The Case for Tony George

I'll be back (if the rumors are true)

The rumblings of Tony George leading a group of investors that want to buy the IndyCar series aren't nearly as loud as the moans from IndyCar fans who don't want to see this happen, but I ask, "Would it really be that bad?" It will be an unpopular stance, but I'm going to make a case for why Tony's return may be good for IndyCar.

• The purse strings will be opened

We don't know who is involved with Tony, but we know they must have money. History also tells us that Tony isn't afraid to spend money to make IndyCar a better series. On the other hand, the current administration is only interested in not losing money. While I understand businesses need to profit, I also understand that in order to make money, you first have to spend money. IndyCar desperately needs to spend money on marketing and promotions, and (hopefully) Tony's new regime will be given free reign to spend, spend, spend!

• Tony George wouldn't be in charge

Ha! You thought I was making a case for Tony to be in charge, well I'm not. I'm making a case for Tony and Friends to buy the series, then put someone else in charge. 

The CEO I would choose for this new IndyCar is one of the rumored investors, Zak Brown. I'm not going to write Mr. Brown's biography here, but from what I have read about him, he has the drive and determination of Randy Bernard, but with a lifetime of experience in motor sport. How can you beat that? He also has a working relationship with several businesses that already invest money in sponsorship and to top it off, he owns his own race team, so he knows what the owners are up against. If Tony George buying IndyCar makes the fans riot, I'd hope that naming Mr. Brown as CEO would at least cause everyone to drop their pitchforks and  listen to what he has to say.

• The owners actually respected Tony

For one reason, or a million others, Randy Bernard's relationship with the owners has been tense. Not just the car owners, but the track owners and Presidents. There's the off, then on again relationship with International Speedway Corporation, and the shakey relationship with Eddie Gossage. Randy's called out car owners on Twitter, track president in the press, and has lost the battle of Aero Kits two years in a row. I honestly don't remember Tony having any issues like this during his tenure. In fact, I remember the owners actually coming together in support of Tony shortly after he was ousted. How often have all the cars owners come together like that? Wouldn't it be nice to have some peace and harmony in IndyCar again?

So we'd have an IndyCar not afraid to spend money, with a CEO that is experienced well respected throughout all of motor sports, and happy owners, what's not to like?

(Just keep Will Philips and Beaux Barfield around, please Mr. George)