Earlier this month he was saying good-bye as the Champ Car Bringer of Law, and today Robin reports Tony Cotman will soon be reporting for duty as the IRL's new Iron Hand of Justice, Jr.
“I’m just going where I think the future of open-wheel racing is going to be,” said Cotman, who quit as Champ Car’s executive vice president earlier this month. ”It’s a good job. I’m going to oversee anything that has to do with competition, technical issues, tracks and assist Brian (Barnhart) in race control.”Cotman will be officiating Indy Pro races as well as assisting Barnhart at certin IndyCar series events, so let's hope he brought a spare black flag for the IHJ as well. THE GUILTY WILL BE PUNISHED!
“It should be a little easier in the IRL, because in Champ Car a third of the field was the series owner’s cars.”
“I think this new job will suit me and I’m looking forward to contributing to the future of open-wheel racing.”
(MORE from SpeedTV)
The Braintrust at TSO has even more encouraging words.
With the defection of Cotman to the IRL, the question quickly becomes "what about CCWS teams?" TSO is hearing of various ChampCar teams "sniffing around" the IRL and IMS. While we don't have any concrete information of a team about to jump, several CCWS teams are certainly considering that option and may still move prior to the 2008 season.
We have also confirmed that some CCWS teams are looking at Indy 500 packages even if they don't make the full-time move just yet (and the word YET is entirely intentional).
(MORE from TracksideOnline)
Well, dang. If NHL, Derek Walker, and Minardi could be convinced to jump, wouldn't that leave Forsythe and a bunch of Indy Pro teams? Well, maybe that's going a bit far, but those three teams are three well-organized teams, and bring with them Wilson, Rahal, Power, Doornbos, and likely the two best of the remaining drivers (Pagenaud? Junqueira?). I know on an IndyCar site, these guys may not make hearts flutter, but at that point, other than Paul Tracy, what top open-wheel driver in left in Champ Car, really?
Incidentally, has anyone ever had anything bad to say about Cotman's performance? I mean, other than series principals with horses in the race?
Man, I'm pumped for March!
The IHJ and the Bringer of the Law on the same Steward Dream Team? Justice will be meted out, my friends. The Discipline Duo will pour out their judgment without benefit of mercy.
Is Tab looking for friends? "Real quick like?" Go home! Everyone respects Cotman, and it was the move that needed to be made, hopefully others are able to do the same...
To quote Churchill (as I often do), "Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."
,,,
today Robin reports Tony Cotman will soon be reporting for duty as the IRL's new Iron Hand of Justice, Jr.
Jeff,
If Miller is reporting it, I want independent verification! For all we know Cotman may have simply stopped at the IMS Hall of Fame Museum to look at some classic cars and buy a diecast, and RM fabricated the rest. :^P
With the Bringer of Law and the IRON Hand of Justice in one league, the mind boggles at the awesome power that can be marshalled. Perhaps after they put the IRL & IPS on the straight and narrow, they can go to the N-Word on their weekends off and clean up the Wild West Show down there. Rick Hendrick, I'm looking at YOU buddy! :^)
Zappatista,
I think Tabernus is just excited to have discovered My Name Is IRL. You can't fault the enthusiasm.
Yeah, sorry. Most of my life has been spent among non-racing-fans.
My bad. :-)