In his 11 months as INDYCAR CEO, Randy Bernard has embraced Indy car racing and learned everything he can about the sport. This weekend, he showed a group of Indianapolis media, including me, what his past life was like by giving us a behind-the-scenes look the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series.
INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard talks with local media at a PBR event
Being “Randy Bernard’s Guest” has its privileges in both places, but that’s not the only thing you get by hanging with him. You quickly find out why he’s been a success everywhere he’s been. Here’s a look at Randy’s two worlds:
PBR: The best bull riders in the world compete at events around the world and risk their lives for cash and prizes.
INDYCAR: Best race drivers in the world compete at events around the world and risk their lives for cash and prizes.
PBR: Riders come from all over the world, including Australia, Brazil, Canada and the U.S.
INDYCAR: Drivers come from all over the world, including Australia, Brazil, Canada and the U.S.
Conseco FieldHouse in Indianapolis, Indiana prepares for the Professional Bull Riders Event
PBR: Has a Briscoe (Travis)
INDYCAR: Has a Briscoe (Ryan)
PBR: There are two world-class athletes in every eight second ride – the rider and the bull.
INDYCAR: The driver is the only world-class athlete, but races last much longer than eight seconds.
Action shot at the PBR event
PBR: Riders are encouraged to climb fences after their ride for safety. One Brazilian rider was called out for not doing so.
INDYCAR: One Brazilian driver doesn’t need encouragement to climb the fence after the race – as long as he wins.
PBR: Unique aroma in the “paddock” and you have to watch where you step.
INDYCAR: Just a unique aroma in the paddock.
A professional bull rider works to stay on his bull
PBR: Sometimes the bulls get into skirmishs after the event
INDYCAR: Sometimes, A.J. Foyt gets into skirmishes after the event.
PBR: Has a clown who entertains the fans during downtime.
INDYCAR: Ummm, no comment.
Things get rough at the PBR event
PBR: Robson Palermo of Brazil won the Indianapolis event despite a broken ankle. That’s tough.
INDYCAR: Buddy Lazier of Colorado won the Indy 500 a few weeks after breaking his back. That’s tough.
Racing, it seems, isn’t all that different from bull riding.
More action from the Professional Bull Riders event
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The PBR is suffering without Randy, blundering around like a–well, like a bull in a china shop. Their latest faux pas: dismissing long-time commentator Justin McKee, considered “the voice of the PBR,” and making reporter Leah Garcia invisible in favor of a VERY inexperienced, uninformed, incompetent young woman… and hiring a much-ballyhooed production company whose latest gaffe was running tape backwards during an NBC broadcast, then replaying the entire segment previously shown. Embarrassing!
The outcry in all media from PBR watchers has been loud, many are jumping ship, yet the PBR hasn’t responded. See the petition on BullRidingMarketing.wordpress.com blog
asking for reinstatement of McKee and Garcia. A new one will be sent to PBR management every couple of weeks.
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