OK, so what do we expect AND hope for tomorrow?

[cameraman]

1. Mazda gets the pace car and safety cars/trucks
2. Holmatro gets the Safety team sponsorship
3. Beekhuis & Benjamin get the TV gig
4. Jag Flocomponents gets naming rights to Houston race
5. Tagliani is in the Rocketsports #8
6. Tristan Gommendy is driving for PKV
7. Zsolt will hang out in the Minardi pits

For this they proclaimed a media day. Whatever.

When is the first GP2 race?

[rabbit]

"This is the way the world ends Not with a bang but a whimper." —T.S. Eliot

[emjaya]

I think it's going to get a lot worse over the next two years.:shakehead

But it will get better.

I have faith in KK. :gomer: :)

[Spicoli]

AR1 sez stoopid mario and Nelsonmania gots no rides.....:rolleyes:

[Opposite Lock]

Gommendymania!
:(
:yuck:

[nissan gtp]

AR1 sez stoopid mario and Nelsonmania gots no rides.....:rolleyes:

Nelson should have a ride.

:o

[Gnam]

What's all this about then?

http://thumb14.webshots.net/t/59/459/6/2/73/2602602730074980854sUVDgS_th.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2602602730074980854sUVDgS)

[Sean O'Gorman]

AR1 sez stoopid mario and Nelsonmania gots no rides.....:rolleyes:

First good news I've heard all day!

[Spicoli]

for ****'s sake.....now Rahal's deal is being delayed. :shakehead


Paul Newman said, "as far as I'm concerned the deal was done two weeks ago, but the lawyers are holding things up with wordsmithing." New team co-owner Mike Lanigan told spyplanes that "there is still a chance the deal will be done by the end of this weekend."


:tony:

[Spicoli]

What's all this about then?

http://thumb14.webshots.net/t/59/459/6/2/73/2602602730074980854sUVDgS_th.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2602602730074980854sUVDgS)

His check to get the decals removed bounced.

[Racing Truth]

First good news I've heard all day!

Agreed on Stoopid Mario, but, while not my favorite, Nelson ought to get a ride. H=ll, unlike the new Frenchy, at least Nelson WON A RACE last yr.

So, what, 10-11 confirmed drivers?

Happy day.:rolleyes:

[Tim]

Wow and they expect us to pay to watch these guys run?

[Insomniac]

so you're saying O'Gorman has hope if he hasn't pissed off all his parking lot pimp buddies by now?

:cool:

[Insomniac]

OK, so now we've got Mazda. That's good.

Who said for all intents and purposes Ford controls Mazda? :p

[cart7]

Nelson should have a ride.

:o

Yep.

[Wally]

So far very weak.....:shakehead

[nrc]

Who said for all intents and purposes Ford controls Mazda? :p
Ford does have a controlling interest in Mazda, but they seem to give them a lot of autonomy in their motorsports program.

[Hot Rod Otis]

To quote Chris Farley, "Whoop-de-friggin-do" :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

No series sponsor.
No team sponsors
The Mazda thing is nothing, a fraction of what Ford was doing.
No Rahal as of yet
Conquest on the ropes.
Revolving door of 3rd string Euro-trash/F1 washout ride-buyers.

Its getting really hard for me to give sh^t anymore,,,,,wait, I don't give a sh^t anymore. Glad I didn't make plans to go to Vegas. I would have loved to dump a bundle on plane tickets and a room to watch Tristan Gommendy and Zsolt Baumgartner in a timed race.:yuck: :thumdown:

[pfc_m_drake]

where's FTG? where's GOFAST1? where's all this "progress"?


today was a joke.
No. Jokes are funny. What happened today was far from funny. :thumdown:

[Sean Malone]

I read on ChampCarFantasies that we're supposed to wait until Satuday evening before getting pissed off.

:waiting:

[jonovision_man]

I read on ChampCarFantasies that we're supposed to wait until Satuday evening before getting pissed off.

:waiting:

We've been waiting for a few years now, what's another few days? :p

jono

[gromit]

Ford does have a controlling interest in Mazda, but they seem to give them a lot of autonomy in their motorsports program.

According to Wikipedia,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda Ford owns a 33.4% stake in Mazda, but they do not seem to be actively exercising control of Mazda although there have been many joint programs over the years.

