Tradition, technology, and personal bravery combined to make the Indianapolis 500 one of the world\'s most famous sporting events.
Over the next 75 years, the Hulman-George family used the stature of the Speedway to carve out a po.
The book traces the roots of Indy car racing\'s dysfunction, which began in 1945 when Tony Hulman rescued the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from potential redevelopment.
With insightful reporting, Oreovicz recounts the political infighting within the industry which climaxed with a 12-year Split from 1996 to 2007 between competing forms of Indy car Racing and prevented the sport from achieving its potential.
In the new book That will be on shelves in time for the 2021 Indy 500, long-time motorsports reporter John Oreovicz dives deep into the divisive Battle between CART and the Indy Racing League.
Indy Split is a fascinating, authoritative and overdue account of the big Money Battle That Nearly Destroyed the sport of Indy car racing.
The long struggle for stability and leadership was finally resolved in 2020 when Roger Penske acquired IMS and the IndyCar Series.
With negotiations driven by legendary racer Mario Andretti and actor/racer Paul Newman, The Split was finally resolved in 2008, only for George to walk away less than three years later from the role he so desperately coveted.
It created confusion and animosity and caused tremendous damage to the sport.
The Split forced Indy car fans, sponsors, broadcasters and participants to choose sides.
A volatile period in the late 1970s resulted in the formation of Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART), and tensions ramped up even more when Hulman\'s grandson, Tony George, assumed power in 1990.
Stewardship of the IMS often brought the family into conflict with Indy car competitors.
Over the next 75 years, the Hulman-George family used the stature of the Speedway to carve out a powerful position in American auto racing.
The story begins in 1945, when a businessman from Terre Haute, Indiana named Tony Hulman rescued the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from potential redevelopment.
But Indy car racing\'s dysfunction didn\'t originate in 1996.
The Split seriously tarnished the reputation of the Indianapolis 500 and allowed NASCAR to become America\'s most popular form of motorsport.
However, political infighting within the industry--which climaxed with a 12-year Split from 1996 to 2007 between competing forms of Indy car racing--prevented the sport from achieving its potential.
Tradition, technology, and personal bravery combined to make the Indianapolis 500 one of the world\'s most famous sporting events
