Columnist: How to solve Indy rift

Tuesday, May 14, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

It should have dawned on anybody tuning in the Indianapolis 500 and U.S. 500 time trials last weekend that there's a perfect solution to the rift dividing Indy-car racing.

Get a can of Miller Beer and smack the top of the television with it.

By now, you probably know the story: The Indy 500 has all the tradition while the U.S. 500 has most of the drivers. Last weekend's qualifying sessions revealed that one without the other leaves much to be desired.

But with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the car-owner driven IndyCar series at odds in regard to what course the sport should pursue, one 12-ounce jolt to the big screen probably isn't going to reintegrate open-wheel racing's most valuable commodities.

One man's view of the race for the poles:

* Every ticket for the 80th running of the Indy 500 may be spoken for, but based on Saturday's Pole Day attendance, every one may not be used. The first day of qualifying, which annually attracts an estimated crowd of 150,000, drew all of 55,000 Saturday, according to the Indianapolis Star. Relatively speaking, the crowd at Michigan International Speedway for U.S. 500 qualifying was every bit as disappointing.

* The great A.J. Foyt -- and that's meant with sincerity -- has spent the month blasting IndyCar owners and (to a lesser extent) drivers but should practice what he preaches. After bellyaching that IndyCar has become a buy-a-ride series for foreign drivers, Foyt accepted a reported $500,000 from Marco Greco and assigned the lightly regarded Brazilian to his third car.

* The Indy 500 broadcast teams have been an insult to the race fan's intelligence. Not only have they glazed over the issues that threaten the sport, but there was nary a mention of Al Unser Jr., Rick Mears, Emerson Fittipaldi, Bobby Rahal, Scott Goodyear or any other IndyCar driver who has distinguished himself at the Brickyard and contributed to its legacy.

* The best rumor circulating Indy is that many drivers are running engine boost beyond what the rules allow to achieve headline-grabbing speeds. Based on some of the lap times achieved with conservative driving lines, there may be something to it.

* The Speedway talks about a level playing field but gives the cars fielded by deep-pocketed John Menard -- who is to the Speedway-backed Indy Racing League what Roger Penske is to IndyCar -- 10 extra inches of horsepower-enhancing engine boost. Go figure.

* Back to the Indy announcers: When Dave Kudrave reported he had lost his ride due to lack of sponsorship, Dave Despain conveniently changed the subject. The formation of the Speedway-founded Indy Racing League was supposed to eliminate IndyCar's alleged buy-a-ride philosophy.

* Last year, only six mph separated the fastest qualifier from the slowest at Indy. This year's 220-mph minimum notwithstanding, there will be a much wider gap between the swift and not so swift. But with the two Toyota-powered cars chugging along at Michigan, the speed differential could be pronounced there, too.

* Using last year's starting field and this year's IRL/IndyCar lineup as a guide, there were 22 Indy 500 starters representing IndyCar and 11 IRL-affiliated runners. With no guaranteed starting spots, IRL driver Scott Brayton won the pole last year; he'll sit on it again this year. Jacques Villeneuve, driving for one of IndyCar's lesser-financed teams, won the race; Roger Penske's cars and drivers weren't even fast enough to qualify for it. This year, rising star Tony Stewart has carried the banner for the old USAC short track brigade; last year it was Stan Fox.

In other words, the Indy 500 of a year ago wasn't exactly broke.

Hopefully, it hasn't been fixed beyond repair.