The Indianapolis News from Indianapolis, Indiana • 8

A-8 THE INDIANAPOLIS NEWS Monday, May 7. 1990 George foresees no race NASCAR racing and go to another form of racing. "If you'd run a stock car race here there would have to be a lot of changes made to the track Itself which would be awfully costly. And we have our hands full running one race a year. The city has to gear up for the month of May.

To do that two or three times a year, we don't want to overburden ourself or anyone else, really." Race now seen globally Last year the Speedway joined In the announcement of construction of an oval track near Tokyo, allowing the use of copyrighted name of "Indy." This is the first step to Indy cars going international on a yearly basis and it is George's thought that an international Triple Crown be established in the near future. George said CART'S marketing has expanded interest in Indy car racing throughout the world and the 500-Mile Race now Is seen over the globe. "I would like to see the races that are run Internationally maybe contested on an oval race track." he said. "That's what Indy car racing Is all about. "And maybe we could look at a Triple Crown on an international level.

In Japan and maybe Europe and the United States." The Indianapolis Newt There won't be a NASCAR race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway under Tony George's regime. But the 500-Mile Race may become part of a new Triple Crown that also will include races in Japan and Europe. And. at least for 1990. qualifying for the Race will be conducted as it has been since his grandfather, the late Tony Hulman, bought the track In 1945.

Those are some of the key Issues George. Speedway president, touched on during a recent lengthy interview. John Cooper, now president of Daytona International Speedway, sat as president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the early 1980s. There was serious talk at the time that a NASCAR race on Labor Day weekend was in the works, but instead Cooper abruptly resigned to take a job with a promotional organization the day before the Speedway opened for Race practice in 1982. "The only way there would be another type of race here would be if there were no Indy cars and no Indy drivers." George said.

"Then. I guess, we would have to look at another form of racing, but tradition and the heritage has been built around Indy cars, open-wheel cars, oval races. It's tough to set aside all that has been achieved in Indy car Bernle Ecclestone. president of the Formula One Constructors Association, used his international political clout to prevent CART from racing in Japan last year and this, but George sees this being overcome shortly. "It's entertainment," he said.

"I suppose we should have kept the Beatles out of the United States. But what good would that do? What purpose does it serve?" An indication was made last May that the qualifying procedure would be altered for 1990. Under the proposed format, nine cars would qualify on each of first three days and six on the final day, and every time a car was bumped it could try again. "It's not going to happen this year." George said. George said no one has come up with what he calls a bulletproof formula.

Under the proposed plan, the weaker teams would be harmed the most by cost. They would be the ones making the most qualifying runs and thus buying the most sets of qualifying tires and having the fewest engines available. "i don't know if it would be advantageous to have that." George said. "I don't know if having a different format, it would Improve our gate on qualifying days. My guess.

It wouldn't improve it that much. "Talk is that it would make a good television package. Again. I don't know what it would be worth to a network. I don't see it being worth substantial enough money to increase the purse and to get that money funneled out to the people who need and safety go hand-in-hand at the Speedway.

Last May. Rick Mears brought the top qualifying lap speed close to 225 mph. George said that as long as conditions on the track are safe and the cars can negotiate traffic, he has no objection to high speeds. But if speeds become uncontrollable, he said, something must be done either aerodynamically or mechanically. NASCAR ordered the insertion of a carburetor restrlctor plate to slow cars at its superspeedways, but in Indy car racing there is no czar to demand an immediate slowdown.

Safety is prime concern "Everybody wants to have a say, everybody has his own interest that he wants to serve." George said. "I'm not saying we should take the position NASCAR does, but at some point if you want to slow down the cars, you've got to look at slowing them down mechanically as opposed to aerodyanamically because you've got to maintain a safe race car. "The aerodynamics are so critical. It doesn't do a thing for the sport if you take the stability out of the cars and you have a greater number of incidents of contact. George indicated Ipafety is a prime concern at the Speedway whether it be constructing a foopath or offering input into construction of Indy cars.

He Insists spectator safety is as important as driver safety. "Obviously, you ean't guard against everything," he' said. "Freak things are going to happen. "I think people assume there is a certain amount of risk when they walk through the gate. If they don't, then they are kidding themselves." In 1989, the winner's purse for the 500 exceeded $1 million for the first time.

Will the payoff, which provided at least $100,000 for everyone of the 33 starters, continue to escalate? George is reluctant to make a commitment on that. He says it depends on other financial opportunities that present themselves as being the deciding factor. "I think we have reasonably price seats," he said. "It's good entertainment value, I think, but short of doing something drastic to our ticket prices, I can't see generating a lot more revenue in order to pay the 'i "We only have one event a year. If we operated like most businesses, maybe it would be a different story." George: It'll be hard to follow grandfather Rich MillerThe Indianapolis News the Speedway, usually drives a Chevrolet Suburban company car.

