Alex Meshkin

Rumors are running rampant that Danica Patrick is going to jump from IndyCar to NASCAR. Is this a negotiating tactic with Andretti Green Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing or is she seriously considering a move to stock car racing? One must wonder why the poster child of IndyCar Racing would take the risk and make a move to NASCAR, which undisputedly, is crumbling as I speak. I can image NASCAR dangling HUGE financial incentives and prepackage endorsements, but why take the risk?

On the flipside to NASCAR’s continued problems with retaining the support of the automakers, IndyCar Racing is poised for a significant rebound in sponsorship demand and automotive support in the coming years. There is widespread speculation that Volkswagen/Audi, and possibly Toyota, BMW and Mercedes-Benz may join the IndyCar series in 2012. This is the result of IndyCar’s long-term vision and planning to strategically position itself as a “green” marketing platform for the automakers. A few of years ago, a move to NASCAR may have been considered a “step up” – but one most wonder if that still holds true today. Two of the most prolific IndyCar racers in this past decade struggled (and I am being kind) in their attempt to cross over to NASCAR. Dario Franchitti, the 2007 Indy 500 and IndyCar Champion failed miserably in his 2008 NASCAR foray and Sam Hornish continues to struggle. I don’t mean to be disrespectful to Danica – but she couldn’t remotely keep pace with Sam Hornish or Dario Franchitti in IndyCar, so I don’t expect her to be any more successful than Dario or Sam in NASCAR (Note: Dario and Danica were teammates 2006-2007). The odds are clearly against her if she makes the move.

My sources indicate that NASCAR, led by Brian France is offering significant guarantees to lure Danica to NASCAR. So if her primary motivation is money – we should expect her to make a debut later this year in preparation for the 2010 NASCAR season. A more intriguing question remains – why is NASCAR focused on attracting one driver, when the entire sport, (namely race teams), are facing financial annihilation? This not only is short sighted, but outrageously blind to the real problems facing the sport.

Many believe Danica is NASCAR’s bandage to stop hemorrhaging sponsors, fans and other commercial interest. I remain skeptical. While I agree she would drive a short term bump in ratings- the fundamentals of NASCAR racing is spiraling out of control – and no amount of estrogen is going to stop the bleeding. NASCAR needs to focus on fixing the business model challenges for teams and improving the COT – so the on-track racing can return to what fans deserve and expect.

Treating NASCAR like an amusement park and adding a new “attraction” may seem like a good idea – but in the end, it will only disguise the fundamental challenges that may devastate the sport that many still love. And Danica, well, she may be just another bump in the road for NASCAR – and at the end of the day, regret her move in the wrong lane.

Unlike, the NASCAR Silly Season of 2008, Formula 1 hasn’t seen any real drama or excitement with driver swaps and changes as the paddock prepares for the 2009 season. But is that about to change?

As many F1 enthusiasts know, Fernando Alonso is calculating and plotting his next career move in order to place him back with a championship caliber racing team. Most motorsports’ analysts have assumed Alonso would stay at Renault for another year and then head to Scuderia Ferrari in 2010. But this may not happen – at least that is the opinion of Hans-Joachim Stuck; a famous Grand Prix driver in the 70’s who now heads up Volkswagen’s racing division. Stuck, who prior to his VW appointment was long associated with BMW, believes the German brand should strive for a long-term contract with Alonso to partner Robert Kubica.

As an avid Formula 1 follower, an Alonso-BMW deal may be the final element BMW requires to compete with the upper echelon Formula 1 organizations such as McLaren Mercedes and Scuderia Ferrari. But one must wonder will Alonso join another team which hasn’t yet proven their ability to challenge for a drivers’ championship. But then again, from BMW’s vantage point you certainly can’t argue with Hans-Joachim Stuck: “If you can secure an Alonso for the long term, then you must,” Stuck insisted. If BMW wants to increase their chances of convincing Alonso to commit – in the coming grand prix they better recapture the on-track performance they displayed earlier this season.

On a personal note, as a long-term fan of Fernando Alonso and a dedicated BMW driver; the combination of the two would bring a whole new excitement to the Formula 1 grid in 2009.

On Friday, Wired published an article titled – The Car of Tomorrow Has an Extension Cord – a discussion of the future plug-in hybrids coming soon to your local car dealer showroom. This discussion further demonstrates the continued divide between NASCAR and all automakers.
The founding principle and most basic concept behind NASCAR was and is “stock car” racing; and the ability for carmakers to demonstrate their performance of a car that closely models a car in the local showroom. This principle is no longer applied in NASCAR and is one of the basic problems existing for carmakers today in justifying their marketing expenditures in NASCAR.
“Stock car” doesn’t mean “old” or antiquated but means the use of current technologies which are closely tied to their street car equivalents. The age old adage of “Win on Sunday and Buy on Monday” is no longer applicable in NASCAR – and is contributing to the eroding sales of the Big 3. Furthermore, the COT is alienating carmakers by further dividing marketing objectives of the carmakers and the value proposition of NASCAR.
The future of carmakers exists in plug-in hybrids – the combination of battery power and biofuels. According to Wired; it all starts in 2010. General Motors (GM) promises to have the Chevrolet Volt rolling into showrooms by then. Toyota says it will roll out a small fleet of plug-in Prius hybrids to see how they do. Volkswagen has similar plans for its plug-in Golf. And Fisker Automotive hopes to have a few dozen pricey Karma sedans in driveways within 18 months. Ford and others are moving more slowly, aiming for 2012 and beyond.
It may surprise some to learn that widespread adoption of plug-in hybrids isn’t in the distant future and may be in consideration for your next car. According to Mike Omotoso of J.D. Power & Associates “…we could see critical mass by 2015.”
NASCAR has a real opportunity for leadership – and can provide automotive manufacturers a real marketing platform that demonstrates alternative energy as performance cars – that are viable, affordable and energy efficient – and return NASCAR to its roots as “stock car” racing at its best.