IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard has been released from his five-year contract (2010–2014) by the board of directors of the Indianapolis motor Spe3edway Corporation, effective immediately.
“Both parties agree that it’s time to move forward separately, it’s an amicable separation and Randy is going to stay on in an advisory capacity,” IMS President and Hulman & Co, CEO Jeff Belskus told AP.
Bernard had done much to reverse the fortunes of the ailing series, but met resistance from some of the team owners, who wanted more control for themselves.
When he accepted the job in 2010 Bernard took over control of a series which had lost tens of millions of dollars per year for the past fifteen years, had alienated most fans and sponsors, and which was not wanted by most television networks. The series was using a seven-year-old chassis and had only one engine supplier.
Bernard pushed through the development of a new chassis and attracted Chevrolet as a second engine supplier. The new car improved the racing tremendously, and fans loved the competition between engine suppliers.
Bernard also brought in a new race director and worked hard to include more oval tracks on the schedule—all things for which fans had clamored.
2012 was unquestionably the best season of IndyCar racing of the past several years, and fans were looking forward eagerly to 2013.
