IndyCar creates conduct code to limit competitor criticism
INDIANAPOLIS -- It was a few days after a thrilling Verizon IndyCar Series race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, that produced an IndyCar record 80 lead changes among 14 drivers and featured four- and five-wide racing at times in the MAVTV 500. Instead of being able to promote such a thrilling spectacle, IndyCar officials were instead fending off contentious comments from Team Penske President Tim Cindric, defending Verizon IndyCar Series champion Will Power, 2004 IndyCar champion and 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner Tony Kanaan and this year's Indy 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya, among others.
FOXSports.com learned that a few days after that event, Hulman & Company CEO Mark Miles - the ultimate authority of IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - received an unsolicited phone call from NASCAR Chairman Brian France. When asked about that call, Miles would not give details of what was discussed between the head of IndyCar and the man who is in charge of NASCAR, but a source told FOXSports.com that France offered a few suggestions to help rally the troops and help silence some of the criticism.
On Tuesday, IndyCar issued a new rule that is similar to rules used in all professional sports including the National Football League and NASCAR that gives the league authority to sanction comments that are "detrimental to the sport." NASCAR has invoked this rule in the past to some of the drivers they believe have "stepped over the line" and made comments that could potential damage the series.
After IndyCar Rule 9.3.8 was released Tuesday, Miles emphasized that it is not intended to silence any future comments but the drivers, team members and other "stakeholders" of the sport need to be cognizant of what they say and how they say it.
"This rule is not a gag order," Miles said in a statement. "We recognize that controversy, tension and drama all have a place in motorsport today. Our drivers are competitors and we have no interest in eliminating the emotion and passion that is an integral part of our sport - or limit the content for media covering IndyCar. As an example, some have speculated that the exchange between Ed Carpenter and Sage Karam last Saturday at Iowa Speedway would result in penalty under this new rule - that is not the case.
"We feel exchanges of that manner do not cross the line and instead highlight the intensity of Verizon IndyCar Series competition. We feel it's our responsibility to distinguish between irresponsible statements that damage the sport or its competitors and the intense competitive nature of the series. This rule is to ensure we have authority to act when we feel it is required."
The actual Rule 9.3.8, Detrimental Competitor Conduct, includes the following:
"Competitors must be respectful, professional, fair and courteous to others. At all times, Competitors must not, attempt to, or engage in conduct or statements that in the judgment of INDYCAR:
Threatens or denigrates any Official, fellow Competitor or the INDYCAR brand; b) Calls into question the integrity or legitimacy of the Rules or their application, construction or interpretation; c) Denigrates the IndyCar Series racing schedule or Event(s); d) Threatens or denigrates any INDYCAR business relationship, including those with sponsors or broadcasters; e) Otherwise threatens the integrity, reputation or public confidence of the sport, INDYCAR, or IndyCar Series."
Again, this rule is not unique to IndyCar. In the past, when Dallas Mavericks team owner Mark Cuban has criticized the NBA, he has been heavily fined. Comments deemed derogatory against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell by any NFL team member can be severely rebuked. And NASCAR drivers such as Brad Keselowski and Ryan Newman have also incurred hefty fines and penalties for criticizing NASCAR.
Although it is unclear what actions or penalties IndyCar would levy with this rule, the series believes having a stated rule in the rule book can help stop comments that could potentially damage the sport.
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