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Why an IRL Site?
By Andrew Cutler December 7 2007
So, you are asking, what is a site dedicated to the Indy Racing League doing on an F1 forum board anyways? Well, I can only hope that, like me, you are open to following more than just one form of racing. Thus I figure that I have nothing to lose by trying to interest you in a favorite of mine.

FROM MY INITIAL POST ON THIS SITE'S FORUM BOARD:

Hello there! Welcome to my new site here on SN.

So, why do a site on the Indy Racing League you ask? Basically its because my first introduction to the world of motorsports was through the "American" open-wheel scence (back in those days it was one unified series). I always liked the balance of both road/street courses and ovals: to me it makes for the most comprhensive test of a driver's ability that any series can offer.

It has been a long and mostly sad journey watching the schism of the past decade play out. In the past few years, however, it has increasingly started to look like the IRL is getting a firm organizational footing and is, slowly, developing the potential to become a very solid series. Just as importantly - to me, anyways - they have returned to the "old format" with a mix of both oval and raod/street races that I loved so much.

That is not to say that aren't still several issues to be addressed. While not a "spec" series by design, the IRL, with only one engine manufacturer at present and one of the two approved chassis designs clearly out of favor with the teams, is currently so by default. Another source of frustration with IRL fans; the marketing/PR effort by the League is generally pitiful to non-exsistant.

Nonethless, there is some REALLY GOOD RACING going on here! This past year's (2007) championship came down to three drivers going into the final race to settle things (sound familiar?). In the end, the championship was clinched on the last lap when one of the contenders ran out of fuel while leading!

So, I hope that you will stop by from time to time and check this site out. 

A LITTLE ABOUT ME:

I have been a nearly life-time resident of the Indianapolis area. Despite this fact, I never really paid too much attention to motorsports until 1981 when, at age 16, I went to my first Indy 500. From that point on I was hooked on Indy Car (CART in those days) racing. I have attended every Indy 500 since then - except for '86, when I was graduating from college.

In terms of other motorsport, I have followed Formula 1 regularly since '91, and saw a handful of races per year during the mid to late '80s. I attended all of the USGPs at Indy. I was a die-hard Jordan fan until they folded, and have been seraching for a new team to follow ever since.

I have also been following NASCAR fairly regularly since about '90, and have attended all of the Brickyard 400s - NASCAR's race at Indy - every year except '95 (I gambled on the weather and lost).

I own a house that is within walking distance of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which makes getting to the track on pratice/qualifying/race days very easy, & I go as often as I can.  

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