Champ Car/IndyCar Deal Done

[Kevin Cinnamon]

Most Champ Car teams were told to quit working on their Panoz chassis Monday and expect delivery of their new cars in a few days. Paul Tracy is coming to Indianapolis later this week for a seat fitting. And one of Champ Car’s co-owners admitted to a fellow owner there would only be one series in 2008.

After 12 years of warring that cost open-wheel racing much of its sponsorship, audience and momentum, common sense has finally prevailed.

SPEEDtv.com has learned that the Indy Racing League and Champ Car have officially, and mercifully, agreed to become one entity. A press conference could come as early as Wednesday if Kevin Kalkhoven is back from England in time.

Following nearly two weeks of negotiations between Tony George, Gerry Forsythe and Kalkhoven, an agreement is in place to bring several Champ Car teams and a handful of races into the IRL domain. It’s believed attorneys from both sides worked all weekend to finalize some kind of arrangement for the two men who claimed CART’s assets in bankruptcy court in 2004.

George, who started the IRL in 1996 when CART was in its heyday, would not confirm any deal when contacted late Monday night. “While it is true that I continue to believe we at the threshold of something long-overdue, we have not yet stepped across it,” he said.

But all signs point to this tumultuous chapter of American motorsports finally being closed.

“I’m supposed to fly in Indy later this week to get fitted for a seat and then we’re going to have to thrash to make it to the first test in Homestead,” said Tracy, the winningest active driver in Champ Car and its premier personality. “We don’t have any experience with those Dallaras and we’re going to need all the practice we can get but this is definitely the best thing that can happen for open-wheel racing.”

The IRL’s first open test is on the oval at Homestead, Fla. on Feb. 27-28.

Mike Lanigan, who co-owns a two-car CC effort with Paul Newman and Carl Haas in addition to promoting races at Houston and Cleveland, said he spoke with Forsythe on Sunday evening.

“Gerry indicated we were likely looking at one series,” said Lanigan, a Chicago native who started out sponsoring cars at the Indianapolis 500 in the early ‘90s. “I’m hoping to talk to Tony (George) about considering our two races, but having a unified series is certainly what everybody wants to see.”

Derrick Walker, a regular in Champ Car since 1991, said he expected “we should all hear something positive Tuesday or Wednesday” while Conquest Racing owner Eric Bachelart was asked whether he’d be in Champ Car, the IRL or one series this year.

“I think I will be in a unified series,” he replied.

George’s offer of free cars and engines, plus $1.2 million for any team able to compete the entire season, is expected to add a minimum of eight cars to the IRL grid in 2008.

Newman/Haas/Lanigan (two), PKV (two), Forsythe (two), Walker (one) and Conquest (one) are definites, while Dale Coyne is likely to field at least one car in ‘08, although he couldn’t be reached for comment on Monday. Minardi Team USA principal Paul Stoddart is a question mark, although partner Keith Wiggins may try to strike out on his own with one car. RocketSports is unknown while Pacific Coast Motorsports is believed to be headed to the ALMS.

With the IRL car count at 16, this would give open-wheel its largest fields since earlier this decade.

It also appears the Long Beach/Motegi conflict has been worked out. Earlier this month, George and Kalkhoven admitted there could not be unification unless Long Beach could be added to the IRL schedule and remain on its original date—April 20, the same weekend as Motegi. George and Honda’s Robert Clarke flew to Japan to meet with Honda of Japan (Motegi’s owners) and returned using “optimistic” quotes.

The fast, challenging airport circuit at Edmonton, which drew a legitimate 175,000-200,000 people during its first three years, will likely find a place on the IRL schedule as well. And Surfer’s Paradise, Australia was also being heavily considered.

It would bring the combined schedule to 19 races for 2008 and George is likely to consider other Champ Car circuits like Toronto or Mexico City for 2009.

It finally looks good for OPEN WHEEL racing once again. (But I hate the look of the IRL cars hehe)

Quote From Speed TV . Com

[Ron_Schuermann]

Sweet!!!!

[Wes Tribble]

I still won't watch IRL until they get rid of the spec chassis and open up the regs to allow different engine/chassis manufacturers. THAT is why the Indy 500 has lost it's appeal. It used to be a testbed. Now it's just Tony George's paycheck.

I would like to see the Indy series become more like F1 with ovals.

How awesome would it be to see a Ford/Lola fighting a Chevy/Riley for the Indy 500??

[Ron_Schuermann]

Isn't that what CA$HCAR is doing?

[Wes Tribble]

Isn't that what CA$HCAR is doing?

Just to be clear CA$HCAR = NASCAR right?

NO, not at all. All of the Chassis are spec. The motors are being developed, but they are developing OLD technology.

I want to see open development of the chassis and engine using the latest technology available.

