CART and IRL to merge?

[Gregmond]

Two leagues peddling essentially the same product ... doesn't seem to make much sense to me. I saw it happen here with "SuperLeague" rugby, and it is simply illogical. Merge them, create two divisions (minors/majors) if necessary and then we can all follow the same action together.

[John in KY]

I'd have to agree - keeping them separate doesn't solve anything - IRL only runs 19 cars each week, Champ Car only runs 18. In both series there are proabably 4-5 drivers who shouldn't be running at the top level. That would leave 24-26 top-flight teams running each week.

I say combine them as soon as is possible, and don't let either George or Kalkhoven run it - neither on has proven they can manage at the top level: George has let the IRL become most of what he despised about CART - few successful USA drivers, pricey engine packages (I'm pretty sure last season Honda, Toyota and Chevy were all lease deals, not the purchase deals of the original spec Olds and Infiniti engines), and domination by a couple of teams. Kalkhoven has proven he can do something with a series in survival mode, but he hasn't been able to put together a solid USA TV package, and all he has done is get the Panoz chassis in line for 2007. I don't know if he is responsible for some of the cheezier things in Champ Car like the "2 minutes of passing power" or these red sidewall tires (nothing against stickier compound tires, but why the red sidewalls to show what they are doing and forcing them to run one segment on them, taking the strategy out of using stickier tires that wear out sooner), but they need to go.

They need a strong "commissioner" - someone with real racing credibility to keep the inmates from running the asylum. I've heard the names of Mario Andretti and Rick Mears being mentioned as the "arbitrator" between George and Kalkhoven; if either one could be impartial (Andretti with his son's team [and grandson driving] and Mears' long association with Penske), they could lead from a technical and publicity level, particularly Mario.

To me, CART was always the most challenging series - what it lacked in International prestige and bleeding edge technology compared to F1, it made up for with having the drivers run all types of circuits: superspeedways, short bullring ovals, natural-terrain road courses, and temporary street circuits. North American open-wheel racing needs these two to merge and bring the best of both circuits together. And I wholeheartedly agree to go with the turbo engine formula of Champ Car.

[oz615]

Unfortunetly it's not happening anytime soon.But i hope it happens period.

Champ Car co-owner: Merger with IRL not imminent

SURFERS PARADISE, Australia -- Champ Car series co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven dismissed the notion that the circuit and Indy Racing League are even remotely close to a merger.

In June, following a meeting between Kalkhoven and IRL founder Tony George, there were optimistic reports from Indianapolis that the two American-based open-wheel circuits might finally end their decade-long differences.

"That whole thing got blown out of proportion," Kalkhoven said Saturday at the Indy 300. "Tony and I talked, but there was nothing specific."

The IRL, which began in 1996 in competition with the CART series, split driver, team and fan loyalties, sinking television ratings and affecting sponsorships.

CART went bankrupt in 2004, but the revamped Champ Car series is doing well and has announced a 15-race series for 2007 that includes an inaugural event in China.

Four months ago, there were suggestions the two series might have a joint schedule in place for next year.

"We have gone a long way to resolving all sorts of issues, but our concentration is on Champ Car, which is going really well now," Kalkhoven said. "I'm kind of happy and not in any hurry."

The IRL primarily runs on ovals, while 13 of Champ's 14 races this year were on road courses.

"It would be nice to do a merger in some respects, but culturally the two organizations are very far apart," Kalkhoven said. "Paul Stoddart is more our kind of guy than a Roger Penske."

Stoddart, a British-based Australian industrialist and former Formula One team owner, is currently in "fact-finding" talks with Champ Car about possibly entering a team, a Champ official said Saturday.

Penske was a founder of the CART series and is now an IRL team owner. His racing teams have won the Indianapolis 500 14 times.

"There are no sticking points because we haven't got to that point," Kalkhoven added. "Tony and I just spent time getting to know each other. Everyone thought merger."

In June, there was also a suggestion that Champ Car might leave a hole in the 2007 schedule in May to allow their drivers to enter cars in the Indianapolis 500, the IRL's flagship race. But when the schedule was released, the China race in Zhuhai was set for May 20, making it impossible for any Champ cars to go to Indianapolis.

So will there ever be a merger?

