There is no debate. The squeeze is on.

No, not in Major League Baseball. The squeeze is a financial one that is affecting the bottom tier of the Indy Racing League's pool of teams.

When Roger Penske switched to the IRL this season, his arrival was greeted with mixed responses. Eddie Cheever Jr. talked about how the bar was raised. But others worried that Penske's financial well would put the press on marginal teams.

As reported here on RPM.ESPN.com, several of the IRL's teams face financial extinction in 2003. The situation is certainly about to be exacerbated with the anticipated additional defections of others from CART.

So, how can the situation be fixed?

No magic pill will provide the cure. There are, however, some things that could slow the evolution and the implementation of racing's axiomatic "survival of the financially fittest."

Tops on the list is an expansion of the IRL's starting fields in '03. The series has traditionally limited its fields to 26-28 cars, excepting the 11-row, 33-car Indy 500. It is time for that tradition to disappear.

Increase IRL fields to 30 or 35 cars. In essence, guarantee that all cars on site at a specific track start the race. The one proviso would be requiring a minimum speed to ensure that the back markers would not adversely affect the front runners during the race.

At present, the IRL has a support program in place for 20 of its teams that includes cash benefits and equipment support. This is a good start but the program needs a second tier that will help keep the marginal teams operational.

NASCAR has several support programs for its teams. The more successful ones earn the lion's share of the support, but there are additional programs for others lower on the ladder.

The IRL rules package goes a long way toward keeping top-rung and bottom-rung teams close. But testing is one area that widens the gap between the two.

The league needs to tighten its testing policies. Current policies give a distinct advantage to multi-car operations. It is not necessary for all cars within a specific team to test at each track. Sufficient data can be collected and additional testing can be had by judiciously assigning teammates to specific tracks.

The advent of two-day racing schedules further separates the 'haves' from the 'have-nots.'

Single car entries -- many on the cusp of financial demise -- don't have testing resources. Testing is the first item of a budget that goes away when finances are tight. Just look at the Curb Racing operation of Billy Boat. This group has done little testing and always finds itself using the first practice to set up its car.

You will never be able to stop the financial evolution of racing. It is a law of the jungle that has existed from day one. Still, the IRL can try to slow the process and along the way enjoy the continued close racing that has marked its 2002 season.