[Ron_Schuermann]

You are correct Wes, CA$HCAR = NA$CAR

I would prefer to see close racing, with cars that are evenly matched, where it isn't how much money you can spend on R&D, but the driver that makes the difference. If you want to see open wheel racing, door-to-door, you cannot beat the IRL.

I used to love the IROC races!!! Unfortunately, they broadcasted them 2 months after I knew who won!

And remember, if it weren't for the IRL, there is one driver that would still be sitting on the outside looking in, because owners would keep recycling the old guys for the Indy 500, rather than give a new young guy a chance with a $500,000 car. His name is Tony Stewart!!!

[Wes Tribble]

You are correct Wes, CA$HCAR = NA$CAR

I would prefer to see close racing, with cars that are evenly matched, where it isn't how much money you can spend on R&D, but the driver that makes the difference. If you want to see open wheel racing, door-to-door, you cannot beat the IRL.

I used to love the IROC races!!! Unfortunately, they broadcasted them 2 months after I knew who won!

And remember, if it weren't for the IRL, there is one driver that would still be sitting on the outside looking in, because owners would keep recycling the old guys for the Indy 500, rather than give a new young guy a chance with a $500,000 car. His name is Tony Stewart!!!

Do you truly believe the driver makes the difference in NASCAR? Why has Hendrick dominated recently? Tony Stewart is probably the best driver in the series and missed the chase 2 years ago.

The Rolex Series Daytona Prototypes use 3-4 different chassis and 4 different engine manufacturers, yet the racing is as close as they come. I guess, I'm just a geek, but I love the development side of the sport. It is the primary reason for the sports existence, and the further we go away from the roots, the more boring it gets for me.

I hate that a Ford looks like a Dodge looks like a Toyota looks like a Chevy in NASCAR. I agree with the safety changes to the COT, but those changes can be made to the specs without taking chassis engineering away from the teams. Of course, if I had my way, NASCAR would actually be running race modified versions of the Impala, Camry, Charger and Fusion. Not some NASCAR mandated spec chassis. I don't expect that to happen, but I think it would be much, much more enjoyable.

Spec races have their place(spec miata, toyota atlantics, formula BMW) to identify, evaluate, and develop new talent. I also don't mind the occasional ALL-STAR race or IROC race with spec cars. However, I personally don't believe that a spec series belongs at the pinnacle of motor racing. Formula 1, NASCAR, IRL, and LMS should all have multiple manufacturers competing and developing technology that will eventually translate to the street.

[Ron_Schuermann]

I would like to believe the driver makes a difference...there is still racing luck, and vendettas. I know Tony missed 2 years ago, but he has been in the Top 10 for 2 years, showing a great deal of consistency. That being said, when someone "finds something", they tend to win a few races in a row, until the others "catch on" to what they are doing that is new. i.e. See Hendrix last year during the chase.

Unfortunately, the Rolex is not on regular TV, so I have to throw it out, because I never see it, and cannot talk on it. Sorry, those of us with cable channels that are forced upon us, thanks to our City government selling out to a lone cable provider, are stuck without Speed Channel, and all the assorted goodies on other cable packages.

Watch almost any IRL race (Kentucky Speedway, Texas Speedway - 3 years ago (I think) the last 18 laps were done by 3 guys interlocking wheels at 200 MPH. WOW!!!!!)

It would be great to see a lower-cost open wheel, or sports car league where the sponsorship matters. I liked Johnny Rutherford's idea a few years back...a lower-cost alternative to CA$HCAR. However, CA$HCAR squelched that baby!! Would've been interesting!

The problem you get with competing manufacturers is that you get everyone whining you are giving an advantage to another make, like a couple years ago in CA$HCAR, and they kept changing the rules. Shave off 1/4" of spoiler here, 1/2" off the ride heighth there.

Anyway...my point...if you are looking for the best of technology racing, you have it in F1...why not a spec class, where they still do 180-200 MPH, to keep costs down for the other guys who can't afford to put the cash into F1.

I've rambled far too long!!

[Wes Tribble]

I didn't say that the driver doesn't make A difference, but they are not the only variable as you would like to see. There will always be better cars, even in spec series.

The problem is even F1 is halting development in many areas. They have an engine freeze in effect now, and they have so many freaking rules that all of the cars look exactly the same with small aero differences. They even mandated a spec ECU to control traction control and driver aids. In other words, Formula 1 is not the bleeding edge of technology that it once was. Also, there is no american presence in Formula 1 and no American circuits either.

I guess ALMS is the best series for manufacturers to actually test and develop new technology. The only problem there is the lack of manufacturer interest in the Prototype and GT1 classes and the horrible CBS coverage. The GT2 class is awesome though and with BMW on board, things will get even more interesting.

I guess my biggest problem is that I would like to see the American car companies show more than a passing interest in road racing and race car development. Why are German and Italian carmakers the only ones that will put their product on the line sunday afternoons?

[Ron_Schuermann]

Cool!!! Great discussion!!!