[FiddySicks]

Yeah, according to my room mate, who is probably the biggest racecar nut I know, there has been talk of this ever since they first split.

[NJTank]

Well until they merge Indy Car will suffer in raitings and popularity.

[harperdc]

united we stand, divided we fall...I've been saying it probably for six years, but they need to re-unite. only united will they re-claim their market share.

now, if only IRL and Champ Car merged, GARRA would go away, more factory teams and privateers would enter the ALMS, and NASCAR would implode....ah, the motorsports scene in the US would be beautiful then.

[spyboy1]

united we stand, divided we fall...I've been saying it probably for six years, but they need to re-unite. only united will they re-claim their market share.

now, if only IRL and Champ Car merged, GARRA would go away, more factory teams and privateers would enter the ALMS, and NASCAR would implode....ah, the motorsports scene in the US would be beautiful then.

Funny, that's my exact same wish list too. If GARRA didn't exsist the ALMS would be the best sportscar racing since the Camel GT. It's really good now and growing, but could use some more depth which I believe GARRA is preventing from happening.

[harperdc]

well, what GARRA has going for it is that the sports cars in the GT classes are really restricted in what they can do compared to what the GT2 and GT1 teams can do to their cars in the ALMS. I've heard some crazy stuff (dipping the chassis to take thin coats of metal off to lighten the whole thing?) but that also adds to the costs for privateers.

the privateer-factory team balance is important to strike, and I think they're getting their - especially with Acura in LMP2 next year and Peugeot joining into LMP1...but, still, if it's only Corvettes and Aston Martins in LMP1 next year....

[oz615]

Guys,the dream is becoming more and more a reality!

Open wheel war to end?

SPEED has learned that Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe, the co-owners of Champ Car, have reached an agreement with IRL founder Tony George to race together this season. As reported by SPEEDtv.com recently, George offered the Champ Car ownership free Dallara chassis and Honda engines to any CC team that signs up for the full season in addition to receiving $1.2 million per car as part of the IRL’s new TEAM program. Additionally, the Champ Car races at Long Beach, Edmonton and Surfer’s Paradise, Australia would be added to the ’08 IndyCar Series schedule.

SpeedTV story link

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ope...-peace-at-hand/

[-Helix-]

Guys,the dream is becoming more and more a reality!

Open wheel war to end?

SPEED has learned that Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe, the co-owners of Champ Car, have reached an agreement with IRL founder Tony George to race together this season. As reported by SPEEDtv.com recently, George offered the Champ Car ownership free Dallara chassis and Honda engines to any CC team that signs up for the full season in addition to receiving $1.2 million per car as part of the IRL?s new TEAM program. Additionally, the Champ Car races at Long Beach, Edmonton and Surfer?s Paradise, Australia would be added to the ?08 IndyCar Series schedule.

SpeedTV story link

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ope...-peace-at-hand/

I don't think it's going to get done in time for this season but next season theres a good possibility of having a unified series.

Hopefully when they do merge they can get an oval package for the Panoz so we don't have to watch those ugly Dallaras.

[oz615]

I guess we spoke a bit too soon

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/20080...heelmerger.html

The latest merger discussions between Indy Racing League and the rival Champ Car World Series have apparently ended in yet another failure.

Or have they?

After information leaked Thursday that the rival open-wheel series were close to unification, with a snag over race dates the biggest hurdle, Champ Car co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven was irate.

“Unfortunately, leaks and media reports about a possible unification of Champ Car and the Indy Racing League have significantly hampered discussions,” Kalkhoven said in a statement Friday. “Over the past three years, we have fielded and offered several proposals regarding unification of the two premier U.S.-based open-wheel racing series, but we have been unable to reach an acceptable solution. Discussions currently are at a standstill, and we therefore are proceeding with plans to continue as Champ Car.”

The story originally was reported by speedtv.com.

IRL founder Tony George has offered Champ Car teams free Dallara chassis and Honda engines, along with the $1.2 million in incentives it is paying each of its own teams to race in the IndyCar Series in 2008, IRL spokesman John Griffin said Friday.

All of the IRL entries race Dallaras with normally aspirated Honda engines, while Champ Car teams race Panoz DP-01 chassis with turbocharged Cosworth engines.