[gromit]

1. Mazda gets the pace car and safety cars/trucks
2. Holmatro gets the Safety team sponsorship
3. Beekhuis & Benjamin get the TV gig
4. Jag Flocomponents gets naming rights to Houston race
5. Tagliani is in the Rocketsports #8
6. Tristan Gommendy is driving for PKV
7. Zsolt will hang out in the Minardi pits

For this they proclaimed a media day. Whatever.

When is the first GP2 race?

1. Mazda is a positive. Basically replaces Ford and seems to provide more financial support (possibly anyway -- I am giving the benefit of the doubt there).
2. Nothing wrong with this one. Positive
3. This is fine with me. I cannot say I expected anything different.
4. Makes sense in the Houston market. Not really sexy.
5. Expected.
6. This one floored me. Can't say I am happy about it given that three drivers I like -- Servia, Junky, and Speedy Dan are currently without deals.
7. Huh? Whatever.

It looks like sixteen cars in Vegas which is too bad.

I was hoping for a couple more driver/sponsor announcements. Overall, slightly below my expectations.

[jonovision_man]

1. Mazda is a positive. Basically replaces Ford and seems to provide more financial support (possibly anyway -- I am giving the benefit of the doubt there).

How does this replace Ford? :confused: This isn't badging engines, this is a pace car program. And Ford had a heavy presence, remember the story some time back about them sponsoring Montreal to the tune of several hundred thousand dollars, offsetting some of the sanctioning fee?

It's good news in a sense, but it's also underwhelming and downhill from last year.

I'm not sure we even need to address the field - it's going to be small the the drivers won't be as good. There's no good news there.

It's a real shame where things have landed, I was optimistic about this season before last season ended, but it seems like the off-season has just brought the same-old same-old. Starting to lose interest in a series I used to follow very closely... sad.

jono

[RHR_Fan]

I've never even heard of this Tristian guy and I watched some GP2 races last year.

2007 will certainly be an interesting year...

[RHR_Fan]

I'm not sure we even need to address the field - it's going to be small the the drivers won't be as good. There's no good news there.

It's a real shame where things have landed, I was optimistic about this season before last season ended, but it seems like the off-season has just brought the same-old same-old. Starting to lose interest in a series I used to follow very closely... sad.

jono

I think a lot us of were optimistic about '07 after the announcement and unveiling of the DP01. The announcements or lack-there-of seems to be no different than the past few seasons but maybe since expectations were higher we're more disappointed.

[Ziggy]

Gromit, your kidding right?

Someone has the "shill" cookies enabled.

Todays news :cry: :yuck: :shakehead

[jonovision_man]

I think a lot of were optimistic about '07 after the announcement and unveiling of the DP01. The announcements or lack-there-of seems to be no different than the past few seasons but maybe since expectations were higher we're more disappointed.

Yup.

ChampCar is particularily good at building expectations, but not so good on delivering. The DP01 is a great looking car, I'm still excited to see it on track, but it was oversold as something that would turn the series around.

It still should help the series reduce the team assistance... so there's that I guess. But i was hoping the field would be strong for the debut.

jono

[dando]

Ah, nuttin' like a good meltdown.... :gomer:

Today's BS: :saywhat: :mad:

Gettin' old, mang, gettin' old. :shakehead

-Kevin

[Sean Malone]

Today's "anouncements" vs Alaskan "hiatus" rumor. Hmmm. I never thought I'd see the day I would lean toward Alaskan rumors.:shakehead

[RTKar]

I think folks need to face it, it's a battle that can't be won in an economic sense. The expected "big" sponsors haven't been forthcoming unfortunately, while some individual owners don't have deep enough pockets to self finance for very long to get through the bad times. :(

[nrc]

I think a lot us of were optimistic about '07 after the announcement and unveiling of the DP01. The announcements or lack-there-of seems to be no different than the past few seasons but maybe since expectations were higher we're more disappointed.People don't like being fed crow by gomers.

[coolhand]

Tristian Geometry :thumdown:

[gromit]

Gromit, your kidding right?

Someone has the "shill" cookies enabled.

Todays news :cry: :yuck: :shakehead

Hi Ziggy,

I did say it was less than expected, but it may be that my expectations were lower. I am not leaping for joy here or anything.

