Statement from TMS President Eddie Gossage regarding Indy Racing League future car strategy
FORT WORTH, Texas (July 14, 2010) – The following is a statement from Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage regarding today’s announcement in
Indianapolis by the Indy Racing League IZOD IndyCar Series about their future car strategy. Gossage served on the eight-member ICONIC (Innovative, Competitive, Open-Wheel, New, Industry Relevant, Cost-Effective) IZOD IndyCar Series Advisory Committee that was tasked with reviewing, researching and recommending a future chassis and engine platform to the IRL since mid-April.
On the cost-cutting measures to assist IZOD IndyCar Series teams: “Cutting the cost of the chassis by 40 percent is a game-changer for the sport. After spending
countless hours working with the ICONIC Committee, it became very clear that only one chassis supplier could be chosen because of the economics. For the fans, we’ve ensured that team owners currently in the sport can continue to participate and we can entice new teams to join affordably. When is the last time you every heard of the cost of a high-tech race car – the fastest in the world – dropping?”
On the fans’ voice in the decision-making: “The fans were a major influence in this decision. They made it clear that they wanted to see some variety in the cars and the ICONIC Committee constantly factored that desire into the consideration. In a perfect world, we would have recommended multiple chassis providers but the research and development costs alone would have caused the price of the cars to inflate astronomically instead of reducing them. That would have been bad for the health of Indy car racing. The committee and the IRL technical staff have developed the concept of ‘clothes,’ which can be changed to allow different looks for the car. It’s a smart, affordable way to offer variety while providing a known, proven, safe race car that will provide wheel-to-wheel racing action at more than 200 miles per hour. We think it’s a great compromise to provide the fans with what they demand and ensure the long-term vitality of Indy car racing.”
On being selected and serving on the ICONIC Committee: “It was an honor to serve with retired Air Force General (William) Looney (committee mediator) and the
other six members of the ICONIC Committee. It was an interesting process to see how this diverse group – some of whom I had never met before – mesh and work easily to reach this recommendation. We spent so much time together that I have made some rewarding, life-long friendships with people that I can trust for advice and wise counsel. I commend (IRL CEO) Randy Bernard and the IRL technical staff for this process because it ensures buy-in from everyone within the industry. Anyone who does not get on board and help row this boat in one direction clearly has another agenda. While I know we won’t agree on everything that comes up down the road, I do know that anybody that loves Indy car racing needs to work together from this day forward. The IRL may be hesitant to say it,
but the day is here for everybody that loves Indy car racing to link arms and help each other out. Anybody who doesn’t want to do that needs to find something else to do with their time.”
