I figured jbroomy would have posted this but since I don't see it yet I'll announce the latest news from the IRL - Champ Car merger. Apparently Forsythe Racing announced today they are closing up shop. That means Paul Tracy is now a free agent looking for a ride. Early rumors say he may end up driving for Tony George's Vision Racing team joining A.J. Foyt IV and Ed Carpenter. It was also reported today that the field at Homestead may include 8 cars from Champ Car meaning a total car count of anywhere from 24 to 27 cars. Most of you who follow open wheel probably already know that the Long Beach race will be run the same weekend as Motegi with the Champ Car teams in Cali and the IRL teams in Japan. Points will be awarded at both venues so the combined fields at Homestead and all other dates will have both groups on an even playing field points-wise.
Yep IG. I'm loving it that Tony George came out on top as I always thought he would. Should be a great year. It will be especially interesting if Paul ends up driving for Tony after he pretty much accused the IRL of cheating him out of the Indy 500 win when he thought he had passed Helio. But whoever hires him will have a good shoe and a guy ALWAYS willing to speak his mind and back it up with his fists - lol. Thanks for commenting.
HR13 - Not a Paul Tracey fan, but he definitely has the fire and spirit (experience too) to be a hot commodity on the IRL market. Although I would bet he doesn't stay unemployed too long.
Also of note for new teams is that Sarah Fischer is starting her own team in 2008 with a limited schedule, and will be announcing her sponsorship in the next week. She is planning to run the full season in 2009.
Last edited by Gerrel on February 28th at 9:37 PM.
F2 - I have tons of faith in Tony George to make this all work and think things will be fine this year with a few bumps along the road on the way to growth and prosperity for the series in the coming years.
CJ - That avatar pic is of my favorite USAC driver EVER, my son. He was tons cooler than Eddie Haskell and had just completed his freshman year of college when his life ended chasing his dream of being a future IRL star. But you have to admit he looks a lot less like a bum or terrorist than the guy in my previous avatar photo - lol.
Last edited by HoosierRacer13 on February 29th at 8:21 AM.
Gerrel - I'm not a PT fan either but love watching him race. Even at 39, I'm sure he'll find a quality ride pretty quickly.
Also, thanks for the update on Sarah. As you know, she carried my son's name on both sides of the wing support in the 2002 Indy 500 so she will always be special to me and my family. I wish her tons of success.
Hoosier- nice new avatar!! I dont really follow these two racing leagues but love Helio from Dancing With the Stars (I know I know try to still respect me...) Thanks to you and Broomy for keeping us up to date. Sounds like a crappy deal for Paul Tracy and this whole points at different races thing is a bit crazy. Sounds like they are rushing into this merger to me.
Wonder if more drivers will bail to NASCAR if it goes poorly?
noahspop - yes it is a wonderful thing. I heard an interview from Homestead on an Indianapolis radio station yesterday and it sounds like 24 or more cars for sure. I love NASCAR but also love Indy cars so I'm ecstatic this all came together in time for this season. WOO HOO!!!
As I just commented, I think Tony George will lead this series to much growth and prosperity. I think they face some challenges because they've pulled it together so quickly but think they would have been worse off to wait a whole year. No doubt in my mind, however, that some IRL guys will continue to look at Cup opportunities. If you love to race, 36 points races has to look better than 16. Thanks for the comment on the avatar. As you probably read in my comment to CJ, that is my all time favorite USAC driver EVER, my son, who tragically had his racing career end when he was just 19. At least 4 current IRL drivers were just graduating from go-karts when my son started running with the adult classes as a 14-year old. He had a USAC midget ride for one season before God called him home.
Hoosier, I, too, am very excited about this. I really like Paul Tracy. I like the "Bad Boy" of racing for any series. LOL (Where's photogr?)
Your son was a very handsome young man, Hoosier. Thanks for sharing the picture with us.
Last edited by volfan69 on February 29th at 11:36 AM.
volfan,
Thanks for the kind comments regarding my son. He had so much going for him but some dreams aren't meant to be. However, having been raised in the church with a mom who taught Sunday school, I have an extremely strong religious faith and truly believe my son is in a better place where we all hope to be someday. He just beat us to the checker one more time. Have a great weekend B.
HR, I don't want to take your open wheel post and turn it into a NASCAR topic. But what the heck! It's a free country, and besides, I think it relates in it's own strange way.....
I think NASCAR should be concerned about the reunification of American open wheel racing. If NASCAR is smart, they will try to maintain some of their core fans. Robbie Gordon's team represents what NASCAR used to be. Therefore, core fans wheather they like Robbie or not, are rallying for him based on principle. NASCAR has had a free ride the last 10 years, with little competition. It would be a mistake for NASCAR to assume they can ignore the concerns of the core fan in this or other matters. jmo
Maybe Paul Tracy and Robbie should get together, and pick up some good CHAMP Car bargains at the auction.
Who really cares what you think? You seem to think what you have to say matters. It really doesn't, but you seem to have a lot of time to act like a jerk online. Get a life!
