IndyCar Headquarters Swamped with Balloon Enthusiasts

Indianapolis police struggled to clear an estimated 32 hot air balloon enthusiasts from the parking lot at IndyCar headquarter Wednesday after an apparent case of "miscommunication."

"We had call from IndyCar that their lot was packed with fifth-wheel trailers and that some of the drivers were starting to unload giant wicker-looking baskets," said Indianapolis Police Capt. Buford T. Ticketwriter. "So we responded and it turns out they were hot air balloon enthusiasts who had gotten the wrong message."

Ticketwriter said the balloonists had apparently heard there was an ongoing balloon festival at IndyCar HQ and rolled en mass to join in the fun.

"We spoke to IndyCar leaders, and they said they were currently engaged in a Trial Balloon Festival, not a Hot Air Balloon Festival," Ticketwriter said. "It's an easy mistake."

The balloon enthusiasts, clearly deflated, were repacking their gear and leaving the lot by mid-morning.

Observers said the misunderstanding likely came from a festival of trial balloons being floated by IndyCar, including double-file restarts, tiered pitting under yellow, adopting a NASCAR-like lucky dog and most recently a "firm" 26-car cap for each race.

In each case, an idea was floated out publicly as either a "decision" or a "considering" and then monitored for fan reaction. In the case of the lucky dog and 26-car cap, the trial balloons were shot down. Double-file restarts and tiered pitting appear to be still floating.

Comments

[DB]

"clearly deflated"??? That was bad.

[Stan The Caddy]

I hear only 26 balloons will be paid and allowed to start.

"We only want the best hot air balloonists and this will give our fans better competition", Indy Car CEO/Media Relations Man/Sponsor Seller/Rules Maker/Competition Director/Czar Randy Bernard said.

But now it seems that balloon enthusiasts have flooded the IMS headquarters/website whining about it and now Randy Bernard has flip-flopped and decided to do whatever someone else tells him to.

[redcar]

Bad: RB seems to--in his rush to improve things--make decisions without input from appropriate sources. This results in a bit of flip-flopping and gives the impression of a weak hand on the wheel.

Good: RB has made a ton of important, game-changing decisions, most of them correct. And when he makes a mistake, he corrects it quickly and seems to really listen to the fanbase.

Bad/Good: He listens to his fanbase.

[ramblinman]

What better way to light this season's candle, than to have a flying start?

Hot air indeed.

Good stuff Bill.

[Ron Ford]

Funny stuff Bill. You almost had me until I got to "Buford T. Ticketwriter"

[Dylan]

Trial balloons are better than the alternative NASCAR tends to do which is announce crazy things and stick with them even when they don't work and/or everyone hates it. One of the few trial balloon's NASCAR's ever not stuck with was the eliminations in the Chase and that's only because EVERYONE from fans to driver to teams to journalists were universally against it.

[Royhobbson]

Mmmmm, I do love me some freshly baked satire in the morning -- it tastes like PERCEPTION! (And also fried biscuits.)

[ThatGuy]

I hear a balloon basket company got a sweetheart deal to open a factory in Speedway.