Gromit

[chop456]

Mister Tristan
Oh the time has come
to spend your daddy's money
see He really is dumb
Where could you go?
Your a fume sucker we know
Your going to race the other rich boys
in their daddys shinney new toys

Your gomering
and going to make the grid
even though your a track squid
You will be alright in this series

Mister Tristan
your not going to go to fast
but then again no one can beat Seabass
even he would jump at the chance to take a flight
would sign with Torro Rosso and bail on this plight
'cause in all this strife, they have sucked out the life
of a series that was once proud
now it's bush league for crying out loud

There gomering
the horse has left the barn
paper spin us another yarn
Champcar serves up bullfeathers and then some
how are the ticket sales for Ansen?


:laugh:

:encore:

We've very fortunate that the earl sucks worse.

[Insomniac]

Ford does have a controlling interest in Mazda, but they seem to give them a lot of autonomy in their motorsports program.

I agree here, I'll have to dig it up, but basically someone here claimed that Ford ran Mazda with only a 1/3 stake.

[Insomniac]

Found it.


Ford doesn't have a big say in the matter. They have the final say. Ford, for all intents and purposes, owns Mazda.

http://www.offcamber.net/forums/showpost.php?p=185078&postcount=4

:)

[STD]

I've never even heard of this Tristian guy and I watched some GP2 races last year.


He was replaced by Timo Glock at Isport at the midseason point of the GP2 series. Timo came over from the BCN team.
Timo 53pts and two wins in his Isport drives.
Tristan 6 pts in his.

Tristan has stated he was injuried in a incident at Monaco which led to Timo replacing him at Silverstone. Several drivers were subbed for in Silverstone because of that noted incident, Tristan's name doesn't show up in any of those reports.
All other reports state he was replaced period.

[Ankf00]

4. Makes sense in the Houston market. Not really sexy.


makes sense in the Houston market if you're the Pasadena Rodeo or some other 3rd rate event...

Today's "anouncements" vs Alaskan "hiatus" rumor. There are no penguins in Alaska :D

People don't like being fed crow by gomers. ugh. :(

[RHR_Fan]

People don't like being fed crow by gomers.

Are you calling me a gomer? ;) :confused:

[devilmaster]

Tristian Geometry :thumdown:

I be Fletch, Geometry Fletch. She be Miss Trigonometry Ross.

[extramundane]

I be Fletch, Geometry Fletch. She be Miss Trigonometry Ross.

And while I'm gone see to it Miss Scarlet stays away from the Union army, will you? :thumbup:

[Ruben Barrios]

Twinkies...

http://www.speedtv.com/commentary/35861/

[Racing Truth]

Twinkies...

http://www.speedtv.com/commentary/35861/

Houston,,,,,I sense a meltdown,,,,,forthcoming in certain qtrs.,,,,in 3,2,1,,,,,,,:gomer:

Good piece Robin

[Ruben Barrios]

Robin 1
KK 0

[Ankf00]

But the best news for Champ Car is that nobody noticed, because Media Day didn’t get a lot of national play. No USA Today. No L.A. Times. No Indianapolis Star. No Las Vegas papers. Not even new broadcast and marketing “partner” ESPN bothered to send anybody.

It was just a quaint little group. Tristan, Zsolt, a few Internet sites, one racing weekly and SPEED. We came, we saw and we shook our heads.

fan sites outnumbered legitimate publications? :shakehead

[DagoFast]

Thank you for the honesty Robin. Too bad that it can't come straight from the series.

[Insomniac]

fan sites outnumbered legitimate publications? :shakehead

Wow. No Indy Star and ESPN. Yikes.

[RichK]

fan sites outnumbered legitimate publications? :shakehead

The Long Beach paper almost always has Champcar stuff, and even they are quiet:

Long Beach Press Telegram Sports page (http://www.presstelegram.com/sports)

[Insomniac]

Is it good that the CC web site is down?

http://www.champcarworldseries.com/

Edit: It's working now.

[Racing Truth]

Is it good that the CC web site is down?

http://www.champcarworldseries.com/

Still works for me.

[Insomniac]

Still works for me.

It's working for me now as well.

