The IRL Formula At Work

The Phoenix 200 played out like a Hollywood script. The "little guy" that put it all on the line financially and physically saw his dreams come true by beating the "big guys". That little guy's name is Jim Guthrie. The Blueprint team and Jim beat the highest financed team in the Indy Racing League. They did it with the one ingredient that is common throughout the series...determination.

When Tony George started the IRL, he stated that he wanted provide a means for the grassroots racers to get to the Indy 500. He wanted a less expensive all oval series that would allow the thousands of oval track racers around the country to have that one big shot. Jim Guthrie is just the first of many up and coming race drivers that will benefit from the IRL. The IRL formula is working.

ABC television covered the Phoenix race well. They said that Jim Guthrie is the guy that's all heart and no cash. Well, If web page "hits" are any indication, then "cash" may be just around the corner for Mr. Guthrie. I noticed that the Jim Guthrie Homepage hits for this week alone were almost equal to the number of total hits received since the page opened. (I have talked to his "webmaster" and she is very excited about Jim's progress. She is wanting to help take his success a step further by starting a Jim Guthrie Fan Club. If you are interested, email Linda (Joan) Jett.)

On the downside for IRL participants and fans this year is the failure by Infiniti and Oldsmobile to build engines that are reliable. Yes, they have taken on a very aggressive schedule to produce the engines, but it doesn't seem that any progress has been made since the January race at Walt Disney World. If this trend continues, there may only be a couple of cars running at the finish of the Indy 500 in May. Jim Guthrie's engine was reported to have logged over 800 miles, so with some luck, there will be engines that can run the distance.

Editors Note: Many people that read my column think that I am pro IRL and totally against CART. This is not the case. I am pro RACING...plain and simple. I can't wait to get to Indy this year. I also can't wait for the Michigan 500. They are both excellent facilities and the racing is always goose bump exciting. There is also the added benefit to race fans. We now have an additional 10 Indy style races (this year) to watch or attend. I choose to leave the politics of racing to those who's lives depend on it (financially).

Terry Callahan
March 30, 1997