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Interesting read. Some good, some bad.
IRL-Champ Car Talks Spark Mixed Feelings
By MIKE HARRIS, AP Sports Writer Sat Mar 25, 4:09 PM ET
HOMESTEAD, Fla. - IRL team owners had mixed feelings Saturday, digesting the news that the heads of the two American open-wheel series are in the early stages of a possible unification of the once-bitter rivals.
Roger Penske appeared to be the biggest pessimist.
Team Penske won the Indianapolis 500 a record 13 times and won eight championships in the old CART series — now the Champ Car World Series — before moving to the IRL. Penske was rebuffed by both sides in several attempts to broker a merger.
"I've sat back for the last three years trying to make it happen and it never has," Penske said. "Mario Andretti, he went to the wall to try to get it together (last year). I did it the year before. What's changed?
"I think it's all talk. I'd like to see the facts. I've been there, that's why I'm so pessimistic that there's anything there."
The debate began Friday when Tony George, founder of the IRL, and Kevin Kalkhoven, co-owner of Champ Car, confirmed they have been having cordial and informal talks about a possible unification.
That caused a real buzz in the paddock at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where the IRL season gets underway on Sunday with the Toyota Indy 300.
"I'd like to have it happen, but I don't see what's going to be the economic benefit today," Penske said. "What are we going to do: We're going to run a different car, a different engine, run all road races, going to have run 29 races? What's going to happen? Tell me."
Chip Ganassi, whose team won four CART titles before moving to the IRL, said he is hopeful.
"I'm trying to leave them alone to get it put together and get it put together quickly," Ganassi said. "It seems like a harbinger of each spring that there's these talks, but we have to all stay out of it and let them hurry up and get this done because a lot of teams are on life support now.
"As far as our team is concerned, (unification) is an absolute necessity."
Tom Anderson, co-owner of an IRL team with Adrian Fernandez and a former Champ Car owner, wants a quick resolution.
"We all hope it happens," he said. "Let's get it done as fast as possible."
Honda is supplying all the engines for the IRL this year. Robert Clarke, who heads up the Honda racing program, said the chances of the talks succeeding are "no more than 50-50.
"They have already gotten through some issues that nobody ever even got to in past talks. Still, there's a lot more major issues to deal with."
By MIKE HARRIS, AP Sports Writer Sat Mar 25, 4:09 PM ET
HOMESTEAD, Fla. - IRL team owners had mixed feelings Saturday, digesting the news that the heads of the two American open-wheel series are in the early stages of a possible unification of the once-bitter rivals.
Roger Penske appeared to be the biggest pessimist.
Team Penske won the Indianapolis 500 a record 13 times and won eight championships in the old CART series — now the Champ Car World Series — before moving to the IRL. Penske was rebuffed by both sides in several attempts to broker a merger.
"I've sat back for the last three years trying to make it happen and it never has," Penske said. "Mario Andretti, he went to the wall to try to get it together (last year). I did it the year before. What's changed?
"I think it's all talk. I'd like to see the facts. I've been there, that's why I'm so pessimistic that there's anything there."
The debate began Friday when Tony George, founder of the IRL, and Kevin Kalkhoven, co-owner of Champ Car, confirmed they have been having cordial and informal talks about a possible unification.
That caused a real buzz in the paddock at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where the IRL season gets underway on Sunday with the Toyota Indy 300.
"I'd like to have it happen, but I don't see what's going to be the economic benefit today," Penske said. "What are we going to do: We're going to run a different car, a different engine, run all road races, going to have run 29 races? What's going to happen? Tell me."
Chip Ganassi, whose team won four CART titles before moving to the IRL, said he is hopeful.
"I'm trying to leave them alone to get it put together and get it put together quickly," Ganassi said. "It seems like a harbinger of each spring that there's these talks, but we have to all stay out of it and let them hurry up and get this done because a lot of teams are on life support now.
"As far as our team is concerned, (unification) is an absolute necessity."
Tom Anderson, co-owner of an IRL team with Adrian Fernandez and a former Champ Car owner, wants a quick resolution.
"We all hope it happens," he said. "Let's get it done as fast as possible."
Honda is supplying all the engines for the IRL this year. Robert Clarke, who heads up the Honda racing program, said the chances of the talks succeeding are "no more than 50-50.
"They have already gotten through some issues that nobody ever even got to in past talks. Still, there's a lot more major issues to deal with."
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