Where does the Indy 500 and the IZOD IndyCar Series go from here?

The 94^th running of the greatest spectacle in racing concluded yesterday, on a hot sunny day in Speedway, Indiana. Dario Franchitti picked up his second Indy 500 win by leading 155 of the 200 laps at the 2.5 oval, and surviving a very hectic last ten laps.

IndyCar Garage gives you five ideas that the IZOD IndyCar Series and the Indy 500 could use for in the next year

1. Start promoting next years Indy 500 as the greatest event in the history of motorsports

Next years Indy 500 is the last race under the Centennial Era celebration, and it will mark the 100^th anniversary of the first Indy 500, in 1911. Given a year to figure out the ins and out of IndyCar, IZOD should be even better next year in their support around the 500. The series needs to do its part and bring the best drivers from across the world to be in this one of a lifetime race. Does this mean bringing in some notable NASCAR names next year? Yes, probably. Does this mean following through with Bruton Smith’s promise of the 20 million paycheck for both the winner of the Indy 500 and the Coke 600? There should be some incentive to run both races and Randy Bernard and the IMS corporate crew need to make the right call on that.

2. Develop storylines that invoke the common fan to stay tuned for the rest of the 2010 season.

Everybody in the world should know who Dario Franchitti is in the next three to four days, but what the series can’t do is let that momentum of Dario’s win fade into the background after the Texas race. Dario needs to be promoted as a legend of the sport, a two time winner of the Indy 500. His best buddy, Tony Kanaan needs to profiled as the hero of the sport who is still looking for his first big win. Ryan Hunter-Reay can’t stop racing after Texas. Interesting story lines that are created from the Indy 500 can’t die two weeks after the greatest event of your season is over.

3. Make the right call on the new car/engine package.

Chip Ganassi made a very bold statement last night at the Indy 500 victory banquet, his closing statement thanked the Hulman/George staff and closed with the line “be bold as you move into the future”. What was he saying: choose the Delta Wing as the next generation of cars for IndyCar. Bernard has stated that he wants to have a decision in hand by June 30^th on the next generation of cars and he needs to, considering the timeline for production. It will be the most important decision that he makes as a four month old leader of open wheel racing in North America.

4. Put yourself in the right markets for 2011

The 2011 schedule will be announced in late July, early August. Bernard and his crew have some tough decisions to make regarding venues that want to host the IZOD IndyCar Series. What will happen to ISC tracks? Will they keep two or four?

Will they all be gone?

Will Las Vegas , Loudon, and Milwaukee return? Baltimore appears to a go for 2011. Wherever they decide to go, pick the markets that you’re wanted and can attract new fans. The promoters that don’t sell your sport, don’t deserve to be involved with your sport.                                                                

5. Keep doing a great job and the future looks good for IndyCar

Several drivers mentioned last night that IndyCar is on the upswing and the wave of momentum is good for the sport and even  Dario mentioned returning to the glory years. Most of this momentum is created through the IZOD activation and the freshness of Randy Bernard. The only thing I can tell them is: Keep it up and keep doing the best you can do to make IndyCar the best form of motorsports in the world.