For the first time, the first time in my life, I have lost all faith in the Hulman-George family. How Tony Hulman, one of essential figures in saving the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and forming USAC, is related to the current members of the board is beyond me.
The facts that the tracks brings in 250,000 people each Sunday Memorial Day weekend and has never, NEVER, asked the city government for any money, not even a money is gone. When running a business you put FAMILY aside and make decisions for the BUSINESS. The Hulman-George family clearly can no longer run a business with their decision to remove Randy Bernard as CEO of IndyCar.
The man who worked to save races at Milwaukee and most recently Baltimore, brought back Pocono and Fontana and GOT THE SERIES A NEW CAR AND ADDITIONAL ENGINE MANUFACTURES AFTER ALMOST A DECADE OF A SPEC SERIES. Not to forget mention that new car and the multiple engine manufactures put on some of the best racing since the mid 1990s.
The man turned IndyCar from hemorrhaging money to on the brink of breaking even. He has been doing his all with a less than ideal television package to get viewers to watch the races, including a very popular move of putting Texas and Iowa on ABC in 2013.
Despite not coming from a racing background, Randy Bernard work harder each and every year to better his knowledge and work better with the teams and drivers. He hired Beaux Barfield as chief steward, a popular decision with the fans, and Will Phillips has done a great job with the development of the DW12. Was the man perfect? No, nobody is and no one ever will be. But he was a damn fine man and he was better than his predecessor.
Despite all the positive things Randy Bernard did for IndyCar and the Hulman-George Family it is clear as day: Blood is thicker than water, but that is how you should run a business. The decision was made by a family who could not shut out one of their despite, despite the lack of competency of the one family member. Randy Bernard did more in 2010 than Tony George did from 1996-2009. Bernard has lapped Tony George 20 times as of today but sadly blood is thicker than water.
I am truly sorry Randy Bernard. You are going to be missed. No hard feelings. Don't be a stranger.
As for the Hulman-George family: Way to f@$k up IndyCar.
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