They are not Pros anymore

Posted by Iannucci | 3/21/2008 | 5 comments »
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Curt Cavin just casually dropped this today.

...The IRL is changing the name of its Indy Pro Series to Firestone Indy Lights. The name "Indy Lights" was used from 1986 to 2001, with Paul Tracy, Tony Kanaan, Cristiano da Matta and Scott Dixon among its champions...

(MORE from IndyStar.com)
This is probably less confusing since "Indy Pro" didn't designate the highest echelon of competition. Then again "Lights" makes it sound like they're running a bunch of go-karts, so I'll just say Thank You to Firestone for their support and leave it at that.

IPS = FIL? Man, I really dislike acronyms.

Cavin also mentioned the slogan for the IndyCar series has been modified to "I am Indy. One series. All the stars." My, how very Ernest Hemingway of them. Forgive me though if I see the inclusion of the word "Stars" and think some marketing genius thought this was a subtle way to cash in on the "Dancing With..." phenomenon of this past winter. Whatever sells tickets, I suppose.

Eight days until racing, friends.

5 comments

  1. Anonymous // March 21, 2008 8:59 AM  

    not that this has anything to do with your post but I love this quote this from Hemmingway. I learned in "Umbrella Mike" by Brock Yates

    Ernest Hemingway,

    the only true sports are mountain climbing, auto racing, and bull fighting — all the rest are just games

    have a great weekend !

    I added the weekend part

  2. Johnny // March 21, 2008 10:37 AM  

    Lights? Why not Milds or Silver Blend?

  3. Anonymous // March 21, 2008 7:04 PM  

    Indy Lights ???? come on now !! how stupid!!

    the IPS was growing in indentity , now they have to dig up a cigarette sounding blast from the past ??

  4. Anonymous // March 22, 2008 5:55 AM  

    All the Stars!

    Enrique Bernoldi, Mario Moraes, Marty Roth, Milka! (she's like Charo, no last name necessary)...

    SERIOUS "STAR*POWER"!!!

  5. Fred Hurley // March 22, 2008 8:20 AM  

    I think the IRL is trying to reboot championship racing back to where it was in the late eighties and early nineties. Basically, they're pretending that the last 12 years never happened.

    Oh, and I called them going back to Indy Lights a month ago. ;-)