http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto...ry/auto/22207/

 

I've heard this too many times to get my hopes up, but maybe this time will be different. The IRL is in serious trouble with the loss of GM and Toyota, as well as the possibility of Ganassi, Rahal, and Andretti/Green defecting back to Champ Car.

If it's going to happen, '07 is the time to do it, with both series due for new technical specifications. It might not be coincidence that Champ Car's new chassis is built by longtime IRL supplier Panoz.

The only possible downside that I can see is that if and when the schedules are combined, a lot of race will be left on the cutting room floor, and MIS, the closest one to me, is very likely to be one of them.

 

I was a little surprised to read that article after Robin Miller said a merger was all but dead last week on Wind Tunnel. I'm with you Dan, I've had my hopes broken too many times as well. Maybe if the merger does take a larger schedule can be arranged and then maybe a certain number car be rotated each year.

 

This may open the door for another Indy 500 Mustang Pace Car.

 

I can think of a certain Mustang that will be new for the '07 model year that could do quite nicely...

 

I read an article a few weeks ago that said champ car had no intentions of merging with IRL


I havent read this one yet though

 

Kalkoven and George are both denying that any agreement is imminent,http://speedtv.com/articles/auto/indycar/22241/, but keep in mind that Kalkoven also denied that he had any interest in purchasing Cosworth until the deal was done. In the linked article, George cites the contracts the IRL has with Honda and ABC/ESPN as possible stumbling blocks, but I know that Honda supports reunification, and I doubt very much that ABC would be against broadcasting the combined series. As far as Speed's Champcar coverage, I'm pretty sure that it's a season-by-season contract, and that Speed would gladly fill the hole in the schedule with more Nascar reality show crap.


Probably just a pipe dream, but let's leave them alone and see what the can work out.

 

Well . . . seems like it is that time of year for the "official" rumor mill of a Champ/IRL merge. I will say Champ Car does seem to be on it's last legs.

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/champcar/42686/

 

It has to happen this time. Which doesn't mean that it will. Seems a little bit late to do it this year, with the schedules already being set. Hopefully in '09, though.

 

Desparate times require desparate measures. But I don't see how they'd pull it off for 2008.

 

There's no way for it to happen for 2008. It's way too late, I'd like to see it for 2009, both series are dying off, and without a merger, they'll both be gone by 2010. Racing is getting pretty bad when the only good series is MotoGP, SpeedGT, and foreign series.

 

I hope they merge! the split caused by a couple egomaniacs has about ruined my personal favorite auto racing and lost a Whole generation to the true excitement and beauty of open wheel racing ....

 

Could it be?!

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...peace-at-hand/

If the talks go well in Japan tomorrow we might see a news conference about unification by Monday?!

 

Glad I didn't buy my airline tickets for Laguna yet. But I'm still not holding my breath.

 

Amazing, a week ago Miller was saying it would not happen in 2008. But as I said before "Desperate times require desperate measures." And open wheel racing in the North America S. is in total desperation.

 

There may be something up! The Indy racing site is looking a little vague and strange!....

 

If it happens this year, I guess I'll take what I can get as far as the schedule. Hopefully they can work in a few more of the traditional Champ Car dates in the next few years, like Cleveland, Toronto, and Road America. Most of the newer street courses, like Houston and San Jose, I won't miss. I'd also like to see them back at MIS, but I doubt that'll happen as long as Detroit is successful.

 

As far as I'm concerned they can get rid of ALL the street races other than Long Beach. Returning to MIS would be great too.

 

Robin Miller says everybody is waiting for Tony George to return from Japan and announce whether the Motegi race has been moved so the merger can happen.

http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&fg=r...dd77&from=3734

In other related stories, Derek Walker has parked his Champ car so he can concentrate on getting his IRL car ready.

The IRL is looking at declaring bankruptsy to try to avoid lawsuits from race tracks that will not have a replacent IRL race for their Champ race.

 

It should be interesting to see what happens. Nice avatar Evil_Capri, Davey Allison was one of my favs.