Reading PA: - Roger Penske, one of the founders of CART and the most successful owner in open-wheel racing, is moving to the rival IRL next year.
"We plan to compete in all Indy Racing League series races in 2002, in addition to the Indy 500." Tim Cindric, president of Penske Racing, Inc., said Thursday.
The decision was made with Marlboro, the team's chief sponsor, whose marketing has been affected by the 1998 tobacco settlement....

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Maybe this is because he thinks F1 will make more inroads into the US in the future?? More oval racing.....yay.

 

My understanding is that Marlboro wants to be in the Indy 500 with a team that is capable of winning. Obviously Penske is, and Marlboro was not too thrilled with NOT having their name on the winning car last year. The tobacco settlement of 1998 dictates that tobacco sponsorships may only be held in one sports arena. IE, Marlboro can only have sponsorship in one series, not CART/IRL/Nascar. At least, that is how I have come to understand that ruling after reading a few articles on the subject.

~Chris

 

That's another huge loss for CART. Not only have they lost support from all their engine sponsors, now the teams are bailing. This is the start of an ugly CART demise

 

CARTs fault for changing the engine specs

 

Well they did one good thing in removing the current CEO, Joe Heitzler (sp?). But is it too little too late... Only next season can tell.

Now if they could only go bakc to being a private company.

 

that's been around since Indy. I knew it was going to happen, and I don't blame him. CART change the engines specs. PLUS, they lost the Michigan Speedway. No Indy 500 for CART. But I don't like IRL's "Go fast, turn left" way similar to NASCAR. Atleast nascar has Sears and Watkins Glenn. I just hope IRL can get some road courses. BRING THEM TO SEARS POINT!!!!

 

WRONG! It's deeper than that. Obviously, you really haven't been keeping up. This **** has been brewing for a while.

 

Oh chill out, I'm just pissed 'cause CART deserves to live so much more than IRL :p