Sept. 11 newsstand

The southern exodus: Analysis pieces
AP: With Franchitti and Hornish going to NASCAR, IndyCar's future looks uncertain
The AP does a nice analysis piece.
Says Dario: "It's an exciting series, isn't it? It's the biggest racing series in America and I certainly would like to see what it feels like to drive one of those cars."
Says Dan Wheldon: "Why wouldn't you want to compete in a great series like NASCAR?"
Says Scott Sharp: "Losing two guys like that is pretty substantial for the series, and it's tough on the fans to be constantly have to learn new drivers. ... But, the competition in our series is great and, when somebody leaves a good ride, it can be a break for somebody else. And I think the competition will continue to be just as good because the teams that these guys are leaving are so good. Somebody else will step in and do a good job."

ESPN.com's Terry Blount says IndyCar's loss is NASCAR's gain
Says the author: "People are wondering why Franchitti, an open-wheel racer all his life and a man at the peak of his Indy-car career, would jump to NASCAR.Lots of reasons: more money, more attention, a new challenge. But one reason stands far above the rest for the classy Scotsman -- safety.It's really that simple. Driving a Cup car, especially the Car of Tomorrow that will race in every event next season, is much safer than racing an Indy car on high-speed ovals."
That said, the current spec Dallara has proven to be a pretty safe car, even with Dario's flying circus earlier this year. He also says Ashley was prodding Dario to get out of IndyCars after his flights at Michigan & Kentucky.

Championship redux
Scotsman.com: Franchitti's drama-fuelled triumph
Says Dario: "You know, I don't think it has totally sunk in yet. But I'll tell you one thing, it feels absolutely sensational. I felt brilliant when I won the Indy500 in May, but this is something completely different. ... I knew I'd feel good, but this is way out there on a different level altogether. The 500 is a bit like a (soccer playoff) cup final, but the championship is like winning the league. It's judged on your performances right through the season."

Daily Sun (UK): Franchitti has Scot the title up
Says Dario: "I don’t know what the reaction will be back home. There was a big reaction to the Indianapolis 500 win. I enjoy it when people appreciate us after we do a good job. But the main reason I do it is because I enjoy it, not because of what others think."

Detroit Free Press: Spirited Franchitti a deserving champion
An analysis piece from Mike Brundell, who does a phenomenal job covering racing for the Freep.
Says the author: "If Franchitti leaves open-wheel racing -- one can only hope he will defend his Indy 500 victory next year -- it will be a huge loss for the sport and to the IRL. But if he goes, few would wish him anything but good luck in his pursuits."

The Times (UK): Franchitti triumph to land riches
Dario has been offered a $30 million contract, but the story doesn't say from whom (Ganassi?)

The Edmonton Sun says Dario gets his just dessert, and so does the IRL for botching the championship celebration.

And, for the runner-up ...
NewsTalk ZB (New Zealand): Dixon likely to stay put
We've gotta get some good news in here. Dixon's ex-business manager says Scott is likely to stay put. Says the story: "(P.J. Johnston, former Dixon business manager) says he may end up in NASCAR or do something else later on in his career, but right now he is at the top of his game in the IRL. Johnston says Dixon enjoys America and he does he will go to Europe."

IndyCar.com: It stings, but ...
Says Scott: "Any championship is tough to win, no matter what formula, no matter what kind of cars," he said. "I think this is tougher now for sure. The key things to look at, you've got many different disciplines and road courses, street courses, short ovals, super speedways and in between. And on top of that everybody's got the same car; everybody's got the same engine. So I think this season is definitely tougher to win a championship."

Autosport: Dixon keen to secure title sooner
Says Scott: "I think you spend most of the season just trying to gain enough points so it doesn't make a difference at the end. And we had to do it the other way; we had made enough points to start with and we had to really dig deep in the latter part of the season and try and pull it through."
Says Scott about Dario: "I think Dario is a great competitor. To be honest, if anybody could win the championship out there, I'd like to see him win it. He's had to deal with a lot of stuff. And he has dealt with it very well. I think he's obviously done a superb job to win a championship and he doesn't let things get to him."

Silly Season stuff
Autosport: Mutoh looks ready to 2008 ride
Says Hideki Mutoh, fresh off an eighth-place finish at Chicagoland: "Nothing about next year has been decided, but hopefully I'll be able to step up into the IndyCar Series full time and start my new racing career here in this league."
Adds Alex Lloyd on a 2008 ride for himself: "We're working very hard on it and hopefully within the next two or three weeks we'll have something nailed down."

The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin has a note about the IRL trying to get back to Fontana
Says writer Lewis Brewster: "The IndyCar set would like to race at California Speedway once again, and the Speedway certainly needs another major event. The issue is the schedule: the track wants a spring date, and the IRL has none of those dates available. Both sides need to compromise a bit to bring back the most exciting series in Speedway history."

No kidding ... whaddaya mean no spring dates available? There's a two-week break before Motegi, Homestead could easily be moved back to its usual late Feb./early March date and California could easily be slotted in. If California wants/needs the IRL, the IRL NEEDS to be at California (and Michigan). Period.

Commentaries
Racer's David Phillips says "We don't need no stinkin' playoffs."

CBS' Pete Pistone discusses a desire to move the Chicago race to Labor Day

Gordon Kirby says Bill France had open-wheel's issues figured out 10 years ago.
GK uses the late Bill France to get a dig in at the IRL: ""You're really worried about Tony pulling the trigger on his new formula, aren't you?. You think it's going to end up destroying Indy car racing, don't you? ... Well, I agree with you. I think it will. You know my father and I always believed there's got to be one man in control and you can't have any competitors. You've got to have one series with a solid name and brand. Those guys are putting themselves in danger of losing all that."

Other stuff
Official IRL news & notes

IPS redux: Logan Gomez talks about the closest race in IRL/IPS history in his diary for the Times of Northwest Indiana.

Great history piece
The Associated Press catches up with the 88-year-old builder of the first rear-engined chassis for an Offy at the Indy 500, which he brought to the track in 1963. He now builds roadsters.

Interesting stuff from the "other series".
What had become the symbol of modern Champ Car -- the San Jose Railroad Track Jumping Circus -- appears to be kaput, according to the San Jose Mercury News. The race had been plagued by the fact that the local politicians realized that Champ Car grossly inflated its attendance (and it took two years for them to figure that out?) and the race subsidy became more than a bit controversial.

Also, Portland may or may not be on next year. Says Steve Johnson, graduate of the Saddam Hussein school of media spin, "But again, there are many dates there, and I can't race in all of them. I have to see how it all shakes out and do a final cut at that point. . . . There are a lot of cities there and not all of them are going to make it, obviously." Uh, yeah, Steve, I'm sure cities are falling all over themselves to host CC races. Especially the five that have canceled within the last year.

And finally
If you get bored this off-season, you can always catch up with Gene Simmons.