Cheever

Let's move on to a positive subject, shall we?

There is no way you can analyze what has happened to our team. Our performance last weekend in Kansas City was more of the same. Pole position, leading much of the race, then heartbreak. After all we've been through this season at Red Bull Cheever Racing, you'd think it eventually would change.

That's why I'm changing the subject. On to a better topic. Namely, the size of the crowd at Kansas City, the strength of the Indy Racing League and the possibility for the near future.

Sunday's race drew an estimated 60,000 fans to Kansas Speedway. I believe that to be a conservative estimate. The 75,000-seat grandstand was very nearly full despite brutally oppressive heat. The fans were enthusiastic, the hotels full, the governor in attendance and excitement in the air. We're gaining a following.

I'm enthusiastic about that.

Two reasons behind the IRL's growing stature in motorsports -- geography and familiarity. A few years ago, we reined in our schedule. Instead of trying to nose into NASCAR's fan base in the South, we moved back to our base -- the Midwest. Instead of racing in Charlotte and Atlanta and Orlando, we started racing in Kansas City, Chicago and St. Louis.

All forms of racing in the U.S. originated from Indianapolis. The oval track, the counterclockwise rotation -- the very notion of trying to determine the fastest car and best driver -- began at Indianapolis in 1911. All other forms of the idea followed, generating outward and as direct descendants of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Across the Midwest, racing evolved from that Indy concept: open-wheeled cars on oval tracks.

Along with the IRL's change in geography came the benefit of familiarity. By and large, the fans who see Indy Racing for the first time return to see it again. In Kansas City, the crowd grew noticeably between last year's inaugural race and Sunday's second visit. Word got out that we put on a breathtaking show. I don't expect to see an empty seat next year at Kansas Speedway.

I wrote a column for the Kansas City Star before the race touting our product. I wrote about the vast interest in open-wheel racing across the Midwest. There's a pocket of grassroots racing across Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania that serves as our basis. Thousands of dirt and paved tracks are home to USAC, the World of Outlaws and various late-model and stock-car series. Around Kansas City, major races were held in conjunction with ours at two nearby tracks. The same fans who attend these events are the fans we need to attract to our races. At Kansas Speedway, it appears as if we did it.

I am enthusiastic about what we do, and for good reason. We have a strong future of young drivers. We introduced a new training series at Kansas City -- the Infiniti Pro Series -- that featured A.J. Foyt's grandson and Arie Luyendyk's son. The end of the IRL race came down to Tomas Scheckter (21), Sam Hornish (23) and Airton Dare (24). The future is promising. And perhaps closer than we think.

The night before the race at Kansas City, fans stood in unspeakable heat to get autographs of IRL drivers. I met NASCAR fans, dirt-track fans, sprint-car fans and short-track fans. They all had something in common: They were astounded by our form of racing. That gives me hope for the future.

We'll drive from our home base in Indianapolis to our next four races -- at Nashville, Michigan, Kentucky and St. Louis. Chances are we'll draw large crowds at all four events. I'm beginning to see the same motorhomes on the road at our races. That's a comforting thought. We've regrouped, tightened ranks and gained a loyal following.

We're finally catching on. I only wish our team could do the same.

IRL driver Eddie Cheever Jr. owns and drives the No. 51 Red Bull Cheever Racing Infiniti car. He will be providing a diary to ESPN.com throughout the season. Cheever's team Web site can be found at www.cheeverindyracing.com.