[Racing Truth]

And you tools thought there were no IMPORTANT announcements from ChampCar! (http://www.champcarfanatics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42579):tony:

,,,,We're,,,saved!,,,

[Sean Malone]

And you tools thought there were no IMPORTANT announcements from ChampCar! (http://www.champcarfanatics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42579):tony:

,,,,We're,,,saved!,,,


Champ Car is working with The NewsMarket to drive awareness among racing and auto-related news sites and programs, and help the organization gain traction in its regional and national markets.

It's pretty sad when racing journalists don't know what Champ Car is.

[cameraman]

Great, so if a news organization ever decides to care about ccws they can get the coverage. It's a good thing but a really, really minor thing.

So who did they go to last year?

[TKGAngel]

And you tools thought there were no IMPORTANT announcements from ChampCar! (http://www.champcarfanatics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42579):tony:

Another announcement: no job yet for 2007, but Nelson's got a new girlfriend. (http://www.gcbulletin.com.au/article/2007/03/07/3698_news.html)

Above article was linked on the Champcar website, which is kind of sad.

[FCYTravis]

Ah, the unvarnished Truth. What a concept, eh?

[RHR_Fan]

Another announcement: no job yet for 2007, but Nelson's got a new girlfriend. (http://www.gcbulletin.com.au/article/2007/03/07/3698_news.html)

Above article was linked on the Champcar website, which is kind of sad.

You gonna be okay Spicoli? ;)


It's pretty sad when racing journalists don't know what Champ Car is.

You're right. Though most journalists in general don't know what Champ Car is.

[extramundane]

The NBC Broadcast crew (http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=11314) looks stellar...


NASCAR on NBC hosts Bill Weber and Wally Dallenbach Jr. will be joined by former Champ Car driver Jon Beekhuis in the play-by-play booth while Marty Snider, Bill Stephens and Cameron Steele will provide timely updates from the pits.

One outta six ain't bad. :saywhat:

[Indy]

It's not that we thought we would have another year of struggle only to find that the series is gone. It IS that we thought we would have a good year of progress and instead we have gone backward by at least two years. The five year plan just become an eight year plan. I don't know what to say at this point, and I am caring less, so I am not even sure if I should say anything.

It was a good article today by Robin. Nickalot on CCF is saying that Miller is being viewed as a folk hero by the paddock. That does not surprise me a bit, though it is certainly a sign of the times.

I am really, really glad that ALMS will be at RA. Call it vacation insurance.

[DagoFast]

It's not that we thought we would have another year of struggle only to find that the series is gone. It IS that we thought we would have a good year of progress and instead we have gone backward by at least two years. The five year plan just become an eight year plan. I don't know what to say at this point, and I am caring less, so I am not even sure if I should say anything.

It was a good article today by Robin. Nickalot on CCF is saying that Miller is being viewed as a folk hero by the paddock. That does not surprise me a bit, though it is certainly a sign of the times.

I am really, really glad that ALMS will be at RA. Call it vacation insurance.

Fookin AMEN. It's pretty damn sad that I'm hoping the ALMS race is going to maybe salvage my Long Beach weekend. :thumdown:

Robin Miller has a pretty good start on the home run record this year, so far he's whacking them out of the park like Babe Ruth on steroids. :thumbup:

I'm starting to think the whole shebang is headed for total meltdown this season.

[Sean O'Gorman]

The NBC Broadcast crew (http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=11314) looks stellar...



One outta six ain't bad. :saywhat:

:rofl: :rofl:

"Congratulations again to Sebastian Bourdais, and remember to stay tuned for ice dancing to the hits of Motown!"

[devilmaster]

The NBC Broadcast crew (http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=11314) looks stellar...

I'm probably alone on an island on this one, but I thought that Bestwick might make a good CC play by play guy - thought he might be available when he started to lose all his jobs at NBC and Speed.

[grungex]

does Gentiloser have more influence than he used to?

Yes.

[Racing Truth]

Yes.

Oh Happy Day!

:shakehead :shakehead

I'm sure the Fantasy Children would tell me this is a great development, which means it S-U-C-K-S.

But,,,,,It's about,,,,the fans,,,,and,,,,

Ahhh, Efff it.

[Spicoli]

Yes.

Can I axe why?

[grungex]

Can I axe why?

Sure you can, but I have no f-ing clue as to why. Makes no sense to me.

[extramundane]

Sure you can, but I have no f-ing clue as to why. Makes no sense to me.