"The only thing I really don't like is sushi," he said. He got a taste of the Japanese raw fish favorite while heading a Speedway group to Japan on a racing oriented mission last year. George sits behind a wide desk in an office at the Speedway Museum. He has done some refurnishing, but Leroy Nieman paintings still hang on the walls and a few artifacts dating to his grandfather's reign are gathered in a corner. He also uses the same office his grandfather occupied at Hulman Co.

in Terre Haute, although the clutter Tony Hulman maintained Is long since gone. George admits he feels the weight of living up to the legend his grandfather established. "This (Speedway) was a passion of his." George said. "He was involved in a lot of things, but I don't think any of them meant more than this place did." Tony Hulman purchased the dilapidated Speedway from Eddie Rlcken-backer for $750,000 in 1945. Mart Hulman George.

Tony's mother, considered becoming president, but did not want to do so on a dally basis. She Is chairman of the board and still will have a say in major decisions. "I feel very confident that he will do a good job." she said. "He's got a lot more experience than people think, because he has been around here ever since he was a young boy. He worked very closely with Joe the last couple of years and Joe took him Into his confidence a lot.

And he has a background In business. "I Just think it's a young man's game and I think he ll be fine." Belskus agrees. Full circle "We've kind of gone full circle from the old folks like Tony and Joe to young Tony, myself and Bill Donaldson (head of marketing." he said. George's two brothers-in-law Terry Gunter and Steve Krlslloff are vice presidents. Gunter and Krlslloff are married to Tony's sisters Nancy and Josle respectively.

Gunter met Nancy when the Hulman family used to visit New Mexico In the summer. Krlslloff Is a former driver In the 500. "Tony should do very well." said Gunter. who is Involved with the museum. "He knows what to do.

He's got the background now because of his racing. He Interacts well with people. They trust him more than they did because he has racing experience." Golf was George's burning Interest when he was younger and he still enjoys playing whenever possible. His most memorable shot, a weird hole-in-one, came on the No. 2 hole at the Speedway course, which at the time was situated where the museum now stands.

The ball flew off course, struck an object and kicked back onto the green, then struck the pin and dropped Into the hole. "It was a very ugly hole-ln-one," George said. George took up racing several years ago, competing In Formula Fords, su- per vees and, last season, In Bulck-powered American Racing Series cars. Close friend Foyt was his ARS car owner. George was competitive at times, but not a winner.

"I did It to gain more knowledge of the sport." he said. "I started late. I was Interested In It, but I wasn't encouraged to do It until late In life." Still, he has cockpit time (he even drove Foyt's Indy car around the Speedway at 180 mph plus) and knows what speed Is. how It feels to Continued from A-1 would never get the opportunity." George has made the transition from what he calls "my misspent youth" to the presidency by bouncing back from a number of traumatic experiences in his teens, a bitter divorce that revealed cocaine and marijuana use and an acrimonious custody suit. His father.

Elmer George, who drove in the 500 three times, was shot and killed by a family horse trainer at his Terre Haute home the night after the 1976 500-Mile Race. Then In October. 1977. his grandfather died and last December. Cloutier died.

During his high school and college years, young George became quiet and withdrawn, played golf, eventually married Lisa Buckley of Brownsburg and appeared to have no direction in his life. "It was difficult to deal with a lot of things that happened in my life, the disappointments I had." he exclaimed. "I didn't like myself so I didn't see how anyone else could like me." Laura, who met Tony about 12 years ago on a scuba diving trip to the Cayman Islands, says he has changed a lot. "He was really confused about his father being killed." she said. "He was rebellious.

As he got older, he talked to A.J. (Foyt). his mom and Joe Cloutier. He's come to understand and accept It." Jeff Belskus is the youthful treasurer of the Speedway. Also from Terre Haute, he first met George while both were students at Indiana State University.

He now is one of George's most trusted confidants within the organization. "He has a tremendous responsibility." Belskus said. "He has a lot of tradition to live up to. Following the footsteps of his grandfather Is tough to live up to. He's trying." During his defiant period, George said it got to the point where he hated to get up in the morning.

He said Cloutier influenced him to alter his attitude. "The one thing he did was make me realize I was the only one who could change my situation." George said, "and I couldn't hold others responsible for what had happened. I mentioned that at his memorial service." After his divorce. George began dating Laura, who lived In Marshall, III. They were married a year ago and finally found time for a belated honeymoon to where else? the Cayman Islands after this year's Daytona 500 in February.

They are moving Into "the house I've always wanted" In mid-April. It has three levels, a four-car garage, six bedrooms and a swimming pool. Sons Edward. 8. and Tony.

