While stock car racing was flying high in the middle of the decade, the IRL still was suffering from the effects of a split in 1996 that resulted in two open-wheel series, dividing fans’ allegiances and making the teams cut their finances.
As a result, they were prepared when the economy, in IRL lingo, “hit the soft wall” earlier this year.
Danica Patrick pointed out that the merging of the leagues also created a more stable financial environment, enabling them to weather the recession.
“Knock on wood, we’ve stood up to it,” she said. “I think all the things going on with IndyCar have been positive.”
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That’s not to say the league hasn’t made adjustments. Drivers without the name recognition of Patrick or Kanaan still have to drum up sponsorship, whether for an entire year or just for a weekend. But unlike NASCAR teams, which can cost upward of $10 million, the price tag for an Indy car is about half that.
The IRL also stabilized itself financially in the offseason by announcing a 10-year, $67 million TV contract with the Versus network.
Another constant is the engine that the teams use. Instead of NASCAR, which features several manufacturers, all of the cars on the track tomorrow will be using the same Honda engine.
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