Duno’s IndyCar Series Future Uncertain; IndyCar Serious About Driver Credibility
TORONTO -- Come 2011, IZOD IndyCar Series driver Milka Duno may be out of a job.
Duno, driver of the No. 18 CITGO-sponsored car for Dale Coyne Racing, is often a sore spot with both drivers and fans because of consistently being off-pace.
During the Honda Indy Toronto on Sunday, race officials ordered Duno--for the second time this season--to pit on Lap 10 for failure to maintain a minimum speed. She was more than 10 seconds off-pace.
Duno has also irritated other drivers, many of whom, believe she is creating a dangerous track condition.
Following the July 4 race at Watkins Glen International, Andretti Autosport’s Ryan Hunter-Reay said: “If she’s going to drive in this series, she’s going to have to drive with her mirrors. There are 15 turns on this course and she’s the 16th,” alluding to Duno’s reputation for being a moving chicane.
The IndyCar Racing League, the series' sanctioning body, is finally listening and monitoring the situation.
Although safety is of paramount concern, the league is also focused on elevating the sport. Driver credibility, in its eyes, is a key component necessary to fuel that growth.
In an interview during Saturday’s qualifications the top IndyCar official had the following to say in response to a fan’s question about Duno’s participation in the series:
“I’m going to get myself in trouble on this one, but I am going to you. It is very, very important for the credibility of the IndyCar Series that fans know they’re [the drivers] the best in the world. And if someone can’t maintain and compete with that, I really think that’s what we have a ladder system for,” said IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard.
Bernard indicated that Brian Barnhart, who serves as the president of competition, has the authority to make the ultimate determination as to Duno’s future and that he will support Barhart's decision.
A decision is expected at the end of the current season. What is in the best interest of the sport will be a heavily weighed factor in the outcome.
Not mincing words, Bernard concluded by affirming: “The series is not a rich man’s club.”
Robyn Lynne Schechter
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Comments
FIRST OFF THIS IS NOT IN SUPPORT OF MILKA DUNNO! However, if Milka goes then goes Citgo , so does DCR, Citgo funds both Ms Dunno and Alex Loyd's car (come on how much money do you think the Boy Scouts are paying!).
Milka is very, very good with the fans, and young female fans do not care how good she is (or in her case is not). What Mr Bernard needs to be doing is working with Citgo and Milka to a) Keep Milka visible in a non driving role (Director of female driver development....) b) near term move her Citgo dollars to another Venezuelan driver (can you say EJ Viso) and c) ID 1 or 2 up and coming Venezuelan female drivers to sponsor on the Road to Indy.
Too funny! The director Benard calls the series "not a rich man's club." I am not a big auto racing fan or expert but formula one seems kind of like America's Cup or like a club for these Indy car enthusiast drivers. Never realized it is more like a professional type of thing. Wow. Maybe they should just send Duno down to one of the farm teams or whatever to get seasoning? I read where she was in the Indy 500 she has to be good.
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