RACING INSIDER

Cavin: Some names for IndyCar to ponder

Curt Cavin
Andy Graves helped Ganassi Racing win the 2000 Indianapolis 500 with Juan Montoya driving the car

Derrick Walker has committed to remain IndyCar's president of competition and operations through the end of the season (the final race is Aug. 30 at Sonoma Raceway).

So, who's next in the position?

The man making that decision acknowledged receiving several names during last weekend's event at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Some of those individuals are realistic options, others are not.

"Out of those there are a few to consider," Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles told The Star without further elaboration.

It seems all of the IndyCar teams dropped a name Miles' way. One of those -- Mike Hull, the managing director of Ganassi Racing -- took his name away, saying he will remain with Chip Ganassi's organization.

"One hundred percent?" he was asked.

"One hundred percent," he replied.

Miles said he prefers to select someone not currently on IndyCar's staff, though that doesn't eliminate a series staffer.

As with any such search, the names on or off the list are closely guarded. But the following individuals could be in the mix.

Dan Andersen: The owner and CEO of all three series comprising the Mazda Road to Indy program (USF2000, Pro Mazda and Indy Lights) seems to check every box but one: Would he do it without owning the series? Can he fit another big job on this plate? If the answer to these is yes, he's a most qualified candidate.

Scott Atherton: IMSA's president and chief operating officer who previously ran the American LeMans Series. He's been president of three tracks -- Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Nazareth Speedway and Auto Club Speedway -- and for good measure he once was a regional vice president of Domino's Pizza. Like Andersen, he's uniquely qualified.

Jay Frye: As chief revenue officer of Hulman Motorsports, Frye helped secure Verizon as the title sponsor. Put TAG Heuer and Angie's List in his basket, too. But Frye is more than a sales guy; he was CEO and general manager of MB2 Motorsports, a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team, from 1996-2007. Under his leadership, the company grew from 10 employees working on a single car to more than 200 employees in a multicar operation after MB2 bought Tyler Jet Motorsports. Frye then led the transformation of the Red Bull Racing Team to a berth in the 2009 Chase as vice president and general manager, managing 200 employees. His experience with Red Bull, an international giant, can't be overstated.

Robert Clarke or Erik Berkman: Both are former Honda Performance Development presidents. Each has a strong opinion of the series' strengths and weaknesses. Clarke, a Notre Dame graduate, owns a Zionsville-based motor sports consulting company and is president and CEO of SCCA Pro Racing. Berkman, a Purdue graduate, retired Aug. 1 from leading Acura.

John Lopes: Currently the president of Andretti Sports Marketing, although it seems that company is retracting. Lopes has led a race team (TeamXtreme), been a key part of a sanctioning body (Champ Car's executive vice president of operations) and served as a chief marketing officer (Andretti Autosport).

Andy Graves: The group vice president and technical director of Toyota's NASCAR program traces his open-wheel roots to Jeff Gordon's USAC days. Graves was Ganassi Racing's team manager in 2000 -- he won the Indianapolis 500 with Juan Montoya -- so he knows this side of the sport, too. The question is, does he have too good of a job to leave stock car racing?

Brian Barnhart/Vince Kremer: More than one IndyCar team owner voiced support for splitting Walker's position. For all that's said about Barnhart, most of the paddock applauds the job he does on the competition side. Kremer, who held a variety of positions at Team Penske and HVM before joining IndyCar in 2012 as Indy Lights' technical director, seems to have the operations side of the series handled. Give them both a committee of helpers and this might be IndyCar's most reasonable and economical path.

Follow Curt Cavin on Facebook and Twitter: @curtcavin