Penske arrival a great thing, but......

Roger Penske's decision to take the legendary Penske name away from CART and into the IRL on a full-time basis has been met with considerable approval by all within the burgeoning oval-only series but while Penske's arrival is fantastic for the IRL's reputation, Penske, and more specifically their Marlboro money, have raised the stakes considerably for a series that prides itself on its lack of massive budgets.

There is no doubting that the tide has turned. It took just one official press conference to confirm that Roger Penske was upping ship, taking his two consecutive CART FedEx titles, double Champion Gil De Ferran, the infectious smile and sublime talent of Helio Castroneves, the history and tradition of Penske in CART and of course Marlboro, to the Indy Racing League.

While CART let their crown jewel slip through their fingers, the Indy Racing League now looks stronger and more competitive than ever with Penske joining fellow CART/IRL team owner Mo Nunn on a full-time basis next year.

Understandably every single Indy Racing League stalwart team cannot wait to test their mettle against a team who turned up and cleaned up at Indianapolis last season with Castroneves leading De Ferran home in a dominant 1-2 and finally show how far they have come against a team rightfully regarded as the leader in US open-wheel racing.

However while everyone is happy for Penske to be in the IRL, some bosses are being careful to state that the series cannot afford to price out the smaller teams (which comprise the majority of the IRL grid) with bigger budgets, more testing and development. Something which only Penske and a lucky few others are likely to have the money for.

The series is already looking at a rise in running costs when Toyota, Lola and Reynard throw their hats into the ring in 2003 and with a lack of money prevailing across the board in US Motorsports and not just in CART, 2002 could yet be a make or break year for the series as have so many others since its inception in 1996.

Below are the views of some of the Indy Racing League's longest serving team owners and managers.

JOHN BARNES (Co-owner, Panther Racing, 2001 Indy Racing League champions):
"We won't prepare any different if Penske, Newman-Haas, Team Green or Richard Childress comes to the IRL. We go out to the best of our ability every race. I think it is a positive for them to come here, just as it is for any new team we add to the league that is coming here to compete. We have a lot of respect for Team Penske and anybody that comes on board. We don't take anybody lightly. They came for one reason, because of the strength of our league."

KEVIN BLANCH (Team manager, Panther Racing, 2001 Indy Racing League champions):
"It's good to have anybody come and race in our league. It demonstrates how strong the league is and how important open-wheel, oval-track racing is in the U.S. It increases the level of competition, for sure, just because of their background. I don't think they are going to come here and dominate the series by any means. There are a lot of great teams in this league."

RON HEMELGARN (Owner, Hemelgarn Racing, 2000 Indy Racing League champions):
"Just another race team, really. I think it shows how great the Indy Racing League is, how it has increased in popularity. It's a statement about how it has grown in stature. Him and Mo Nunn is just the beginning of those who will be coming over. Basically, we've got an epidemic of foot-in-mouth-disease. We've got some pretty gosh-darn good teams in the IRL. We've had to run against Panther Racing, a good team, Foyt Racing, a good team. We've already got fierce competition. One thing that is going to happen is the cost is going to go up. Probably in time as more and more come back, which they will, it started with Indy and now the series, things are going to be different."

LEE KUNZMAN (Team manager, Hemelgarn Racing):
"I don't know if we can just look at Penske. There are several good teams over there (CART). I'm not concerned with how fast they can go. They have depth and efficiency. My biggest concern is they are used to spending the big dollars. The more big teams you get, the more efficient you have to become. It's not in speed but in detail. We've competed with them before. It raises the cost bar as far as efficiency is concerned. I think the IRL has an advantage in the rules package. It makes a level playing field. I hope they keep it that way so we won't get this crazy escalation in cost. It's got to be contained."

A.J. FOYT (Owner, A.J. Foyt Enterprises, 1996 Indy Racing League champions, four-time Indianapolis 500 winner as driver, one win as owner):
"I'm glad to see Roger come back. I think he has realized how strong the IRL has become, and he has always known how important Indianapolis (500) is. He knows that Indianapolis made Roger Penske what he is today, and it doesn't surprise me that he is back. I just wonder what took him so long."

JOHN MENARD (Owner, Team Menard, 1996-97 and 1999 Indy Racing League champions):
"I think it means a lot to the league. As a car owner, I welcome the chance to compete against him. It'll be a lot of fun, interesting, and good for the fans. This series is going to get even tougher with Roger bringing a two-car team that won the championship and the Indy 500, too. It's going to be pretty tough, and I'm certain his presence will be felt. The one thing I see is we'll have to step up a little and spend a few more dollars."

DENNIS REINBOLD (Co-owner, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing):
"When Team Penske comes in, I think it's a very positive thing for the league, and it's going to make a big impact on other teams because the bar has raised as of now. We know that in order to compete we have to get ourselves ready to compete against a big-budget team and to compete on a different level than where we've been in a lot of different aspects. That's a positive from the standpoint of preparing the racecar and from us preparing the way we run our team. It's also a positive from the sponsorship standpoint and the growth of-the-league standpoint. I think it's tremendous that they are coming full time to the IRL. I think it's a very, very big pat on the back to Tony George and Brian Barnhart, the IRL staff, and everything they've done."

OWEN SNYDER III (Team manager, #51 Red Bull Cheever Indy Racing, 1998 Indy 500 winners):
"I think it is the kind of PR you can't put a value on. It would be pretty pricey and has a lot of credibility. It shows where the league has come. It's a pretty big step. The competition level is going up. I think the things the IRL have are pretty overwhelming, the TV package, the schedule, and the competition. It's a heck of a product. We'd like to think we have a bit of an advantage (over the incoming Penske team). We've run the IRL a few years. I like to think we have to step up and be able to compete not having the same budget. This year will be the most level playing field. Then it will become harder and harder."

FRED TREADWAY (Owner, Treadway Racing):
"I'm happy. Obviously, if you have a team, you want to try to beat Penske. If your team can beat Penske, you've done a good job. Not only Penske but beat Marlboro, too. They give credence that you are a league. Roger was with us two years ago with Jason Leffler. He indicated then he just wanted to be a sponsor.

(About competing against Penske): "That's OK. That's what racing's all about. People show up at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and you want the best to be there to compete. Having a limited field, you wouldn't feel like you had beaten the best. I could say I could beat Ali, but until I got in the ring with him and did it, it wouldn't mean much."