You mean running a series so badly that people wanted SCCA Pro to take it back isn't a sign of successful management?

[Spicoli]

Sure you can, but I have no f-ing clue as to why. Makes no sense to me.


OK. Well, thanks for that. :laugh:

[grungex]

OK. Well, thanks for that. :laugh:

Any time. :D

[Insomniac]

Awesomeness.
(http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/57139)


PKV co-owner Jimmy Vasser said: "I only met Tristan this morning, but he has raced well in many different types of open-wheel car, and everyone I've spoken to has said he's fast.

"There were a lot of candidates for this ride, including Oriol, but it didn't work out. We didn't move quickly in getting Neel a partner because we needed the right person. We believe we have that."


I wonder how drunk I'd have to be to say that in public with a straight face?

I didn't hear about this until now:


...while PKV Racing signed little-known Frenchman Tristan Gommendy, who was unable to complete the second day of testing due to physical exhaustion.

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?series=5&id=2796817

[SteveH]

nothing says NancyBoy like that :rolleyes:

[Tim]

Wow this is shaping up to be the worst season since cars started racing.

[Jag_Warrior]

Wow this is shaping up to be the worst season since cars started racing.

Things aren't looking that great (compared to the start of 2005 or even 2006), but we don't want to go overboard, right? I don't know what other people were expecting for this season, but I know what I was expecting... and no, this ain't it (by a long shot!). But still, it could be worse. How? Well... I don't know right this second. But I'm sure it could always be worse. OK, I've got one... no, that would be better. Uh, let me get back to you on that one.

Jokes aside, there ARE too many seemingly worthless ride-buyers and half talents out there. But I expect there will be Bourdais, Wilson, Pagenaud and probably Graham Rahal (along with one or two others) to keep the show pretty exciting. As far as the presentation and marketing... they seem to want to bring the CART name back: Club Auto Racing Teams. And it makes me angry that from the Turbo Tour and Race Car Driver promos from last year, now we have virtually nothing. Heck, even Brandi, the Face Of Champ Car, was out there trying to gather some fan interest. Can the new girl even speak or type? That's just p!ss poor management and planning. I can't blame Tony George, NASCAR or Bernie Ecclestone for that.

[Insomniac]

Things aren't looking that great (compared to the start of 2005 or even 2006), but we don't want to go overboard, right? I don't know what other people were expecting for this season, but I know what I was expecting... and no, this ain't it (by a long shot!). But still, it could be worse. How? Well... I don't know right this second. But I'm sure it could always be worse. OK, I've got one... no, that would be better. Uh, let me get back to you on that one.

Jokes aside, there ARE too many seemingly worthless ride-buyers and half talents out there. But I expect there will be Bourdais, Wilson, Pagenaud and probably Graham Rahal (along with one or two others) to keep the show pretty exciting. As far as the presentation and marketing... they seem to want to bring the CART name back: Club Auto Racing Teams. And it makes me angry that from the Turbo Tour and Race Car Driver promos from last year, now we have virtually nothing. Heck, even Brandi, the Face Of Champ Car, was out there trying to gather some fan interest. Can the new girl even speak or type? That's just p!ss poor management and planning. I can't blame Tony George, NASCAR or Bernie Ecclestone for that.

Things can be worse, there's no question. For me, from apperances (you could say no checks from the owners is good) they look worse than they did last year. Add a new car which was touted, and many expected a better CCWS than last year. What did that mean to me? More cars and better racing (i.e. actual passing) was the bottom line for me. More cars is pretty much out of the equation at this point. I really, really hope the racing is exciting. After all, this is what it's about at the end of the day.

However, if they want to get anywhere, someone at ChampCar has to understand what will bring more attention to the series long term. I personally believe the two most important things they must have as a foundation is good racing and drivers. You want people to think, hey, I missed something cool, I'm going to try and catch this next week. That's why it was so stupid of CC to cut the cameras on the PT/Tags fight. That's exposure that the series could use. This change over of drivers year after year is not helping. Here one day, gone the next. People get attached to drivers, and if they do, they want to follow him (or her). It takes time to get people interested and constantly changing it up won't hook anyone.

