since nobody else has bothered to break the news, or rather speculation, ill start a thread.

Agreement to merge the IRL and Champ Car may finally be at hand

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by autoblog &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
The rumor includes an encouraging level of detail, including:

50/50 ownership of the resulting series
George and Kalkhoven would be co-chairmen
Honda and Cosworth would both be involved
Bridgestone will be the tire supplier (could be either of the Bridgestone or Firestone brands)
</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

Hope this goes through. It's pretty obvious that open wheel racing cant survive in its current state.
I still think Tony George is an *******....

 

This would be great if it happens.

 

I think this is the seventh sign of the apocalypse.

Would be great.

What next? The Frances and Panoz become fishing buddies and merge Grand Am and ALMS?

Barry H.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EK4civichatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hope this goes through. It's pretty obvious that open wheel racing cant survive in its current state.
I still think Tony George is an *******....</TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree with all your statements ...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by apexinghonda &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I
What next? The Frances and Panoz become fishing buddies and merge Grand Am and ALMS?

Barry H. </TD></TR></TABLE>

why would that happen? GARRA has huge feilds in every class (20 plus cars per class in over appx 85% of the races).


were as ALMS struggles to have over 10 cars in any one class.


Now look at IRL and CART, both of the series are in a WORLD of hurt.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Champ car and IRL merger talks....</TD></TR></TABLE>
I think I read something similar last year. And the year before that. And the year be for that one. And...

 

I hope they dont merge. Champ car has proven that they dont need the Indy 500 to survive.

 

Define survive.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by stealthx32 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Define survive. </TD></TR></TABLE>

One irrelevant racing series instead of two?

Scott, who just doesn't care...down from when I barely did...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by stealthx32 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Define survive. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Buying airtime on SpikeTV?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nonsense &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Buying airtime on SpikeTV? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Last time I saw the race it was on CBS/Speed. The Long Beach GP coming up is on NBC.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by stealthx32 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Define survive. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Surviving means the owners buying Cosworth/Pi Electronics to secure engines for the long term. New chassis which is smaller/lighter. Snatching up the rights to the Long Beach and Canadian races. Both of which packs the house like you would not believe. The IRL Indy 500 packs a full house, but most of the races have the stands half empty. Opening new markets in Canada, Mexico and Asia. New Mazda/Cosworth devloped engines for the Atlantic series.

Can't wait untill Honda pulls the plug on the IRL program.

 

Apparently May has come early this year The .1RL is on the brink, just let it die and we will have one series.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Scott, who just doesn't care...down from when I barely did...</TD></TR></TABLE>
Exactly the way I feel. And therein lies the real problem: I used to care. They lost my interest so long ago I am completely indifferent to what happens next...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by xtrac1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Champ car has proven that they dont need the Indy 500 to survive. </TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by racinjason &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The .1RL is on the brink, just let it die and we will have one series.</TD></TR></TABLE>

These get my vote, too.

 

So where are all those IRL proponents on this forum who were saying a year or two ago that Champ Car was dead and IRL was the future? The IRL is in deep **** once the pre-existing Honda factory funding contracts run their course.

The only reason to think about a merger is if it was the only way to keep the Indy 500 a formula car race.

 

if champ car wants to survive on its own it needs to.....


-eliminate all but 1 US race (is it the long beach one that always sells out?)
-focus on mexico and canada, where the series has a good following
-stop soliciting the big marques
-start soliciting people like hyndai, mitsubishi, audi, those who aren't involved in other high-dollar sponsor series but champ car could provide a unique opportunity to them
-once they are established and successful in this manner, then they can try and grow in the US
-F1 has it figured out, the US isn't interested in more than 1 open wheel race/year right now

 

tnord, last year CART had the SJGP and that mother was packed like you wouldn't beleive. I'm sure even more people will show up last year.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tnord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the US isn't interested in more than 1 open wheel race/year right now</TD></TR></TABLE>
See, I believe the problem is that the US doesn't *know* of any open wheel series. The very small percentage who do is then further divided up by the number of open wheel series out there. When the masses think of "racing" a picture of the "Tide car" going side by side the "M&M car” pops up in their mind. This is what Nascar has done so well and why it’s so popular. It has been successful at both infiltrating the heads of the mainstream masses, and also at defining the meaning of "racing" for the general public in its (Nascar's) image. Brilliant! All they need to do to continue with their success is to keep both of these fronts going strong.


Modified by Hracer at 3:11 AM 2/23/2006

 

If the Three Amigos didn't bother saving CART and turning it into Champ Car, we would've had one series back in 2004. (devil's advocate)

With that said, I don't like Tony George. But at the same time, the old CART regime and the greedy team owners have to shoulder some of the blame for even allowing the split to happen.

And TRD...what a backstabbing company. Seems like every series they enter, they try to buy their wins. Those pansies caused Mid-Ohio-'gate.

 

And like thawley, we've heard this all before. I'll believe it when it happens. And if it's really happening, then a big frak you to Autoweek if they mess this up.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by alphajesse &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">tnord, last year CART had the SJGP and that mother was packed like you wouldn't beleive. I'm sure even more people will show up last year.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The real question for the SJGP is did the promoter make a profit, or were most of the tickets given away to fill the stands? Most street races like this one have good attendance in the first year, but if the promoter doesn't make money, the race won't continue for long. I'd be surprised if it survives. Of course I'm still bitter that Champ Car gave up a great little track down the 101 in Monterey to run a Mickey Mouse city street course with a jump in it. And the reason Champ Car is no longer at Laguna Seca? The promoter wasn't making money.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tnord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
-start soliciting people like hyndai, mitsubishi, audi, those who aren't involved in other high-dollar sponsor series but champ car could provide a unique opportunity to them</TD></TR></TABLE>

mitsubishi has been in a crazy state for the past 5 or so years, they tried to make a go at WRC last year but that fell way short, and wont be backing that any more.

Audi in america at least, has strong ties to champion, and loves the whole ALMS and LMP type of deals.

i wouldn't be suprised if in the next 5 or so years if Hyndai or Kia makes a move into some type of motorsports. there cars seem to be fine working street machines whos only down fall is they lack the name for resale value which makes there selling price new have to come down. (ala honda when they first came over here).


Im waiting to see were honda goes after IRL.....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slammed_93_hatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

mitsubishi has been in a crazy state for the past 5 or so years, they tried to make a go at WRC last year but that fell way short, and wont be backing that any more.

Audi in america at least, has strong ties to champion, and loves the whole ALMS and LMP type of deals.

i wouldn't be suprised if in the next 5 or so years if Hyndai or Kia makes a move into some type of motorsports. there cars seem to be fine working street machines whos only down fall is they lack the name for resale value which makes there selling price new have to come down. (ala honda when they first came over here).</TD></TR></TABLE>

which is why it makes sense for audi to enter into a "premier" open wheel series. i agree, Hyndai seems to have particular use for motorsports involvement.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slammed_93_hatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Im waiting to see were honda goes after IRL.....</TD></TR></TABLE>

NASCAR?