Brian France does not own the hallowed Indy track, nor does he need to. It lies prostrate at his feet, beholden to him. Without Indy’s NASCAR race, the Allstate 400, speedway chieftain Tony George could ill afford to keep pouring money down the hole of his folly, the Indy Racing League.
Time was when there was no greater achievement for a driver, anywhere, than winning the Indianapolis 500. Now, it might get you a NASCAR ride, with zero guarantee of success there.
I say might because only two of the last three Indy 500 winners, Franchitti from this year and Sam Hornish Jr. from last year, are headed into NASCAR next year.
The third, 2005 winner Dan Wheldon of England, wanted sorely to make the transition, but was passed over by team owner Chip Ganassi in favor of Franchitti and his sponsor- and publicity-attracting wife, actress Ashley Judd.
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