Paintergeek
04-17-05, 09:27 PM
This is about a week old, But I cant recall seeing it here yet, so thought Id pass it along. Im not trying to start up a rumor mill, Just passing along an e-mail that was sent to me.
"TOYOTA, HONDA SET TO LEAVE IRL?
-------------------------------
TSN.ca Staff - 4/11/2005 9:45:57 AM
The Indy Racing League is about to suffer a double-blow in the coming
months, according to published reports.
Honda and Toyota are set to abandon the oval-based series by 2006 which
would leave them without a major engine manufacturer, according to
motorsport journalist Gordon Kirby.
Speaking on Champ Car's roundtable show prior to this weekend's season
opening Long Beach Grand Prix, Kirby said Toyota will confirm the
rumors that they are pulling out of the IRL following the Indianapolis 500
in May.
"Chip Ganassi as we speak is preparing to close down his IRL team,"
said Kirby. "My Japanese friends tell me that at the end of the year Honda
are going to announce that they're out at the end of 2006."
The move comes a year after Chevrolet announced it was withdrawing from
the series at the end of the current season.
High costs, poor attendance and television ratings were cited by
General Motors as the primary reasons for leaving. The move certainly raised
concerns within Honda and Toyota, who say an American-based series
without an American manufacturer attached to it is "very bad".
"We haven't decided to leave. We are committed to the program through
2006," Toyota Motorsports manager Lee White was quoted as saying late
last year. "The fact Chevrolet [is leaving] is a very, very serious
problem for the IRL."
Toyota has long been rumored to be making a move into NASCAR after a
few seasons competing in the Craftsman Truck Series. With the company
also pouring considerable financial resources into Formula One, something
will definitely have to go if the move to the premier stock car series
becomes reality.
While Toyota has dominated that IRL, the cost of maintaining that
domination over rival Honda is not sitting well with company executives. The
situation is similar to what happened in the CART series prior to
Toyota and Honda's departure for the cost-conscious IRL in 2001.
"It has absolutely turned into a 100% manufacturer head-to-head combat
and that is not a comfortable position for us," White said. "The
direction we are going in now is very troubling."
Toyota's decision to leave the IRL could also affect the IRL's future
pursuit of the Long Beach Grand Prix. Sunday's Champ Car race was the
final one under a five year deal with the promoters and the IRL are
expected to make a serious pitch to add the street course to its series.
Toyota has been a Long Beach sponsor since 1975 and many expect their
connection to the IRL will play a role. But Toyota motorsports manager
Les Unger says they have no preference at this point.
"Our interest in title sponsorship isn't predicated on being a
competitor," he tells the Indianapolis Star. "We've been involved here 31 years
and haven't had a car racing (in the main event) except for seven of
those."
"We'll have no say in determining who is racing here," he added.
"That's not our job."
Champ Car officials are very interested in returning to Long Beach but
series co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven admits they have a back-up plan which
likely includes a Los Angeles-area race should it come to that."
"TOYOTA, HONDA SET TO LEAVE IRL?
-------------------------------
TSN.ca Staff - 4/11/2005 9:45:57 AM
The Indy Racing League is about to suffer a double-blow in the coming
months, according to published reports.
Honda and Toyota are set to abandon the oval-based series by 2006 which
would leave them without a major engine manufacturer, according to
motorsport journalist Gordon Kirby.
Speaking on Champ Car's roundtable show prior to this weekend's season
opening Long Beach Grand Prix, Kirby said Toyota will confirm the
rumors that they are pulling out of the IRL following the Indianapolis 500
in May.
"Chip Ganassi as we speak is preparing to close down his IRL team,"
said Kirby. "My Japanese friends tell me that at the end of the year Honda
are going to announce that they're out at the end of 2006."
The move comes a year after Chevrolet announced it was withdrawing from
the series at the end of the current season.
High costs, poor attendance and television ratings were cited by
General Motors as the primary reasons for leaving. The move certainly raised
concerns within Honda and Toyota, who say an American-based series
without an American manufacturer attached to it is "very bad".
"We haven't decided to leave. We are committed to the program through
2006," Toyota Motorsports manager Lee White was quoted as saying late
last year. "The fact Chevrolet [is leaving] is a very, very serious
problem for the IRL."
Toyota has long been rumored to be making a move into NASCAR after a
few seasons competing in the Craftsman Truck Series. With the company
also pouring considerable financial resources into Formula One, something
will definitely have to go if the move to the premier stock car series
becomes reality.
While Toyota has dominated that IRL, the cost of maintaining that
domination over rival Honda is not sitting well with company executives. The
situation is similar to what happened in the CART series prior to
Toyota and Honda's departure for the cost-conscious IRL in 2001.
"It has absolutely turned into a 100% manufacturer head-to-head combat
and that is not a comfortable position for us," White said. "The
direction we are going in now is very troubling."
Toyota's decision to leave the IRL could also affect the IRL's future
pursuit of the Long Beach Grand Prix. Sunday's Champ Car race was the
final one under a five year deal with the promoters and the IRL are
expected to make a serious pitch to add the street course to its series.
Toyota has been a Long Beach sponsor since 1975 and many expect their
connection to the IRL will play a role. But Toyota motorsports manager
Les Unger says they have no preference at this point.
"Our interest in title sponsorship isn't predicated on being a
competitor," he tells the Indianapolis Star. "We've been involved here 31 years
and haven't had a car racing (in the main event) except for seven of
those."
"We'll have no say in determining who is racing here," he added.
"That's not our job."
Champ Car officials are very interested in returning to Long Beach but
series co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven admits they have a back-up plan which
likely includes a Los Angeles-area race should it come to that."