Initial reactions to the Sunday announcement that Randy Bernard was stepping down as IndyCar CEO ran the gamut from cautious to concerned.
Reigning champion team Andretti Autosport quickly issued a statement following the announcement, thanking Bernard "for his tireless efforts during his term as CEO. In recent months, others have spoken on our behalf and until now Andretti Autosport has refrained from comment, but we believe now is an appropriate time to address our company's position regarding the leadership of IndyCar.
"Randy worked hard to further the series; we are grateful for his time with the sport and we wish him well in his future endeavors. We supported Randy just as we will continue to support the new administration. We believe that the board of directors of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation, IMS President and CEO Jeff Belskus and the Hulman-George family will make the right decisions that leverage the many strengths of IndyCar for the benefit of the fans, teams, drivers, promoters and sponsors."
However, there was no equivocation from Roger Penske, the best-known car owner in IndyCar racing, who denounced the move in an interview with the Associated Press.
"I'm very disappointed in this decision; the board continues to show poor judgment. There is no future plan," Penske told the AP. "The series had momentum. New cars, new engines and new race formats, all brought about by Randy.
"No business can run with a senior management change every two years."