Letter: Indy 500 column runs far off course

Thursday, May 19, 2005 | 10:09 a.m.

Regarding Ron Kantowski's column Monday about Indianapolis 500 pole qualifying:

I think you missed the mark from pole day at Indy. There is drama and magic at Indianapolis, arguably more than before. The racing is better, the new qualifying format is better and the future is bright.

Sure, the crowds aren't what they once were on pole day, but the dynamics have changed tremendously since the days you remember. No longer are guys setting new track records ... it simply can't be done -- the cars would be too fast. To blame those crowds on the split in 1996 is unfair and just completely wrong.

And, the stories of what Indianapolis "used to be" seem to get more glorified each year. The stories of "40 cars in line on bump day" and "10-12 bumps" simply never happened. In fact, over the past 50 years, only five times were there more bumps than in the 2001 500 -- an IRL sanctioned event.

TOM SAVAGE

Indianapolis

Editors note: The letter writer is the Indy Racing League director of public relations