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Author	Topic: IRL-Champcar Merger in the Works?	Topic is locked Back to Topics

OPECohno All-Star Author North Carolina Posts:552 Points:255,830 Joined:Aug 2007	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2008 4:20:51 Ignore OPECohno Report Abuse Looks like the two series are talking. Let's hope they settle this 14 years after Tony George ruined open-wheel racing. It's best for both series if they become one again. ESPN.com: Long-sought IRL-Champ Car merger faces another roadblock ESPN.com: Schedule snag, media leaks lead to suspension of merger talks

OPECohno

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North Carolina

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2008 4:20:51

Ignore OPECohno Report Abuse

Looks like the two series are talking. Let's hope they settle this 14 years after Tony George ruined open-wheel racing. It's best for both series if they become one again.

ESPN.com: Long-sought IRL-Champ Car merger faces another roadblock

ESPN.com: Schedule snag, media leaks lead to suspension of merger talks

REPLIES (newest first)

Perihelion Rookie Author Lansing Posts:12 Points:2,700 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2008 7:05:03 Ignore Perihelion Report Abuse Bring back the race at MIS!!!
mckenzi01 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:36,307 Points:2,758,730 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2008 5:25:55 AM Ignore mckenzi01 Report Abuse Let's hear it for Tony!
Yonkers111 Champion Author Scranton Posts:8,342 Points:859,135 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Mar 16, 2008 10:21:48 AM Ignore Yonkers111 Report Abuse I hope when the resulting body sorts things out they include at least half the races as road/street races, but the turbos and the pop-off valve will be missed.
POCONO Champion Author Houston Posts:2,731 Points:250,000 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Mar 10, 2008 9:00:55 AM Ignore POCONO Report Abuse And now there is nothing in Houston. Weekend cancelled.
POCONO Champion Author Houston Posts:2,731 Points:250,000 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Mar 1, 2008 8:27:36 Ignore POCONO Report Abuse Guess all we will see this year in Houston is the ALMS. But they are more interesting to watch than the CUP races. This will be my last POCONO race this August. On to Montreal.
OPECohno All-Star Author North Carolina Posts:552 Points:255,830 Joined:Aug 2007	Message Posted: Feb 28, 2008 8:29:44 AM Ignore OPECohno Report Abuse "Who knows how it'll all break down as there's enough of a rules difference between Champ and IndyCar to make this a slippery slope for a bit, until the owners can re-do their cars to conform to the new rules." The CART drivers have been promised a "support package". This from ESPN FAQ concerning the deal: "A: All nine Champ Car teams have expressed interest in competing in the unified series, and most meet guidelines George has established to receive a support package from the IRL that includes two Dallara chassis and a standard Honda engine lease program. In addition, those teams will be eligible for the IRL's TEAM program, which guarantees $1.2 million in prize money for full-time entrants." I'm guessing there will be 40-45 cars trying to get into the field at Indy. Should be a pretty good field. ESPN.com: From Danica to George, all your unification questions get answered here [Edited by: OPECohno at 2/28/2008 8:34:05 AM EST]
14smoke Champion Author Birmingham Posts:13,322 Points:1,945,040 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Feb 28, 2008 6:39:41 AM Ignore 14smoke Report Abuse Heard this morning on ESPNRadio, driving into work, that the merger has been finalized. I'm amazed it's actually happened, but, glad to see it. It's long overdue. The car count? Who knows how it'll all break down as there's enough of a rules difference between Champ and IndyCar to make this a slippery slope for a bit, until the owners can re-do their cars to conform to the new rules.
mckenzi01 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:36,307 Points:2,758,730 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Feb 28, 2008 5:17:41 AM Ignore mckenzi01 Report Abuse Let's see: 13 cars plus 12 cars equals 38? Right! More Tony math.
Hornetsp Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:2,158 Points:350,460 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Feb 27, 2008 5:40:39 Ignore Hornetsp Report Abuse They are saying they could have up to 38 car driver combinations for the entire season. Brian Barnhart saying he wishes the count would be more around 28-30 what is that all about. Wishing for fewer drivers. I think having that many will make the racing, qualifying, and events mor fun myself.
Yonkers111 Champion Author Scranton Posts:8,342 Points:859,135 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Feb 27, 2008 12:04:47 Ignore Yonkers111 Report Abuse Maybe they can find 33 "qualified" drivers for indy this year.
SE3.5 Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:17,222 Points:3,192,240 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Feb 27, 2008 9:15:13 AM Ignore SE3.5 Report Abuse Open wheel will again look like a race instead of a private party.
OPECohno All-Star Author North Carolina Posts:552 Points:255,830 Joined:Aug 2007	Message Posted: Feb 26, 2008 7:34:37 AM Ignore OPECohno Report Abuse "...but two top-tier open wheel series in the US is too much. The quality of racing should improve as well. " Indeed. Both series' became watered down because of the split. CART was still good 3-4 years after the split, but without Indy there was no way they could hack it. I will watch some this year, and hope that next season it gets all the way back. Tony George, you still suck!!!
Oredigger94 Champion Author Dayton Posts:9,283 Points:1,770,360 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2008 11:44:24 AM Ignore Oredigger94 Report Abuse Maybe open wheel will regain some relevance now. I always found the racing good, but two top-tier open wheel series in the US is too much. The quality of racing should improve as well.
