By now, even the most casual sports fan has heard about the ugly drama that unfolded Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Drivers were universal in their disgust after the high-stakes blowout at the Brickyard.

Consider that 52 of the 160 laps ran under caution and the longest green flag period was 13 laps. Sound like $100 worth of fun?

If anything good comes out of this mess, it’s that drivers, fans and media types were so open in their criticism of NASCAR and Goodyear.

Earlier this season, NASCAR officials actually called a closed-door meeting to chastise drivers for being so open in their complaints about the generic Car of Tomorrow. Dictatorship?

With inconsistent rulings and lackluster racing with the COT, ripping NASCAR is about as easy as shooting a cow.

There’s a huge difference between throwing out insults and actually offering constructive suggestions, however.
Yes, this sport has problems but it’s still a compelling and popular spectacle on most weekends.

For some reason, many fans blindly and passionately defend anything related to the top levels of NASCAR. They will accept and defend cornball commentators, bratty drivers, crude fan behavior and boring events.

To these true believers, it’s fine to offer blanket attacks on stick-and-ball sports without facts. However, don’t you dare say anything about their sport, team or man. It’s all about being part of a community or family.

And yes, that colorful family of followers includes some members of the media who do nothing praise the sport and its stars. Objectivity anyone?

The fans who have built this once-regional game deserve so much better. It was refreshing on Tuesday to hear a NASCAR official issue an apology for Sunday’s debacle at the most hallowed ground in motorsports.

Goodyear and NASCAR should clearly share the blame for failing to predict how the current car would react to the unique conditions at Indy.
Instead of moaning and hand wringing, how about we do something to reward the earnest folks who actually fuel this billion-dollar sport.

While crowds have been down at some tracks this season, fans are still making expensive sacrifices to worship at the stock car altar.

Here’s a suggestion. Let’s honor those disciples with reduced ticket prices, reasonable concessions and free souvenirs.

Whatever the gesture, NASCAR officials and track operators need to reach out to fans who endure bore-a-thons like Sunday’s Allstate 400 yet keep coming back for more.
With gas and grocery prices slicing the family budget, the time for accountability is now.