If the latest deal were to go through, the IRL also would absorb at least three of the 14 races on the Champ Car schedule – Long Beach, Calif.; Edmonton, Alberta; and Surfers Paradise, Australia.

The biggest hurdle prior to Kalkhoven's statement appeared to be the head-to-head scheduling of the Long Beach race, Champ Car's season opener April 20, and the IRL's April 19 event at the Honda-owned Motegi track in Japan. Long Beach officials say they cannot change their date because of contracts with the Long Beach Convention Center, around which the street circuit is set up. Motegi officials have refused to move their date.

“As long as Honda won't move Motegi, there won't be a merger,” Kalkhoven told The Associated Press Friday, hours before his statement was released. “It's certainly a major hurdle, but not the only one.

“There are significant advantages in doing (the merger), but I believe there are also significant advantages in not doing it. At this moment in time, there are no discussions until they move Motegi.”

Griffin was more optimistic about the negotiations with Kalkhoven and Champ Car co-owner Gerald Forsythe.

“This thing is moving forward, but there's still some work to be done. I don't know how long it's going to take,” he told the AP. “We are looking to add some teams and some races. (Retired Honda racing boss) Robert Clarke and Tony are going to head to Japan to talk to the Japanese about coming off their date.”

George founded the IRL in 1995 and the series began racing in 1996. Champ Car, then known as CART, continued as a separate series. Both sides have struggled to find sponsorship and acceptance and have lived with meager car counts and television ratings.

Most recently, each series lost its top stars – four-time Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais to Formula One and 2007 Indianapolis 500 winner and IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti and three-time IndyCar champion Sam Hornish Jr. to NASCAR.

“I think if both series can get together satisfactorily it would be the best thing for both parties,” said Derrick Walker, a current Champ Car team owner who also has been an IRL team owner. “It's the best possible solution for open wheel racing. It's long overdue and it has my approval 100 percent.”

Numerous attempts to unite the groups over the years have failed, mostly over who would have control. Longtime star Mario Andretti has made several attempts to get the sides together.

“It's the only solution we have to save the sport we love so much,” he said. “The bottom line is that this is desperately needed. There's no losers in a situation like this, starting with the fans.”

Eddie Gossage, president of Texas Motor Speedway, which has a race on the IndyCar schedule, also issued a statement that said, in part, “Reports that open-wheel racing is close to unification is the best thing to happen to the sport since Rick Mears, Mario Andretti, Al Unser Jr. and Danny Sullivan were battling each other in front of huge crowds 20 years ago. I hope this deal can be wrapped up and we can all focus on stabilizing the schedule, teams and sponsors, and ramp up the promotion.”

George McNeilly, senior director of communications for ESPN, which along with sister company ABC televises both open-wheel series, said, “Certainly we've seen the accounts in the press and are in favor of any dialogue that is in the best interest of sports fans and fans of open-wheel racing.”

All i can say is Stay Tuned.

[oz615]

BUT..... another source says "It's as close as it's ever been,"

http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_8219792

Champ, Indy deal is closer

By Tim Haddock, Staff Writer

Article Created: 02/09/2008 08:29:16 PM PST

An official from the Indy Racing League said a merger between the IndyCar Series and Champ Car World Series is closer than ever, and that moving the date of the IRL race at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan to later in the year is the last significant hurdle in completing the partnership.

Tony George, the founder of the Indy Racing League, was in Japan on Saturday with representatives from the IRL and Honda Performance Development to try to persuade track officials at Twin Ring Motegi to move their IRL race date, which is the same weekend as the Long Beach Grand Prix.

If the two sides can reach an agreement, it would mean the big-name teams and big wallets of Roger Penske, Chip Ganassi, Bobby Rahal and Michael Andretti would return to race on the streets of Long Beach.

Talks about merging the IRL IndyCar Series with the Champ Car World Series have been ongoing since 2006. But George has been quoted as saying the two sides have never been closer in agreeing to a partnership.

Jon Griffin, the vice president of public relations for the IRL, said if the race at Twin Ring Motegi can be moved to later in the year, it should clear the way for a merger.

"Clearly, Tony has gone on record as saying it's as close as it's ever been," Griffin said.

