Disney to buy Indianapolis Speedway???

[DisneyBaby!]

Ok, Now that I got your attention.
I just got the latest copy of Car and Driver in the mail yeaterday and there was an blurb in an article by the great Brock Yates that mentioned the brickyard was for sale and one of the groups he mentioned that was interested was the Disney Corporation.

I am not saying this is NEWS or a RUMOR, don't want to upset anyone and be called an idiot for thinking this was a good idea, but I am ASKING has anyone heard about this? They put these magazines to bed a month or so ahead so this might be old news, but I have not heard of this.

What are the Synergistic possibilities of the purchase (lets have fun with this and PRETEND it was going to happen). I see them sealing the deal before the new Cars movie comes out, and the premire is at a giant Drive-In they construct in the infield of the Speedway, all of the top drivers from all motorsports are invited to come, as well as carmakers who can bring their classics as well as their newest hottest models? I am almost passing out from the thought of it.

Anyone?

 

[2Xited4Disney]

Well for one thing the Indy 500 being on ABC or ESPN for the next 50 years


hhahah I like your optimissim with (Lets have fun and pretend)... I like to pretend and think about the synergy between all of the Disney company branches. It is really fun to think about the possibilities. Unfortunately I don't think you are going to find many "pretenders" here on the news and rumors board. (besides me and you)
Please no one take offense to the previous comment. It was not meant offensively : )

 

[Magix]

Brock Yates thinks IMS is for SALE??!!?? Oh God, please let it be true!! It would mean the end of Tony George and his IRL madness!

Instead of Disney, I'd love to see Champ Car buy it. Oh... how I'd love to see that... such pure, sweet victory...

Can't believe this hasn't been discussed on my various auto racing web forums. Seriously, I doubt there's any validity to Yate's story (he's notorious for this kind of thing), but I'd love to see it come to pass.

 

[DisneyBaby!]

Yes,
The Brockmiester is not always the most reliable source. As I said, this was just a mere blurb in his recent rant, I mean article. The fact I have never heard of this makes me suspect, I am just wondering if anyone has heard anything like this. It's probably one of those things where any time something is up for sale, Disney is a prospective bidder.

 

[buckylarue]

...they can charge people $50 a pop to get their names carved on each of the bricks!

 

[Chelley00]

Hmmmm, I live in Indianapolis, and I'm thinking this would have been major news here, and I haven't heard a thing about it

 

[DisInsider]

...they can charge people $50 a pop to get their names carved on each of the bricks!

Yeah in 1975 perhaps. The bricks would go for at least $150 each. Remember they, no we would have to pay for the new "Disney's AUTOPIA Motor Speedway."

 

[Magix]

Well, folks are talking about it at my racing forums now. Lots of speculation about whether there's any truth to this. Most seem to feel Disney would be horrible for IMS. Turns out the France family (owners of NASCAR) are listed as potential buyers, too. Some speculation among the fans that the owners of Champ Car may also be talking about a 50/50 ownership with Tony George. Would create the much needed open-wheel merger and allow Tony George to save face in the process, remaining part owner of IMS. Could happen, but probably not.

Can't quite figure why Disney would want to pay the huge price tag for that place. What's really in it for them?

Love the brick idea, though!

 

[JimB.]

I think you will see a merge between CART & IRL before any thing else.

Disney just recently went to a lot of effort to get out of pro sports. I don't see them getting back into them.

ESPN is probably a gazillion timesmore profitable than a struggling car racing league.

 

[dhdwnezi]

I agree - *IF* this had any truth to it it would be all over the local media.

And I also agree that the demise of Tony Georges' ownership would be most welcome. Most of the city would like for him and Jim 'I need some more Vicodin please' Irsey to leave.

 

[Lancer]

I'm a big fan of Robin Miller and although not 100 percent accurate, he is pretty reliable with the info in his reports. In his latest article(speedtv.com), he addresses this rumor and says that Mari Hulman George is not about to sell, and is planning to keep it in the family. Long live Champ Car and the "Three Amigos"!

 

[Goofy4]

I imagine it could easily come out of the promotional budget for Disney/Pixar's Cars

 

[DancingBear]

Most of the city would like for him and Jim 'I need some more Vicodin please' Irsey to leave.

That's what you get for encouraging his Daddy to sneak the Colts out of Baltimore in the dark of night.

 

[Magix]

I'm a big fan of Robin Miller and although not 100 percent accurate, he is pretty reliable with the info in his reports. In his latest article(speedtv.com), he addresses this rumor and says that Mari Hulman George is not about to sell, and is planning to keep it in the family. Long live Champ Car and the "Three Amigos"!

I read that same article this morning. I have a lot more trust in Robin than I do in Brock. Still, what a dream it would have been...

I'll second your "Love live Champ Car and the 'Three Amigos'!"

Less than a month 'til Long Beach!!

 

[Squirlz]

Confirmed by Mary Hulman George that there will be no sale in the near future.

 

[tinker&belle]

I live near Indy and get all Indy tv stations...no news. It was major news when Artest was thinking about leaving the pacers...they would have been all over this.

 

[Planogirl]

Disney seems to be just about the least likely company to get into motorsports. They don't even sponsor a car!

I can't imagine it but I wish that somebody would do something to save the circuit. What a mess it has become.

 

[Badger Brent]

Anyone have an idea how much an investment this would be?? I can only fathom the $$ amount. Let's see, the disney company currently has a track located on property that is totally become a waste of space. I know, the noise is not condusive to holding big events anymore and bothering the deluxe resorts so close by. Too bad they didn't think of that before they built it!! Now, Bruton Smith of Speedway Motorsports hasn't been mentioned at all. If anyone out there would want a chance at another track it would be him. Of course, he would scream his lungs out until he got his second date. It's nice to maybe dream, but no one wants to put this kind of cash on the line for maybe three weekends a year (IRL,Nascar,F1 and thats a maybe). Maybe Tiger Woods could buy it and hold his own golf tournaments on the track course that's there?? We were told to have fun with this right?....