And so it begins.

Editor's Note: Peter will return next week with a new "Fumes." Check out John Thawley's outstanding images as well as A.J. Morning's report from the Daytona 24 Hour (Rolex 24) in "The Line." - WG

By Peter M. De Lorenzo

(Posted 1/21, 5:00 p.m.) Detroit. Despite all of the issues and problems associated with the state of racing in America these days, the dawn of a new season always brings more than a shred of optimism with it that somehow, someway things will be for the better. I was quite clear about the serious issues facing racing in this country in my last column. This week? Perhaps we can talk about some of the good stuff to expect, at least as much as possible.

NASCAR's four-day media tour based out of the Charlotte Motor Speedway kicked-off this week, and the news - or non-news, whatever the case may be - is trickling out. I expect more of the same this season from NASCAR, although I do think the newness of the re-bodied cars could make for some interesting racing and some interesting maneuvering both on and off the track. I expect NASCAR to give serious consideration to adding more road races to the schedule, because the participating manufacturers let the NASCAR hierarchy know in no uncertain terms in meetings last month that this should be a priority. Two road races, in fact. Likely candidates? Road America and Road Atlanta, with one of the two being part of The Chase. I also see a corresponding deletion of two existing oval events to accomodate this move so that there will be no expansion of the already bloated Sprint Cup schedule. And we should see NASCAR finally moving to on-board telemetry in the cars, so fans can see everything going on in the cockpit. Overdue, but welcome nonetheless.

The Daytona 500 is always special for the NASCAR contingent, but it's no barometer as to the health of the rest of the schedule. A rip-roaring, spectacular "500" with upbeat TV viewing numbers would be just what the doctor ordered for NASCAR, but it's what goes on after after Daytona that the TV executives and media will be watching closely. Charting the traditional fall-off in in-person attendance after the 500 and monitoring the corresponding TV ratings will be watched very closely. If we see a continuation of the downward trending numbers that we've seen of late, people are going to get edgy. As in very, very nervous. NASCAR may get a traditional spike of interest after the 500 but if they continue on their downward spiral, it's going to get very difficult for the powers that be in Daytona Beach to explain away the trend. That pretty much covers the positives to look forward to as I see it in NASCAR land, unfortunately.

IndyCar is on the clock yet again. With a rejuvenated schedule (See "The Line" - WG) and two engine manufacturers, Chevrolet and Honda (Lotus is out, although come to think of it they were never really in), I expect more of the same in IndyCar as well. That's just the reality of the situation. It's no secret that beyond the Indianapolis 500, IndyCar's TV ratings numbers are the very definition of dreadful, as in almost nonexistent. So corporate America and the media will be watching closely to see if there are any signs of life in IndyCar beyond the 500. It's becoming more and more difficult for major sponsors to take IndyCar seriously when Indianapolis is the series' only reason for being.

Wait a minute, wasn't this supposed to be an optimistic, new season/new beginnings-type column? Yes, it was, but the glaring negatives associated with IndyCar right now just cannot be swept under the rug. Oh well.

At least we have major league road racing to look forward to this weekend. It's no secret that the Daytona 24 Hour - or Rolex 24 as it's officially referred to - has taken on a new sense of urgency this year, what with the two American road racing series - the American Le Mans Series and the Grand-Am Series - coming together just one year from now. This weekend's race will, come to think of it, be a dress rehearsal for one year from now because the unified series is basically throwing all of its respective classes - except for P1 - in a bag and having at it. It will be confusing and irritating to some degree, depending on what side of the fence you're on, but there's no question in my mind that road racing in this country has a window of opportunity - albeit a sliver of one - to actually move toward an upward trajectory.

It certainly won't be more of the same, that's for sure.

Publisher's Note: As part of our continuing series celebrating the "Glory Days" of racing, we're proud to present another noteworthy image from the Ford Racing Archives. - PMD

(Courtesy of the Ford Racing Archives and Wieck Media)
Bridgehampton, New York, September 18, 1966.  Dan Gurney at speed in his No. 30 All American Racers Lola T70 Mk. 2 Weslake-Ford in the Bridgehampton Grand Prix Can-Am race. Gurney sat on the pole and dominated the race in his gorgeous Lola. Chris Amon (No. 5 McLaren Racing Ltd. McLaren Elva Mk. II Chevrolet) qualified second and finished that way, and Bruce McLaren (No. 4 McLaren Racing Ltd. McLaren Elva Mk. II Chevrolet) finished third. Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral Cars Chaparral 2E Chevrolet) finished in fourth place. 

Publisher's Note: Like these Ford racing photos? Check out www.fordimages.com. Be forewarned, however, because you won't be able to go there and not order something. - PMD