IRL Controversy Split with CART

The split between IRL and CART governing bodies was extremely acrimonious, and both series greatly suffered because of it, as the fan base also split.

The "war" between competing groups of fans was most active on the Internet, especially on motorsport message boards, and tended to affect any attempts at impartial views of either racing series.

The most bitter point of conflict between Champ Car and the IRL was the Indianapolis 500, long considered the crown jewel of North American motorsports.

After the beginning of the IRL in 1996, Tony George restricted entry of the starting 33 cars to 25 IRL cars from full-time IRL teams, with only eight other cars being permitted to start.

In retaliation, CART scheduled what was supposed to become its new showcase event, the U.S. 500, at Michigan International Speedway on the same day The race had a disastrous start. With the cars lined up in rows of three (similar to the Indy 500) Vasser on pole, was about to take the green flag at the start, when he was struck by Fernandez who tagged Herta and ten cars were wrecked out.

U.S. 500, Michigan International Speedway      Start of Race




In 1997, Tony George specified new technical rules for less expensive cars and "production based" engines that outlawed the CART-spec cars that had been the mainstay of the race since the late 1970s.

For the next few years almost all of the CART teams and drivers did not compete in the race.While this situation allowed many American drivers to participate.

The turbulent political situation and the absense of many of the top Indycar drivers, big-name sponsors and faster CART-spec cars cast something of a shadow over the race