motorsportforum@yahoo.co.uk