By ANTHONY ANDRO For Worth Star-Telegram Indianapolis 500 champion Dan Wheldon made it clear Friday that he thinks the IRL IndyCar Series is in competition with NASCAR.
"If I was some of those NASCAR officials, I would be getting real scared, because there's a championship that's coming to push that fan base away maybe," said Wheldon, driver of the No. 26 Andretti Green Racing Panoz/Honda. "So watch out, boys."
Wheldon believes the Indy Racing League needs to strike while the series is at its most visible. Ratings for ABC's broadcast of the 89th Indianapolis 500 May 29 were up 59 percent over last year's race. The Indy 500 outdrew NASCAR's Coca Cola 600, which was on Fox later in the day.
While Wheldon attributed some of the interest to Danicamania, he believes the series has the superior product.
"A lot of drivers are with the same team and the same sponsors, and I think people are starting to get attracted to those personalities," said Wheldon, a native of Emberton, England. "The NASCAR drivers have been around so long, everybody likes a change now and then. The product we're putting on the track is clearly, I think, the best in the world. Slowly, people are starting to realize that, and you're starting to see it more and more."
LOL....damn this chap is funny. I really wanted to know where I can get the stuff that Dan is drinking. Must be some strong tea he brought over from England. One too many hits to the head with a soccer ball.
I think Lou said it best..."waiting the whole race to see that one pass."
yeh they had a bigger audience, but then again, that was their Super Bowl/Daytona 500 and they barely beat Nascar.
as for a superior product? please, there is a reason Indy and Champ Car always jump ship to Formula 1 if not NASCAR..........its the same reason Busch guys come to Cup.......better racing and more prestige.
I like Wheldon, but i think he was just trying to call some attention to himself and his series anyway he could.
