IRL/ Champ Car possible merger?

[MattR]

An Announcement is expected Friday. I'm really hoping this happens, it's painful to watch the series operate seperately.

oh yeah

[Nick Koan]

Yeah, I was reading about it a few weeks ago. Hopefully it finally makes it.

EDIT: wait, written by Mike Harris?

I already know of three people by that name that lives in Reno. Is this a 4th?

[Dean]

It was stupid when they split back when. I just hope they don't F up the merger and drive more teams away.

[Nick Koan]

Looks like its official now.

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headline...22224200.shtml

The long awaited and much anticipated merger between the Champ Car World Series and the IndyCar series has been confirmed this evening.

Few details of the so-called 'merger' are available as yet but after weeks of negotiations, it is now confirmed that a deal between the IRL and CCWS has been found.

The following is an announcement published on the IndyCar website:

"Indy Racing League founder and CEO Tony George and owners of the Champ Car World Series have completed an agreement in principle that will unify the sport for 2008.

"Gerald Forsythe, co-owner of Champ Car, signed an agreement in principle Feb. 22 in Chicago, joining his partner, Kevin Kalkhoven. George signed the agreement Feb. 21. Details of a news conference about the agreement will be forthcoming."

Derrick Walker, Team owner
It’s back to the future... It’s been a long road, but it has finally come together. From a fan and sports business point of view, one open wheel racing series in the United States has long been recognized as what fans and sponsors want to have both series together and I’m happy to say that Walker Racing embraces the decision.”

Al Speyer, Executive Director, Bridgestone Firestone
“Overall [we are] quite pleased for the sport. We are looking for a unified American open-wheel racing series to maximize fan interest, as well as bring in additional teams, drivers and sponsors – all of which will contribute to the health and growth of that series.
We are eager to work with everyone involved in the transition and look forward to an even more promising future.”

Bobby Rahal, Team owner
“This is a great day for open-wheel racing and one that I and my Rahal Letterman Racing team have looked forward to for a long time. I applaud all of those that made this possible, but want to especially recognize all of those that made sacrifices and concessions to secure the future of open-wheel racing. I truly believe that this is the first step toward restoring open-wheel racing and the Indianapolis 500 to not only where it once was, but beyond.”

E.A. © CAPSIS International
Source: IndyCar / Various

[Nick Koan]

I guess details are going to be announced next week in a news conference, but it looks like one thing that's known is that its all going under the IRL banner.

I hope that doesn't mean they abandon road and street courses

[sperry]

I think with IRL's push towards more road courses in their own series lately, they'll likely leverage the contacts CART had w/ the road courses.

[Dean]

I wonder though if retaining the "Indy" name is good or bad. While it has name recognition, is that recognition still positive. I don't recall what was on opposite last year's Indy 500, but I sure didn't watch Indy last year, or for many years before. I definitely watched more CHAMP than IRL over the years since the split.

I'd be tempted to leave the race as Indy but keep Champ as the car/series.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by Dean

I wonder though if retaining the "Indy" name is good or bad. While it has name recognition, is that recognition still positive. I don't recall what was on opposite last year's Indy 500, but I sure didn't watch Indy last year, or for many years before. I definitely watched more CHAMP than IRL over the years since the split.

I'd be tempted to leave the race as Indy but keep Champ as the car/series.

I think if you say "hey look at that Indy Car" more people will know what you're talking about rather than "hey look at that Champ Car".

The "Indy" name recognition may not hold the same glamor it used to with motorheads, but it's still far more recognized in the general public.

[AtomicLabMonkey]

Originally Posted by sperry

I think if you say "hey look at that Indy Car" more people will know what you're talking about rather than "hey look at that Champ Car".

The "Indy" name recognition may not hold the same glamor it used to with motorheads, but it's still far more recognized in the general public.

That is totally true. Laura (member of the general non-racefan public) didn't even know that there were two open-wheel series, let alone recognizing the words "Champ Car". She knows what "Indycar" means though.

[Nick Koan]

Hell, I've heard people refer to all open wheel cars as Indy Cars.

(I believe this was on Rob, Arnie and Dawn years ago)

Rob: "Michael Schumacher, who drives in F1..."
Arnie: "We don't need no fruity indy cars here, this is 'merica and we watch NASCAR"