Mark Miles: Please Step Away From IndyCar

Mark Miles, a man who's resumé includes a Pan-American Games, the ATP and a Super Bowl has the respect of many including myself... but he has to step away from IndyCar... for a moment. Not for good but he needs to talk to the fans, drivers, team own... nah skip the team owners for a moment and hire someone else (Derrick Walker or someone like Derrick Walker) to talk to them, and learn what the core wants.

IndyCar does not have much but the product has been damn fine since reunification in 2008. Car count is up, we have a new car, multiple engine manufactures, racing was at a all-time high level this past season, the current field of drivers is the most impressive since the 1990s, not a lot Miles has to change.

But the report he wants a PLAYOFF! That sets me off. First and foremost, if you are copying NASCAR, I ask this: If NASCAR jumps off a cliff, do you jump as well? NO!

Racing and playoffs should not exist. It is an aggregate season just as most soccer leagues are around the world. Each race matters. Plus we have an oval championship, road and street course championship and the Triple Crown is back. No playoff needed.

If you look at NASCAR and golf's Fedex Cup, you will see two playoffs that fans either are not that hot about or do not care about. The "Chase" produces some final race drama but for the most part, it feels fake. You can go from getting in by the skin of your teeth to winning two or three races and suddenly be a "deserving champion." And the nobody takes the Fedex Cup serious as deciding golf's champion. There are four majors and plenty of other tournaments to decide who is the best golfer around. Let's get something straight, most playoffs are this way. They do not reward the best teams/people/drivers/competitors rather handicap them to allow someone who would be on the outside looking in a shot.

If you want to create a fake, manufactured championship, write a damn movie with a underdog story, oh wait, I think people have already done that for IndyCar.

As for lights at the Speedway, as long as that race in May begins in the late morning (11am please), I am fine.

Miles also wants to make "tweaks" to the 2013 schedule and "major changes" for 2014. As for "tweaks," if he could add a race (preferably an oval) in September that would be fine but when it comes to "major changes," a playoff should not be it. Phoenix, Road America, Austin, Richmond, Michigan, New Hampshire, that would be a major change.

Mark Miles, I bet you offer IndyCar a lot of promise, but let's not do ridiculously dumb stuff. You wouldn't make Wimbledon an three day event with only eight tennis players would you? Let's not turn IndyCar into three-fourths of trying to be tenth and one-fourth of fake drama.