Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/42057
VIEWS FROM THE GRANDSTANDS Crew chief shuffle As Chase competition intensifies, leaders become an easy target on lagging teams chiefs. H In July alone, five Sprint Cup crew chiefs were fired. That's about one of every eight full-time chiefs in the series, an amazing attrition rate by any standard. The victims of this midseason massacre were Brian Pattie (replaced by Jim Pohlman on Juan Pablo Montoya's team); Pat Tryson (replaced by Chad John- son on Martin Truex's squad); Todd Berrier (replaced by Luke Lambert on Jeff Burton's team); Greg Erwin (replaced by Matt Puccia on Greg Biffle's team); and Mike Shiplett (replaced by Erwin on A.J. All- mendinger's crew). The moves were made by large LOOSE LUGNUTS More North American F1 races? Construction is proceeding on the new Formula 1 track in Austin, Texas, with the inaugural F1 race scheduled for 2012. But one U.S. race might not be enough. The pre- mier worldwide open wheel series is interested in a second American race. Talks have begun with inves- tors about holding an F1 grand prix in New York as early as 2013. One proposal calls for running a street race along the banks of the Hudson River, using the waterfront and iconic Manhattan skyline as the backdrop. Meanwhile, Mexico wants to bring F1 back after a nearly 20-year hiatus. The interest is thanks to Sergio Perez, the first Mexican Formula 1 driver since 1981. If a Mexico race is added to the schedule, it likely will be run at the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit, which hosted all of Mexico's previous F1 races. The timing of the race would depend in part on how soon the course could be upgraded. Another option could be a new street circuit in Guadalajara. IndyCar exposure America's open wheel series is looking to expand its borders, too. IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard says the sport's long-term plan calls for a European swing. 36 TRUCKERS NEWS OCTOBER 2011 IndyCar is little-known across the pond right now, but Bernard noted that European television ratings for the 2011 Indianapolis 500 were up more than 10 percent over the 2010 race. Another beneficiary of those rat- ings is the ABC television network. ABC and IndyCar have extended their long-running relationship, agreeing that the network will be the exclusive broadcast partner for the traditional Memorial Day race through 2018. Carmaker title under wraps Who's winning the NASCAR manu- facturers' championship? Who knows? Manufacturer standings used to be displayed at the end of each race telecast, right after the driver points update. NASCAR still tallies automaker points, but now essentially ignores this contest. It shouldn't. NASCAR fans are as committed to the cars as they are the drivers. I'm a Chevy gal and if my driver Jeff Gordon isn't in a position to win, I pull for the Bowtie that has a chance to take the checkers. NASCAR has hitched its wagon to the cult of driver per- sonality in recent years, but that obviously hasn't stemmed the loss of fans. If NASCAR played up the manufacturers' race, it would give auto fans something else to follow. ail to the chief? In NASCAR this season, it's hailing on the Chad Knaus and Jimmie Johnson are one of the few NASCAR teams that hasn't been split. (Roush Fenway Racing/Biffle), mid- sized (Target Ganassi/Montoya) and small teams (Richard Petty Motor- sports/Allmendinger). But the motive behind each was the same: a last- ditch effort to boost a team into the Chase for the Championship and, if not, to start building for 2012. At the time their crew chiefs were fired, none of those five teams had won in 2011 — and this in a season of true parity, with drivers like Trevor Bayne, David Ragan and Paul Menard all notching their first Sprint Cup victories and no single driver dominating the win column. Perhaps more important is all of those teams had hoped to contend for the championship, but no team was close to securing its spot in the expanded season-ending playoff. In baseball, the adage goes, man- agers are hired to be fired, and frus- trated owners dump the manager because they can't get rid of all the players. So it is in NASCAR these days, too. Most drivers, even the mediocre ones, cost too much to replace and, really, who would replace them, anyway? Over-the-wall crew mem- bers are often switched in and out, but those maneuvers rarely add up to much, unless, like Jimmie John- son's crew chief Chad Knaus did last year, you switch out an entire team in the middle of a race. That leaves owners with only one real option: Replace the crew chief and hope a change of philosophy, KAY BELL GEOFF BURKE/GETTY IMAGES FOR NASCAR