The owners of the Champ Car World Series are not as optimistic. Kevin Kalhkoven and Jerry Forsythe, co-owners of Champ Car, released a statement Friday that said leaks about the merger talks have hampered

the discussions.

The April19-20 date of the race at Twin Ring Motegi is a sticking point.

[illwauk]

I'm not a big racing person, but even I know that open-wheel >>>> nascar (since the former actually takes... you know... skill). Something like this might actually get me to care about the sport.

Besides, if this helps get rid of those mullet-wearing, tobacco-chewing nascar fans who invade Metro Milwaukee every year for the Busch Series race, I'm all for it...

[Jigga]

I'm tired of this reunification tease-fest. When the announcement is made (and it gets mentioned in the last 2 seconds of SportsCenter), then I'll believe it.

[-Helix-]

Well Tony George (IRL owner) is in Japan right now trying to get Honda to move the Motegi race so they can run at Long Beach. If they agree to move the Motegi race then its a done deal as long as the FIA approves everything.

There's rumors that Honda agreed to move the race circulating already but nothing official has been released. We probably won't hear anything official until the middle of the week.

That said, just ordered my tickets for the St.Pete Grand Prix. Hope to see Champ Car's finest there racing with the current IRL guys under a unified series.

[DelayedPenalty]

This would be an open wheeler's dream come true! I've been dreaming about a re-merger ever since they split. Open wheel racing has completely died in the US while it continues to thrive in Europe and South America. Too bad CART has lost almost all of it's top stars already (Bourdais to F1, Allmendinger to Nascar).

Imagine the possible line up if this had come about a few years earlier...One can only dream...

Hopefully a deal is worked out soon.

[Jigga]

More Danica...who wouldn't want that?

[dfwabel]

This would be an open wheeler's dream come true! I've been dreaming about a re-merger ever since they split. Open wheel racing has completely died in the US while it continues to thrive in Europe and South America. Too bad CART has lost almost all of it's top stars already (Bourdais to F1, Allmendinger to Nascar).

Imagine the possible line up if this had come about a few years earlier...One can only dream...

Hopefully a deal is worked out soon.

I don't think it matters much as it seems that Champ Car will just move into the IRL's tech package, meaning engines, chassis, and tires. Sure, Bridgestone owns Firestone, but combined it will all have to work with the chassis. I cannot see IRL moving to turbocharged cars with higher displacement. I say that Champ Car will have to change is because IRL is owned by the Holman family, who controls the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and why merge if you won't run at Indy? IRL holds thr cards to me. Plus, IRL has a better TV contract in terms of visibility. Both are on ABC/ESPN(2), but some Champ Car races will be edited to fit in an hour timeslot and most will be tape delayed.

Plus, supposedly Paul Newman is in failing health, so the face of open wheeled racing for most of my life may just have this or next year to return to Indy.

[budbowl77]

Screw the Daytona 500 and it's crappy Stock Cars?? Open Wheel Racing has become the minor leagues of NASCAR, and now you got IRL/CART drivers coming into NASCAR..

[-Helix-]

Screw the Daytona 500 and it's crappy Stock Cars?? Open Wheel Racing has become the minor leagues of NASCAR, and now you got IRL/CART drivers coming into NASCAR..

Just because IRL/Champ Car drivers and washed up F1 guys move to NASCAR for a cash grab doesn't make the racing better. It's still a redneck joke of a "racing series".

I personally don't understand how anyone can watch NASCAR. I watched the Montreal Busch Race last year which was mildly entertaining and tolerable but I just felt so awkward watching such heavy and low tech cars struggle to get around that place. Especially when you're so used to F1 cars racing there. NASCARs should never race on road courses. It's a joke. Though ovals are even worse.. After watching CART go 220 MPH around Michigan for years nothing NASCAR can do at 180 while bumping against eachother the whole time can entertain me.

Hopefully a return of American Open Wheel will give people a choice instead of being forced to settle for NAPCAR which has been decreasing in popularity in recent years so this is the perfect chance for another series to try and compete with it.

A merged series with all the best races and teams and the Indy 500 as it's centerpiece and brand new cars in 2010 will give NASCAR a run for it's money. I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of guys come back to the IRL before their career is over. (Montoya, Stewart, Franchitti, Carpentier, etc)