Depending on who you ask in the world of motor racing Tony George is seen as either a determined figure that reopened the doors of top-level auto racing to the sport’s underdogs or an egotistical figure that helped to all but destroy open wheel racing in North America. Regardless of what you think of him there is no overlooking the part he played in one of the most controversial chapters of Indy’s illustrious history.

Born on December 30 1959, George grew up with motor racing and the Indianapolis 500 firmly rooted into his psyche. His grandfather was the beloved Indianapolis Motor Speedway chairman Tony Hulman, his father the three time 500 participant Elmer George and with the entire family boasting the likes of AJ Foyt as close personal friends. With that kind of background to work from, it appeared that George would be the perfect figure to lead Indycar racing into the 21st century.

When George finally did take over the ownership of IMS in 1989, he did so with the speedway and it’s series firmly in rude health. Television ratings both nationally and globally were the highest they had ever been, high profile superstars such as Emerson Fittipaldi had transitioned over to the sport, and thanks to its mix of oval and road course racing looked set to pose a genuine threat to the global dominance of Formula One. Despite this however George began to have concerns over the long term-sustainability of the sport, increased costs had created a spending way war which favoured the sport’s powerhouse teams such as Penske and Newman Haas at the detriment to more under funded outfits, whilst the increase of road course led to European based drivers being hired by teams over oval based American drivers, with the majority of those (including an Indianapolis based youngster by the name of Jeff Gordon) to pursue a career in Nascar racing instead. Although George did have a place on the board of Indycar racing, his role in proceedings was largely minimal, derogatorily dismissed as merely a track owner despite the importance that IMS and the 500 had on the series.

The tensions between the two sides came to a head in 1994, when George announced the formation of the Indy Racing League, with it’s first race set to be held for the 1996 season. The new series would fix many of the wrongs George found with Indycar racing at the time, a cheaper car and engine package would allow for closer competition and increased opportunities for smaller outfits, whilst the emphasis on oval racing played into the hands of American junior drivers over ride-buying Europeans. The reaction to the decision was hostile, especially from CART who saw George’s decision as a blatant power move to seize control of American Open Wheel Racing. When George further created ructions with the introduction of the 25+8 rule (more on that later) CART responded by moving a 500 mile race at Michigan to the same day as that year’s 500, making any sort of compromise between the two sides for the event an impossibility.

On May 29th, 1996 two 500 mile races ended up taking place, with CART taking its superstar teams and drivers to inaugural US500, whilst Indy played host to a hodgepodge group of rookies, aging veterans and year old machines. Although both races still turned out to be well regarded events, with Indy producing a heroic winner which we’ll cover in a later episode, the damage had been done to American open wheel racing. Ratings for both series fell, with Nascar free to pick up the pieces from disillusioned fans.

CART would suffer from financial issues throughout its existence, declaring bankruptcy in 2002 before eventually being reunited with Indycar racing in time for the 2008 campaign. Tony George had managed to seize control of American Open Wheel Racing, but did so at the expense of fans, ratings and goodwill that Indy continues to fight for to this day.

For more information about The Split today’s video is an episode of ESPN’s Outside The Lines, focusing on each of the 500 mile events:

Tomorrow a young Canadian goes further then ever to win at Indy…literally.