Since the IRL/CART split in the 90's both series have been hemoraging big names and teams, not only to each other, but more recently as NASCAR becomes the sporting juggernaut it's become names have started to leap to the cars with fenders.
Although the article says the two could be united for the 2008 series, surely this is unlikely. The meshing of the events and the teams. The fact that the two series run totally different tracks, with totally different cars. The fact there's only a matter of weeks until the series start to kick off. I think the best we can hope for is a combined 2009 series, which despite putting us through another year of two quite uninteresting championships, would almost certainly be better than the 11th hour hodge-podge that is likely to result from a deal done right now.
Open-wheel racing in the US needs this. There is some big sponsorship involved - McDonalds in Champ Car, Motorola in IRL, and big teams Forsythe and Newman-Haas-Lanigan, versus Penske, Ganassi and Andretti. They both have big name drivers (despite the fact that several have decamped) and historic races - Indy, Long Beach, Toronto, Cleveland (and it's crash friendly first turn).
broomy - I agree...2009 would be the earliest to coordinate the scheduling conflicts with combining the three additional road coarses to the IRL schedule.
Tony George is the one rolling out the red carpet here, with all the incentitives for Champ Car. The Long Beach GP and Motegi Japan race for each series is booked for the same weekend April 19-20.
Both venues have made commitments for these weekends. I don't believe TG should have to realign the existing 2008 IRL schedule to accomodate the additional CCWS venues and drivers.
The best solution would be to simply plan ahead for 2009, so that everyone has time to breathe and figure out the logistics of this without rushing around and stepping on someone's toes because of prior commitments.
It's about time. Tony G. thought he could wait long enough for Champ car to fold, and then cherry pick their teams and races. I don't know how Champ car stayed in business so long either Tony.
The reason both survived is until very recently, when IRL started introducing road-courses there was one oval and one road-course series. These attracted different drivers and different teams, like Paul Stoddart's Minardi US team went to CC due to his experience in F1.
I really hope they do it properly. From reading the article it has no mention of some of the other better Champ Car events. The newer races at Mont-Tremblant, Assen and Zolder could go, but places like Toronto and Cleveland and Portland should really be kept.
Props to Tony George. Roger Penske's ego created this mess because he always thought he was bigger than Indy and the Hulman George family. He's incredibly rich and successful BUT there is only one number one guy in open wheel racing in the U.S. and it's Tony George. I knew this would eventually happen and I agree it is amazing it's taken this long for the CART/Champ Car guys to see the light. One of my biggest thrills as an Indy car racing fan was the year ALL of Roger's so-called juggernaut team failed to qualify at Indy.
HR13 - I think that was 1995 with the Penske's not making the show. I was there for qualifying. Could not believe it. All the fans in the stands were amazed too.
While a merger is a necessity for open wheel racing, we've heard all of this before. My question is; Despite the sponsorship and ownership you mentioned, does Champ Car really have any name drivers? Seems to me they would bring more financial clout and an ability to restore some of the trademark legacy event locations, but very little in terms of talent in the paddock.
Its about time. All this Nascar stuff is driving me nuts. Its doable this year if they can agree on which races that can be contractually eliminated. The April races (IRL in Japan and Champ in California) do not seem to be giving in on the dates.(April 19 and 20th). If ever they can agree it will eliminate some of the weaker drivers and poor teams (cash poor) Of course that means Danika will never win.
Moseby - IRL does have more big names in it, but Champ Car does have a few. Paul Tracy, Graham Rahal and Justin Wilson are probably the best on offer, and will probably be in demand still, depending on how many road courses are on the merged schedule.
I think the merger in 2009 is fine if it happens. Considering both series have worse turn outs in fans at their races ( Except Indy), The merger makes good business sense for both to survive.
This would certainly make the open wheel series a stronger operation and hopefully financially stronger. No use in letting the F 1 series ( who seems to have a bit of an arrogant attitude)get all the gravy.
Last edited by photogr on February 8th at 1:53 PM.
If only I had a nickle for every time a merger was certain, impending, or exceptionally likely.
One of these times, the rumor/story will be true.
But it won't make a huge difference for many years, if ever. But if there's going to be a recovery, it has to start with eliminating the competing open wheel series.
And Tony G.'s ego was plenty big back in '95 as well. It most definitely took two to tango - although I figured it would only be 3 or 4 years before Tony would prevail ... so much for that thought.
Indianapolis TV news reported last night that Champ Car downplaying any imminent deal but the only sticking point right now seems to be the conflict between Long Beach and Motegi dates AND Tony George and his team are off to Japan this weekend to meet with Honda which owns Motegi. In Honda's best interest to reschedule since it will mean better field and more coverage so I think it will get done. Again I say 'bout time.
I always want to write something witty here, but my wit is always confused with something worse ------------- ------------- ----NASCAR and Auto Racing in general mostly here, but I get distracted by shiny sporting objects as well and give them an airing too---------- ------------- -----Pastimes include rooting for the underdog and trying to fathom why Golf is considered a sport-------- ------------- ---
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