The biggest howls of dissension emanating from the race announcement was the intent on making the Super Prix a strictly Pay-Per-View event, which would serve as the main source of revenue. Despite projected studies indicating such a venture would prove profitable, heavy backlash came from both viewing audiences refusing to make the unprecedented move of paying $19.95 for a CART race (or obtain a PPV cable box for that privilege) and from prospective sponsors who claimed they could not justify the expense of supporting the race if they could not air commercials (even though Toyota aptly demonstrated at Long Beach this year you can generate huge amounts of good publicity specifically by not airing commercials). Although PPV had served as a cornerstone in the marketing proposal, it died a quiet death in September, sending promoters scrambling for a replacement deal on a network or cable channel.

The PPV plan, originally slated for Showtime, resulted in ABC and ESPN, the sole holder of CART’s regular season TV contract, making zero mention of the race on any of its 1999 qualifying, pre-race, or race telecasts. This stands in stark contrast to ABC and ESPN’s NASCAR telecasts, where the announcers did make the effort to acknowledge the existence of races shown on CBS, TNN, and TBS; ditto for the 1999 Indy 500 and ABC’s acknowledgement of IRL races shown on FOX Sports. This lack of valuable advertising, heaped atop the hostile public reaction, seemingly doomed PPV from the outset, despite Rutherford’s plans on rebroadcasting the race at a later date on "free" TV.

Horne, for one, doesn’t see what all the fuss is about. "I know some people have been vocal about PPV, but I would say PPV is substantially cheaper than actually going to the event."

"I can’t really comment on the PPV purse," says McCaw. "I mean, that’s really something we’re not involved in. That’s an income source for the promoter, and if that’s part of how they need to finance this particular event, that’s up to them."

Gordon came very close to winning Indy -
and a wild card spot?

"I obviously don’t speak for CART," adds Held, "but my personal thought is that it was a good idea in ‘92. I still think it’s a great idea. Now regarding the PPV issue, that’s the business side in which I wasn’t involved in with regards to the CART series, so I don't know if their studies have proven that they can provide a successful event for the public."

Ward sees it as something worth trying if it’s to the race’s benefit and the state’s fiscally. "Looking at the F1 race - how many states put in bids for it? It’s a huge source of revenue to get a race in. As far as how this is gonna do with PPV - I have no idea, because I think this will be the first CART race or any kind of (domestic open wheel) race being held on PPV. So that’ll be alone to tell how that goes. There has to be a study as to how much revenue it plans to bring in. I know if this was a Winston Cup deal, there’s a huge amount of revenue that goes into that. If they’re gonna get the money fully from PPV like (Mike) Tyson does...and there’s no worries to the state, then go for it."

Besides PPV, the aspect of the Super Prix most publically reviled by fans is the invitiational aspect, with many expressing no interest in traveling to a distant race where only a partial field would compete versus a full-season event closer to home with 28-odd drivers racing. One saving grace would be the four wild card spots available, depending on who might get them. But both CART and HSP have flip-flopped throughout the year on who would and would not be eligible, with the current reported guideline, issued by CART and not HSP, being that only drivers who have competed in at least 40% of this year’s races (five) could participate. This ruling came despite both Jacques Villeneuve and Alex Zanardi - winners of three out of the last four CART titles - expressing solid interest in returning from F1 for this one-off race.

Would Green possibly field a third car for the driver who won him the ‘95 Indy 500 and CART championship? "Well, I’ve always kept in touch with Jacques’ people, so that has been discussed. But (in May) we don’t exactly have a clear view yet of what the rules and regulations are, and I’m not sure Jacques can be invited, or Alex, or Michael Schumacher - I’m not sure they can be invited."

In September, we may still not exactly have a clear view - not even where the primary dozen starters are concerned. Kevin Wilkerson, one of CART’s PR Advance Team members, indicated in Houston that similar to Indy, it is actually the team that qualifies, not the driver (HSP confirms this). As a hypothetical example, assuming Greg Moore finishes in the top 12, Players and Forsythe may elect not to send him to Hawaii since he will not be driving for them next year and Fontana marks the end of his contractual obligations with them. This means a "lame duck" driver like Moore, despite his final points position, may be forced into sweating it out for a wild card spot anyway or missing the race entirely.

