First, some background. There hasn't been an official announcment but it's believed that this year at road and street courses the IRL will have traditional podiums featuring the top 3 finishers spraying champagne on each other. Or ignoring each other. Or kissing each other.
And although Texas Motor Speedway is most certainly NOT a road or street course, TMS uber-promoter Eddie Gossage has weighed in on the concept of "podiums".
"In America, the winner goes to Victory Lane. And everybody else goes to the garage and should soak their tears in their beer and figure out how to be faster next week. What's next? Certificates of participation for everybody?" - Eddie Gossage
Remember friends, this is the same guy who gave us this masterpiece.
Other than Indy his race is the most highly-attended event on the schedule, so argue with him at your own peril.
Random Thoughts on Long Beach
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Now, that was more like it! On a track that can sometimes produce a dud,
and following two consecutive snoozers to start the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series
season...
1 day ago
Eddie is ready to use whatever he can grab to get butts in the seats. Danica vs. Dan, his grandma on a stripper pole, whatever. He's perfect for Texas. I hope Tracy has a ride by Texas so we can see what he does with Bad Boy Tracy. I actually like the podium thing. They could do both. Have the winner pull into victory circle, do that whole thing, then have him (or her!) join the second and third place winners on a podium.
Eddie has to be crying over the fact that NOBODY has bought out Paul Tracy's contract from Gerry "I shall hold Paul Tracy hostage for One . . . Hundred . . . MEEEEELION Dollars!" Forsythe. I mean, if Tracy biffs a few IRL regulars out of the way on the way to Texas, that's good enough for some Texas Style throwdown hype AND an extra grandstand at TMS!
IMO, podiums are only fun if 1) among the top three finishers are teammates who cannot hide their utter contempt and hatred for each other as they stand there (see F1: Hamilton and Alonzo as the '07 season went on, or classic Senna and Prost), 2) One of the top three finishers feels the winner screwed them out of a win and wants to be vocal about it (See CCWS: Mont-Treblant last year where SeaBass showed how well he could handle other drivers beating him), 3) Somebody finshes in a podium position who's never been there before and they go absolutely bug nuts celebrating. I can't think of a particular example of 3), but I'm sure there have been some "HOLY COW!!! I'M actually UP HERE!!!! PAAAARRRTTYYYYY!!!!!!" moments.
Methinks Eddie is looking for the next Foyt vs. Luyendyk in Victory Lane.
Lest, we not forget that he pumped up Cheever V. Andretti two years ago too. Is there a flyer of that....I'll be back...
I actually like the idea of a podium, at least at some tracks. Incidentally, hasn't the IRL done this before? I seem to recall Sarah Fisher getting sprayed with champagne by two other drivers at Kentucky (a neat moment, by the way). In a top-level series, where all of the talented drivers are racing each other (say, IndyCar once the next chassis package has put everyone on even footing), finishing in the top three does have some meaning. Not as much as winning, but some. Why not have a podium in victory lane, after which the second and third drivers leave, and the winner gets to stay and celebrate with their team. You could have the team roll the car in after the other two drivers leave. Best of both worlds, and something different from other top-level series.
As far as Eddie G, I'd have to go along with an un-named F1 commentator who declared him simply as "odious." He once said anyone who likes road courses needs an enema. Haha, thanks for letting me know how NOT to spend my money there Eddie. I wouldn't give him a dime if he was racing Raikkonen and Schumacher vs. the Boz Brothers on matching MV Agustas on the surface of the sun.
For podiums, it's pretty much Euro tradition and something the ICS needs to consider to present a product that p*ssed off European F1 fans can relate to in some way. Obviously Indy has its own tradition, does Kentucky? Plus like others have said, the passive aggressive hatred amongst competitors on those things is pure TV gold.
i'm all for the podiums