The saddest part is that the IRL looks (I'm not saying they are) much more stable than ChampCar right now. :(

[jonovision_man]

The saddest part is that the IRL looks (I'm not saying they are) much more stable than ChampCar right now. :(

The IRL has been more stable than ChampCar for a long time... but not because the league itself is particularily successful, it hasn't been, but because the Indy 500 pumps tens of millions into the series every year.

jono

[Tim]

I should have said since CART was formed. 12 days away from the first practice and we are still missing half a grid. If it appeared that anything was being done I wouldn't feel this way. If your new driver can't complete the second day of a test because of fitness issues how is he going to last being in the car for 105 minutes in a row?

[doppelganger]

I should have said since CART was formed. 12 days away from the first practice and we are still missing half a grid. If it appeared that anything was being done I wouldn't feel this way. If your new driver can't complete the second day of a test because of fitness issues how is he going to last being in the car for 105 minutes in a row?

Can't argue with this. Only 12 days for everything to fall into place.

[RTKar]

What more can you say about this train wreck? I've never been so unenthused about a CART/CC season starting in my life. The situation CC's in can't go on forever. I doubt the economic climate will allow CC to continue much longer. It's such a shame that a truly great racing series has come to what it is today. Can Am went belly up too yet racing still went on. :irked:

[Big Mo]

Just wondering out loud: Has KK gone to the no team subsidies because he thought (thinks) the two series were going to become one? He perhaps doesn't want to sink more money into the series?

I don't know the answers to those questions, but I do know this: KK and TG are back to talking, as of at least Friday morning, March 23. And they're talking specifics.

[opinionated ow]

What more can you say about this train wreck? I've never been so unenthused about a CART/CC season starting in my life. The situation CC's in can't go on forever. I doubt the economic climate will allow CC to continue much longer. It's such a shame that a truly great racing series has come to what it is today. Can Am went belly up too yet racing still went on. :irked:

for the first time possibly ever, I don't think I really care that Australia has not got a TV deal. I do not think I am even missing anything from the "announcements" we have recieved in the last 6 months or so. Forgive me if I miss anything but Paddle Shift/more downforce-easier car to drive, no ovals, standing starts, change all the rules to european style, even greater amounts of pay drivers, less cars, Katherine, Nelson, Oriol, Dan, Bruno, Charles, Jan, Andreas, Mario, Tonis, Nicky, Andrew all without rides, after all showing real potential last year (trust me-tonis was much better than the car showed), yet more dodgy street circuits (phoenix anyone?), a european trip that frankly I do not see how anyone can afford, a new dp-01 that seriously lacks in every way imaginable (except downforce). i dread the day that ftg has total control, but I am starting to think it isn't far away.:flame:

[Ruben Barrios]

I agree, something is happening behind closed doors. My guess (putting one and one together) is the merge is inminent for at least a handful of races. Rumors of KK talking to Rice, TG and KK in talks... The comment by Robin...

[Insomniac]

Just wondering out loud: Has KK gone to the no team subsidies because he thought (thinks) the two series were going to become one? He perhaps doesn't want to sink more money into the series?

I don't know the answers to those questions, but I do know this: KK and TG are back to talking, as of at least Friday morning, March 23. And they're talking specifics.

CC still has a lot of contracts to fulfill. They'd have a hard time just closing up shop. Even with a merger, there is a lot of work to do before they can really be one series. There are a lot of differences right now.

[Insomniac]

...more downforce-easier car to drive...a new dp-01 that seriously lacks in every way imaginable (except downforce)...

I don't think the car has more downforce. They moved it to the undertray from the wings to produce less disturbing air behind the car.

[Ruben Barrios]

There's never magic, you win some advantage and lose another... Less disturbance... more downforce...

[G.]

I don't know the answers to those questions, but I do know this: KK and TG are back to talking, as of at least Friday morning, March 23. And they're talking specifics.Huh?


Open-wheel unification talks in limbo

By MIKE HARRIS, AP Auto Racing Writer

March 24, 2007

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) -- Don't expect America's two rival open-wheel series to unify anytime soon.

Tony George, founder and CEO of the Indianapolis Racing League and it's IndyCar Series, said Saturday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway that talks with Kevin Kalkhoven, co-owner of the Champ Car World Series, have been put on the back burner for now.


Open-wheel fans, most of whom would love to see the two series running together as one, were excited a year ago when both George and Kalkhoven let it be known that they had formed a friendship and opened talks that could possibly lead to unification.