6. are Involved In Cub Scouting and last summer showed skills driving quarter-midgets. George was reared a Catholic, but drifted away from his religion. Now he. Laura and sons attend Traders Point Christian Church.

"Right now. just my family, my wife and boys and the relationship I have with my family. It makes it all worth living for," he said. The new Speedway president drives a Chevrolet Suburban company car. while his wife drives a bronze BMW.

The couple enjoys movies and being Involved with their sons' scouting projects, soccer games and racing. Dining out. George likes all types of restaurants from diners to gourmet. He's become fond of braunschwelger sandwiches for lunch at the Old Village Dell In Speedway and relishes pork chops, liver and seafood. Tony George, leaving a pace car at hit the wall, the frustrations of losing.

He feels this will help him deal with the drivers. "They all have their opinions and they're all entitled to their opinions." he said. "The drivers should have some input, but they should abide by the rules." Foyt, once rumored as a candidate to head the Speedway, calls George "a very smart boy" and the only person who should have been named president. Emerson Fittlpaldl. 42.

Is the defending 500 champion. He sees no problem with having a youthful president of the track where he earned a $1 million check last year. "We've got a young president in Brazil." he said. "He's only 40." Steve Home, head of the True-sports Indy car team, calls George's appointment a good one because "he's a racer." "Sure, he's probably got a lot to learn, but I'm sure he understands most of the business right now." he said. "It's going to be a tough job.

I think, but as far as I'm concerned, he obviously was the right choice." Coif was early passion As a youth. George says he was intimidated by the fact his grandfather constantly made overtures that someday running the Speedway would be his responsibility. As a teen-ager. George was spending more time playing golf, lounging by the pool and watching the cars go around then following his grandfather about. "(He said) if I want to be a part of It, it would be his legacy that he would leave to us." George recalled.

"And It was kind of awesome to think about that. "I really only in the last couple of years realized this Is a tremendous opportunity for me." In addition to his time with Cloutier. George's preparatory education Included a year under the wing of superintendent Charlie Thompson. George says he feels fortunate to have been able to participate In bull ses sions with Cloutier and learn how things were done In the past. "It was great to Just sit around and listen to some of his stories, try and relate how that might still apply today, how It might not apply today," George said.

Thompson noticed a similarity between George and his grandfather in the way he listens and absorbs things. "He doesn't make any snap Judgments. He'll be all right." Thompson said. One thing George says won't bother him will be dealing with the captains of Industry, many of whom may be close to double his age. He says how they perceive the Speedway Is most Important and his age Is only Incidental.

He also must deal with the competing sanctioning bodies of Indy car racing. The United States Auto Club (USAC) sanctions only the 500. while Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) sanctions the rest of the series but provides cars and drivers for Indy. He must maintain a delicate balance between the two. Getting the two to agree to a common set of rules Is the key.

He admits that he does not have the technical knowledge to be qualified to make the rules and sees the need for a rules body of representatives from both groups to formulate regulations for the future. "It's tough, really, because the Penskes and Haases have got so many different interests that sometimes It Is hard to be objective. I think." George said, citing two of the top teams in Indy-car racing. Hulman had a special way of mingling with the fans, talking with them and making them feel like they were special guests at his speed emporium. He did the same with employees such as guards who for years took their vacations In May so they could play a small part in the 500.

George Is more reserved and doubts he'll ever be able to reach out and captivate people the way his grandfather did. However, he says he Intends to work at being more communicative and possibly achieving the same type of admiration. Some of the oldtlmers continue to return one guard celebrated his 65th anniversary In March but George says the Speedway is seeking out new people as the older ones retire. "Obviously. In today's society It is more difficult to find people who are dedicated, who will take the time to plan their vacations during the month of May." he said.

"I'm trying to establish some people who tan carry on In the future and look for more longer term situations." George has been entrusted to carry the Speedway Into the 21st century. In the Immediate future, he sees the need to either repair or replace grandstands and buildings that were first constructed shortly after Hulman purchased the track. He doesn't foresee adding more stands. Hotel in future But his vision is not limited to the next year or two. On the planning board already Is erection of a major hotel on the Speedway grounds.

"Eventually. I think we have with the golf course, the track and museum potential to duplicate what they are doing downtown to bring In the convention business and fill a niche by building a hotel." he said. "It's way down the road. We haven't all agreed to proceed along those lines. If we have an Indoor swimming pool and tennis courts, It would generate business all year round." A dining hall that could serve 1.000 is part of the plan, with the Speedway starting its own catering service.

The Speedway Is etched In tradl-tlon and George wants to retain that flavor. But he also wants to stamp his own mark In the years to come. "We don't want to live In the past." he said. "You can fall back on tradition and all that stuff only so much. You've got to move forward.".