Bad start in Sao Paulo

The straightaway surface problem on one street in Sao Paulo has created a poor season's start for IndyCar.

This, after a stagnant preseason of bad news ranging from Graham Rahal without a ride, no sponsors for too many teams and races, the failure-to-thrive Versus TV deal still without DirectTV and the whole new what-will-they-decide-and-when 2012 rules package that doesn't know if it wants to be progressive or conservative.

And if IndyCar bipartisanship is anything like it is in Washington there may be a crisis brewing.

The new car is all we have to be passionate about.  It's the key to whether or not IndyCar will be around in five years.  It's the audacity of hope, to steal a phrase.


Meanwhile, we have this year and next to get through.  With the same teams at the top, with or without sponsors, the same relatively ugly car we've seen for far too many seasons and a few new races at new venues.

Like the first one of the season at a virgin street course in Brazil.  IN BRAZIL.  It's bad enough we have as many Japanese drivers as we do Americans and that the National Guard, Boy Scouts of American and U.S. Air Force cars are driven by a two Brits and a Brazilian.  But to begin this season with an out of country wimper instead of a bang -- especially when NASCAR is off! -- is just plain dumb.

Then the weekend starts off the same way it did for CART when they ran the first San Jose Grand Prix.

At least that race was in the middle of the season.

This is not the way you want to take the green for 2010.