The excitement died down quickly, though, as the talks cooled.

``That was 12 months ago,'' George said before the start of the season-opening XM Satellite Radio Indy 300. ``Kevin and I had been talking for four to six weeks, I'd say, prior to that. The reasons for being optimistic were we had had some good social interaction and we'd been kind of talking around some of the bigger issues.

``I felt those talks were going well, but we were not anywhere near ready to announce a plan for unification.

``As time went on,'' George added, ``that whole thing changed and we've tried to stay in contact and see each other socially on occasion and have a professional relationship. As of last fall, we've kind of agreed that we don't have a lot to talk about in terms of unification and didn't likely have anything imminent that was going to change that in the next couple of years, but that we'd stay in touch. And, to a certain extent, we've done that.''




link
(http://sports.yahoo.com/irl/news;_ylt=AgTEcySjvi6F.xtpF_P8J2vRv7YF?slug=ap-irlnotebook&prov=ap&type=lgns)

[Andrew Longman]

I found this interesting within that link. What's that all about?


George also said he and his top executives are thinking about adding a couple of non-points overseas races in the fall sometime in the future.

``I think there's a case to be made if the right opportunities come, if it's good for the sponsors, if it's good for the teams, if it's good for IndyCar racing in general to do a couple of offshore races,'' he said.

``We could do a couple of races in the mid-September to end of November time frame. We're just looking for the right way to package it. It's conceptually something that I've given consideration to, but nothing has been set in stone.''

[Racing Truth]

I didn't hear about this until now:



http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?series=5&id=2796817

Hmm, laugh or cry? H=ll, this trainwreck of a sport isn't worth crying over, so....

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :laugh: ROTFLMAO!

[Insomniac]

There's never magic, you win some advantage and lose another... Less disturbance... more downforce...

I'm not saying there is any magic. Before the undertray did less work and the rear wing, front wing and aero bits did more. Now the undertray does more for downforce. This can certainly equate to less disturbance with the same amount of downforce. Is it the ideal set up for the wings, probably not.

[Racing Truth]

Wow this is shaping up to be the worst season since cars started racing.

And back in 1895, having 2 cars race was cool. The whole thing being new and all, so this could be MORE of a joke than that.

[KLang]

I found this interesting within that link. What's that all about?

1 more step in his efforts to become CART II?

[Andrew Longman]

1 more step in his efforts to become CART II?


No kidding.

Go overseas once the football season starts (and coincidentally when CC is overseas too)?

And why a non-points race? The field is so small as it is, it seems it would be important to create incentives for all the teams to participate. If they are trying to gauge interest in Indycar in, say Europe, they better show off more than a 10 car field.

And why bring it up at all in the context of a question about merger?

Perhaps he's thinking of offering to add a few Dallaras to the CC field for a few races as a merger half-measure?

But its pointless to try to figure out what's going on in his head.

[RHR_Fan]

What more can you say about this train wreck? I've never been so unenthused about a CART/CC season starting in my life. The situation CC's in can't go on forever. I doubt the economic climate will allow CC to continue much longer. It's such a shame that a truly great racing series has come to what it is today. Can Am went belly up too yet racing still went on. :irked:

I do have to agree with you a little bit. I ain't no cheerleader nor a D&G'er, but less than two weeks until a race and STILL only 10 confirmed cars? :( Hopefully within the next few days we'll hear something. But we've been saying that since January...

~Nicole

[Easy]

Can Am went belly up too yet racing still went on. :irked:

So did Formula 5000.

[Big Mo]

To G:
TG did a nice spin job of publicly downplaying the whole thing without denying what was going on behind the scenes. "Back burner" doesn't mean the same as "we're not talking anymore." I know for a fact that talks were going on Friday morning.

Now that doesn't mean they're getting anywhere. Probably more spinning of the wheels and no gain.

[rabbit]

I didn't hear about this until now:



http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?series=5&id=2796817

Ya know, not to sound sexist or anything, but how could that make him feel as a man knowing that a girl competed in a full season of three-day race weekends (completing a large percentage of the laps) and walked away from a horrendously violent crash, and he can't drive two days in a row without getting tired?! Nancy Boy is right. :thumdown:

[RTKar]

So did Formula 5000.

That was a cool one too :irked: