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Cavin: Much to consider in Derrick Walker's resignation

Curt Cavin
Derrick Walker faced stress from several angles within IndyCar
  • IndyCar at Mid-Ohio: 1:30 p.m. Sunday, CNBC

It's called managing the message, and the messages emanating from Derrick Walker's resignation as IndyCar's president, effective Aug. 31, are clear only in this respect. They're complicated.

Some welcomed the news, others did not.

Walker's supporters will say he took the power of officiating races from a single person and made it a more-equitable group decision.

They will point to how Walker salvaged a bad situation in this year's Indianapolis 500 when three cars flew through the air in practice, how he finalized technical adjustments that kept flight out of the race itself.

They will credit him with keeping Chevrolet and, in particular, Honda on the path to remain in the series for years to come. If IndyCar returns to the popular Road America circuit next year, many will credit Walker for his persistence in that, too.

But Walker had detractors, including Michael Andretti, who said the bodywork kits new for this year were outrageously costly (a fact Walker has challenged).

Team Penske, including team president Tim Cindric and drivers Will Power and Juan Pablo Montoya, felt IndyCar (read: Walker) didn't listen to their pre-race concerns of pack racing last month at Auto Club Speedway. They then lashed out when the race was too wild for their tastes.

In that same race, Walker's officiating crew came under fire when it did not immediately punish Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for first leaving the pit box with the fuel hose and nozzle attached, then creating a caution when the equipment fell off Graham Rahal's car. While Walker was consistent in announcing a post-race fine, the crowd didn't think a $5,000 punishment was enough, especially when Rahal won the race.

Somewhere in the middle of all this was Walker's boss, Mark Miles, who Thursday seemed to be on both sides of the fence.

While saying the outgoing Walker should speak for himself, Miles suggested problems with the aero kits -- late arrival, early parts shortage, higher-than-expected costs, scattering debris at the season-opening race, the 500's qualifying-day panic, and Honda's struggles -- weighed in Walker's decision.

Which, by the way, seems most unlikely given Walker's British fight.

"I think he feels like on the one hand there have been competition/technical things that didn't go as planned," Miles said of Walker. "He's the kind of guy that wants to take personal responsibility for those things."

Walker declined to comment.

So now, IndyCar must move on. But how and with whom?

While Walker was sometimes accused of being too connected to the sport -- he had worked for Roger Penske, managed the careers of Penske drivers Power and Simon Pagenaud and continued to own a sports car team -- he also was uniquely qualified. He had owned a CART team. He could think technically and practically.

Walker also had seemed to give stability to an IndyCar wheel spinning since Tony George was ousted from power in 2009. The sport's competition side has ebbed from George to Jeff Belskus to Brian Barnhart to Randy Bernard back to Barnhart to Miles, who tabbed Walker. The support staff has incurred similar turnover.

Who would want this job?

Mike Hull, the longtime general manager of Ganassi Racing, might be one. He's been with Chip Ganassi 24 years, and he loves the art of preparing a team for competition and the competition. But most of all, he loves IndyCar and has a Walker-like passion for it, something that's critical to the sport's leader.

Surely there are others to consider, but only Miles has that list. For better or worse, Miles has time to consider the options as Walker is scheduled to work the season's final three races, starting with this weekend's event at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Ed Carpenter, who was among those to recommend Walker for the job, doesn't think this news throws IndyCar into turmoil because Miles remains in charge. But Carpenter also knows that the next man up will face his own uphill road.

"Whether it's being president or race director, it's a really hard job," Carpenter said. "It's hard to find a good candidate to replace a good candidate."

Miles said a search would begin immediately.

Etc.

Walker's resignation comes at a time when IndyCar is enjoying its strongest stretch on NBCSN. Each of the past three races -- all ovals -- have experienced television viewers in excess of 500,000, a first for the cable outlet since it joined IndyCar in 2008. ... NASCAR could certainly help IndyCar with its TV ratings. Last week's Brickyard 400 enjoyed a 3.0 rating and 4.7 million viewers, the best-performing telecast in NBCSN history. Sunday's IndyCar race will be live on CNBC, but a re-air will follow the Sprint Cup race on NBCSN, which could give IndyCar a double dip. ... Paralyzed Pro Mazda driver Michael Johnson returns to competition this weekend at Mid-Ohio. Johnson broke his hip and pelvis in a crash in the season's first practice in St. Petersburg, Fla., in March. ... The U.S.-based MotoAmerica Series will  be part of MotoGP's motorcycle event next weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Action begins Friday.

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