Also, while CART wants that 40% rule enforced, CARTmay yet relent under public pressure should a team nominate the likes of a Villeneuve or Zanardi. Continuing the Players/Forsythe analogy, they could sign Villeneuve to replace Moore, thus skirting the wild card issue for Jacques while encouraging unloved memories of IRL’s notorious 25/8 rule at Indy (where teams fielding second or third cars for the 500 considered having their primary driver run a "new" car for an open spot while the new driver inherits the other’s car, inherits his points, and gets a guaranteed spot).

Forsythe now also has some managerial interest in the new BAR Formula 1 team for which Villeneuve presently drives, and Forsythe and Green were Jacques’ co-owners during his 1994 rookie year in CART. "I have heard some rumors that a select few were possibly promoting bringing F1 drivers in. I absolutely do not agree with this. This is a CART-sanctioned event. This is about CART drivers and our sponsors. It’s not about any other series that may exist."

So would he not make any effort or attempt to field a car for Villeneuve, then?

"No comment."

Some drivers like deFerran would still relish the competition, though. "I think it would be great if they could invite some Formula 1 drivers to come here and drive our cars. I think it would be fantastic; hopefully Villeneuve and Zanardi as past champions of our series. I am a huge proponent of that. I really believe that if some of the teams that get invited to go to the Hawaii race can have some F1 drivers, it would be fantastic - even some NASCAR people - I think it should be a race of champions, and essentially, that’s what it (should) be."

His car owner Walker agrees. "In fact, (Honda has) suggested that they’d like to see some number of drivers added to the number that will race in the race and be the invited drivers - say the NASCAR champion or the Indianapolis 500 champion or maybe a Formula 1 driver. They’d like to see some small number of drivers be added to the field to help make an even bigger event of it by having the interest of having these different drivers appear in it. So I think Honda’s very much behind it."

Gidley, among the part-time drivers on the outside looking in, is not so keen on the idea of outsiders. "Obviously, guys coming from another series are...gonna take the shot away from me, especially if they’re working on their names; that’s why they’d be coming out there. For me, I don’t really have a name right now, so I need to get out there and get some results, and I think a race like that’s kinda wide open, ‘cause nobody’s ever been there before.

"Just about everybody in the ChampCar series has got a pretty decent package where they could actually win if you get just the right combination. A guy like myself - I could theoretically just win the thing or finish in the top five or top three or whatever and really attract a lot of attention for my future. You know, I’m not really looking at the money deal, though I guess that would be nice!"

So what about the IRL drivers at Indy - would they like a shot at the bounty, even if it means crossing into CART territory and dealing with those thorny political implications? "Shoot, yeah!" Ward enthuses. "It would be nice to see someone (from IRL), but I think they’ll probably go towards the Atlantics or Lights, because there’s such a conflict between the two industries. But it would be nice to see a little correlation here if somebody would back down.

"Well, ecomonically they’re gonna have to have the situation on who has the sponsorship. I’m sure Yahoo!, with the Internet - they would love the opportunity to go over there and advertise. It depends on your sponsorship; if there’s a venue there for us...it would be an awesome opportunity for (Jeff) to race over there, besides when he raced motocross at (Aloha) Stadium."

With six starts this year as a part time/substitute driver, Tarso Marques falls within the 40% cutoff and thus, albeit unlikely, could still qualify for a wild card slot. "I really, really would love to race there. I think my teammate Al Unser (Jr.) will drive there anyway. I think he’ll do well enough to get in (although) he’s not in the top 12 in points. But I’d really love to race there. I think it will be a great show and a great race, and it’s a wonderful place to go. I think everything will be fine there. I just hope that - I don’t know if I’ll make any more races to try to get enough points for that. If I have the chance, I will do my best!"