Eddie Gossage Gets What He Wants

The official reason is that the promoter at Milwaukee hasn't fulfilled his business obligations from this season. Also Texas Motor Speedway already has a NASCAR truck race on their schedule and it could continue to be a good support race to the IndyCar Series. But isn't the real reason that the IndyCar Series’ 2010 schedule was adjusted this past week was to please Eddie Gossage, the venerable promoter at that track?

Gossage wasn't too happy when what had become the "modern era" tradition of heading to Texas after Indianapolis was replaced in recent years with the old-time tradition of heading up the highway to Milwaukee. His disappointment was understood; the momentum of the Indy 500 and its national attention is a track promoter's dream to increase ticket sales. His advertisements in Texas incorporated Indy 500 action to stimulate last-minute sales. A week off between Indy and Texas would only serve to inhibit that momentum.

So the IndyCar Series agreed this week to move the Texas race for June 2010 to the week immediately following Memorial Day--an open spot left by Milwaukee's demise.

Gossage unabashedly promoted TMS as the track that helped build the IndyCar Series on billboards in Indianapolis this past May. He's right. Look at the list of closest finishes and you'll see TMS noted several times. That sort of excitement has been promoted by the league so they couldn’t deny the facts. It was the other card Gossage had up his sleeve to get what he wanted.

Those in the Midwest having spent a month at IMS, if possible, need a rest--for themselves and their pocketbook. Taking the series to another part of the U.S. and riding the momentum of the series' biggest race is simply logical for the league, as well as TMS. Ticket revenue and the fan base have the potential to increase for both entities. Texas weather a week earlier also provides for cooler days for fans and teams.

Texas Motor Speedway is one of the finest facilities on the circuit and that should not be ignored. Losing the second race there after several seasons was a slap to the league. But TMS made more money with NASCAR events, a fact that could not be successfully defended by the IRL.

However, if the IndyCar Series pleases Gossage with this schedule change, perhaps returning that second race to the Texas schedule can be the trade-off. Afterall, it provides some of the best racing on the circuit at a facility where every seat is a good one. It would simply be one hand continuing to wash the other--and then counting the money. (For oval track fans, another such race would be welcomed, too.)