IRL & Champ Cars to finally merge?

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Posted by pkcRAISTLIN on Feb-20-2008 22:14:

quote:
Originally posted by denys envy
hay guise!

ohh look, a sports discussion thread. hmm...

i hang in here.

Posted by noikeee on Feb-22-2008 23:16:

Confirmed.

quote:
Champ Car and IRL confirm merger

By Jonathan Noble Friday, February 22nd 2008, 22:03 GMT

The 2007 IRL race at Texas Motor SpeedwayChamp Car and the Indy Racing League have signed a breakthrough deal to merge their series with immediate effect.

Following talks over the past few days to try and close a deal to unify the two series, a statement was issued on Friday night confirming that an agreement had been reached between Champ Car chiefs and the IRL.

The short statement said: "Owners of Champ Car and the Indy Racing League completed an agreement in principle Friday that will unify the sport for 2008.

"Gerald Forsythe, co-owner of Champ Car, signed an agreement in principle in Chicago, joining his partner Kevin Kalkhoven and Indy Racing League founder and CEO Tony George who had signed late Thursday in Indianapolis.

"Details of a press conference about the agreement will be forthcoming."

The deal brings to an end more than 10 years of rivalry between the two North American single-seater series.

It is not confirmed yet how many Champ Car teams will join the IRL, or which events will join a likely expanded calendar this season.

IndyCar team owner Bobby Rahal was one of the first leading figures to announce his backing for the move.

"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," Rahal said in a statement.

"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."

Derrick Walker, the owner of Champ Car outfit Walker Racing, added that he was delighted the merger has been sealed.

"It's back to the future," he said. "It's been a long road, but it has finally come together. One open-wheel racing series in the United States has long been recognized as what fans and sponsors want to have, and I'm happy to say that Walker Racing embraces the decision.

"I also want to give a special thanks to all the past and present CART/Champ Car officials for all their hard work in giving us some great seasons."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/65277

Posted by Trance Nutter on Feb-23-2008 07:49:

so whose cars are they gonna use?
Champ Car just started using a new chassis last year but I have the sense that IRL is probably the one absorbing Champ Car.
So are Champ Car teams gonna use IRL cars or IRL teams gonna use Champ Car cars?
Either way I'd hate to be the ones getting the new cars, having to learn how to use the car before the first race would be a bloody steep learning curve.

Posted by pkcRAISTLIN on Feb-23-2008 13:41:

i know absolutely nothing, but asides from particular tracks/events, champ car will be bringing nothing to the make-up of the series. its a shame, coz i favour the sound of the champ cars over the IRL, but a unified series is more important

and then hopefully we'll get a nice new tv deal with 10 and maybe ill get into the series again. michael andretti's son marco is racing in IRL i think, so i have somebody new to follow

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