BLAIR'S RICH PROJECT
An Interview with Blair Racing Owner Larry Blair
By Kevin Ma
May 7, 2002 -- After a learning season as a rookie team owner in CART last year, Larry Blair moved his team operation over to the Indy Racing League in 2002. With former Atlantic Champion Alex Barron racing for him in the McLaren powered Dallara Chevrolet along with a new sponsorship deal, the team owner looks for a great season and also excited about the upcoming Indianapolis 500, where he is going to be a rookie team owner once again in the big race. NYAutoRacing.com talks to Blair about his recent business transition, as well as his expectations during the month of May.
KEVIN MA: Blair Racing just signed a deal with a new sponsor before Nazareth, how did the deal come about?
LARRY BLAIR: We put the deal together before the Nazareth race with Rayovac, and the commitment of Rayovac is for the entire 2002 season more than just Indy with an option for future years. We bring great value to them and I think they'll on for a long-term commitment.
KM: What did your team learn from last year in CART?
LB: What we learned is to identify and bring value to the sponsor. I felt that the IRL offers the greater value for sponsors in regard to the television package with ABC and ESPN, the number of viewers, as well as Indy 500 and the other venues that participating in the series. Overall there is a lot of benefit to the sponsors as a result of being involved in this program, which particularly focus in the U.S. market.
KM: Speaking of value, what are the differences in operation cost in between CART and the IRL?
LB: The cars cost a little bit less to run in the IRL. There are fewer venues and no international, and the engine program is less expensive. But there are other elements that are really quite similar - you pay the same for salaries, same race shop, and for all the employees and such they have the same package or better than in CART.
KM: As far as the working environment, any differences?
LB: We bring in the same level of professionalism and discipline to our program that we had last year. The way we conduct business in any given race weekends is the same.
KM: Last year we talked about the technology being used in your CART program, do you use the same technology in the IRL operation?
LB: Yes. We got the same telemetry system that we used, so we have the same acquisition systems. From the point of view, the electronics in these racecars are very similar. The process that you go through in race weekend - setting them up and tuning them in are virtually identical. Let's say there are similarities, and there are differences.
KM: You signed Alex Barron last in the season last year and you brought him over to the IRL with you. How do you feel of having a former Atlantic Championship driving for you?
LB: Alex did a great job for the last two races of the season, and that was really in some regard of his on track interview, and he impressed myself as well as our entire team with his skills and the ability to setup the racecar. We also had rather significant additions this year with Tom Gloy - President of Blair Racing, running and operating the team in day-by-day basis, and John Dick for engineering, who has accomplished in his long career. Overall, I am real pleased with the selection of Alex Barron.
KM: Gong back to the last race in Nazareth, your car was right up there until the final stage of the race. Was it the luck factor that cost a better finish in the end?
LB: We were in third place with 69 laps to go, and we were right behind [Gil] de Ferran and Helio [Castroneves], so right behind the 1 and 2 Penske cars. We were maintaining that pace and obviously given the lousy weather condition and the yellows, we had a choice of either stay out and chance it, or come in for fuel. We followed Helio in when he was in second and we were in third, and after the pit he came out in fifth and we were in sixth. Overall it was luck - as soon as we left the pit, all of the sudden rain and hail coming down altogether. We really had a top 5 car, but we didn't get to showcase it with our result [Barron finished sixth]. I can tell you for certain that our sponsor was thrilled.
KM: How do you feel of being a car owner and participate in the prestigious Indy 500?
LB: Personally from the owner's standpoint, this is my first time in the 500, and it is just enormous privilege to be affiliated with this event, which has enormous amount of heritage and history to it. As far as some of the other team members, they've been here. Tom Gloy raced in the 500, and John Dick engineered Arie Luyendyk's car, which won the 500 in 1990.
KM: You old foes from CART such as Barry Green and Bobby Rahal are coming over for the 500, do they make the show even better with their deep resources?
LB: They are here, great. If they are not here, that's fine too. I don't really care if they are here or not. I am in the show, and offer a competitive team no matter who shows up. They are definitely great teams, and they add to the credibility to the 500. I competed with them last year, so there is no big mystique about this.
KM: What are your expectations for this year's Indy 500?
LB: I think that this is the most important race, and our expectations are enormously competitive and be one of the contenders. It would be inappropriate for me to make any foolish predictions, but I think it's quite appropriate to represent one of the contenders.
KM: And the same for the rest of the year?
LB: You bet. There are many challenges throughout the course of the year, the course of the weekend or even the month of May here. As of the season, we want to be a contending team at all races. We will continue to make progress and represent great value to our sponsor.
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