devilmaster
05-27-05, 09:53 PM
http://sports.yahoo.com/irl/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpNWEwdHMwBF9TAzk1ODYyNzM3BHNlYwN0 aA--?slug=ap-openwheel-glance&prov=ap&type=lgns
How an IRL-Champ Car merger might look
May 27, 2005
Representatives of the Indy Racing League and the Champ Car World Series have discussed a settlement of their decade-long battle for control of American open-wheel racing. If they can agree, here's how a combined series might look:
DRIVERS: There are 22 full-time drivers in the IRL, 19 in Champ Car. In a combined series, the backmarkers would get squeezed out to leave a lineup of 25-30 regulars. Tony Kanaan, Dan Wheldon, Helio Castroneves, Sam Hornish and Danica Patrick from the IRL side would get a chance to race against Champ Car stalwarts such as Sebastien Bourdais, Bruno Junqueira, Paul Tracy, Jimmy Vasser and Cristiano da Matta. Also, talented young Champ Car drivers such as 18-year-old Canadian Andrew Ranger and Americans A.J. Allmendinger and Ryan Hunter-Reay would likely find rides.
TEAMS: Nearly all IRL teams are positioned to survive, including Andretti Green Racing, Marlboro Team Penske, Rahal Letterman Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing. From the Champ Car side, Newman/Haas Racing, PKV Racing, Forsythe Championship Racing and RuSport could be expected to join a combined circuit.
ENGINES: IRL manufacturer Honda would likely stay aboard, joined by Champ Car's exclusive supplier, Cosworth. A combined series might keep Toyota around, persuade Chevrolet to reverse its decision to leave at the end of the year and draw interest from other manufactures, such as Porsche.
RACES: A point of conflict. IRL founder Tony George wants to focus on American ovals, while Champ Car favors road and street races around the world. The IRL's 17-race schedule and CART's 14-race lineup could be trimmed to the 20 strongest races -- half on ovals, half on road and street courses. To keep an international flavor, two races in Canada, two in Mexico, one in Japan and one in Australia would be retained.
FORMAT: The 50-50 split between oval and road races would allow smaller teams to specialize in one discipline instead of the entire schedule. The new series could name an oval-racing champion (pleasing George), a road-racing champ (satisfying Champ Car) and an overall winner.
How an IRL-Champ Car merger might look
May 27, 2005
Representatives of the Indy Racing League and the Champ Car World Series have discussed a settlement of their decade-long battle for control of American open-wheel racing. If they can agree, here's how a combined series might look:
DRIVERS: There are 22 full-time drivers in the IRL, 19 in Champ Car. In a combined series, the backmarkers would get squeezed out to leave a lineup of 25-30 regulars. Tony Kanaan, Dan Wheldon, Helio Castroneves, Sam Hornish and Danica Patrick from the IRL side would get a chance to race against Champ Car stalwarts such as Sebastien Bourdais, Bruno Junqueira, Paul Tracy, Jimmy Vasser and Cristiano da Matta. Also, talented young Champ Car drivers such as 18-year-old Canadian Andrew Ranger and Americans A.J. Allmendinger and Ryan Hunter-Reay would likely find rides.
TEAMS: Nearly all IRL teams are positioned to survive, including Andretti Green Racing, Marlboro Team Penske, Rahal Letterman Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing. From the Champ Car side, Newman/Haas Racing, PKV Racing, Forsythe Championship Racing and RuSport could be expected to join a combined circuit.
ENGINES: IRL manufacturer Honda would likely stay aboard, joined by Champ Car's exclusive supplier, Cosworth. A combined series might keep Toyota around, persuade Chevrolet to reverse its decision to leave at the end of the year and draw interest from other manufactures, such as Porsche.
RACES: A point of conflict. IRL founder Tony George wants to focus on American ovals, while Champ Car favors road and street races around the world. The IRL's 17-race schedule and CART's 14-race lineup could be trimmed to the 20 strongest races -- half on ovals, half on road and street courses. To keep an international flavor, two races in Canada, two in Mexico, one in Japan and one in Australia would be retained.
FORMAT: The 50-50 split between oval and road races would allow smaller teams to specialize in one discipline instead of the entire schedule. The new series could name an oval-racing champion (pleasing George), a road-racing champ (satisfying Champ Car) and an overall winner.