POCONO Champion Author Houston Posts:2,731 Points:250,000 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2008 7:59:27 AM Ignore POCONO Report Abuse Far more people watch these series than "nobody". Glad I never turned on the NASCAR "sedan race" yesterday.
WilW Champion Author Atlanta Posts:12,351 Points:2,698,595 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2008 9:14:28 AM Ignore WilW Report Abuse Oh! Great! Let's take two series that nobody watches and merge them into one series that nobody watches. Unless they can develop to the popularity of the days of Danny Sullivan, the father/son Andretti duels, Fittipaldi, Nigel Mansell, Al Unser Sr and Jr, A.J., Rick Mears, etc. it ain't gonna work. I remember seeing Buddy Lazier drink the milk in 1996 and thought to myself, "who is this?". At that point, both IRL and CART lost significance. [Edited by: WilW at 2/24/2008 9:15:10 AM EST]
mckenzi01 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:36,307 Points:2,758,730 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2008 6:01:54 AM Ignore mckenzi01 Report Abuse The deal is done. Now Tony has only one series to kill.
kimo31 Champion Author Orange County Posts:9,922 Points:2,599,495 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2008 3:27:09 AM Ignore kimo31 Report Abuse Finally! IRL & Champ Car Merger
Yonkers111 Champion Author Scranton Posts:8,342 Points:859,135 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Feb 23, 2008 5:13:36 Ignore Yonkers111 Report Abuse It looks done to me. See indycar.com
OPECohno All-Star Author North Carolina Posts:552 Points:255,830 Joined:Aug 2007	Message Posted: Feb 22, 2008 7:42:06 AM Ignore OPECohno Report Abuse Getting closer: "A deal that would unify America's two open-wheel racing series under the IRL umbrella entered the final stages Thursday. Talks have centered on a proposal in which some teams from the Champ Car World Series would blend into the Indy Racing League. The unification would become one series under the banner of the IRL's IndyCar Series, Champ Car spokesman David Higdon said. "We're closer than we've ever been," Higdon said. "Many of us remain hopeful that it will be completed today and we will be talking about a unified open wheel series tomorrow." ESPN.com: Champ Car spokesman: 'We're closer than we've ever been'
kimo31 Champion Author Orange County Posts:9,922 Points:2,599,495 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Feb 21, 2008 8:15:28 Ignore kimo31 Report Abuse ESPN is reporting the merger as first reported on SPEEDtv.com so I'm hoping it is true but I'm not going to blame ESPN if it isn't! I'll blame Tony George! ;) IRL-Champcar Merger
mckenzi01 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:36,307 Points:2,758,730 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Feb 21, 2008 5:14:56 AM Ignore mckenzi01 Report Abuse But how can we challenge ESPN. After all, they are the respected leaders in motorsports. Right?? Never mind. I still don't think it'll happen.
kimo31 Champion Author Orange County Posts:9,922 Points:2,599,495 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Feb 21, 2008 1:50:30 AM Ignore kimo31 Report Abuse I sure hope it happens but I guess we have to wait until the "official" announcement on Thursday. It would make the Long Beach Grand Prix an even better event if it happens. [Edited by: kimo31 at 2/21/2008 1:51:12 AM EST]
14smoke Champion Author Birmingham Posts:13,322 Points:1,945,040 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Feb 20, 2008 6:22:41 AM Ignore 14smoke Report Abuse Funny how ESPN is reporting it's a done deal, but, leaders of both open wheel series say there's nothing to it. Wonder what the real truth is...
OPECohno All-Star Author North Carolina Posts:552 Points:255,830 Joined:Aug 2007	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2008 9:39:00 Ignore OPECohno Report Abuse "Necessary? Yes. Happening? No." Start cooking the crow, because I think Mac will be having some soon. IndyCar, Champ Car reach agreement on merger Not official yet, but announcement should be made on Thursday. Thanks Tony George, for ruining open-wheel racing over the last 12 seasons. Perhaps the races will be worth watching this year.
mckenzi01 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:36,307 Points:2,758,730 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Feb 13, 2008 5:21:20 AM Ignore mckenzi01 Report Abuse Necessary? Yes. Happening? No.
kimo31 Champion Author Orange County Posts:9,922 Points:2,599,495 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Feb 12, 2008 2:36:43 Ignore kimo31 Report Abuse A merger is necessary if open wheel racing is to survive in North America. Unfortunately I don't think the powers that be will compromise enough to make this happen any time soon.
Hornetsp Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:2,158 Points:350,460 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Feb 12, 2008 1:46:10 Ignore Hornetsp Report Abuse Would love to see the merger happen. I though will believe it when I see it. We have been down this road before. Imagine, Indy on Bump day, and actually having real bumping like the old days going on. That would be fun. Not the gimmicky bump day we have now.
14smoke Champion Author Birmingham Posts:13,322 Points:1,945,040 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2008 6:33:16 AM Ignore 14smoke Report Abuse I would love to see it. It's really the only hope that open wheel has in this country. The split has killed whatever momentum open wheel racing had in this country and the only way to keep this form of racing viable is if everyone is on the same page. Do I think it'll happen? No, I don't think Tony George will let it anytime soon, but, there's hope at least.
mckenzi01 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:36,307 Points:2,758,730 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2008 5:29:50 AM Ignore mckenzi01 Report Abuse Not while Tony is still walking!