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Road America could be in IRL plans
League still sorting out reunification
By DAVE KALLMANN
[email protected]
Posted: Feb. 27, 2008
The 2008 IndyCar Series schedule, cobbled together amid hasty reunification talks, still needs a few details to be worked out, but once they are, the task of shaping the sport's direction for the future will begin.
Will such traditional Champ Car venues as Road America and Portland and Cleveland return?
"In a couple, two, three weeks, we'll start having conversations with some of those," Indy Racing League founder Tony George said Wednesday during a news conference in Homestead, Fla.
"Obviously they're going to need to be knowing how they're going to be planning for their future, one way or another."
George and Kevin Kalkhoven, Champ Car's principal owner, met publicly for the first time since reaching agreement last week to bring their series together.
The new IndyCar Series did not publish a revised schedule, but they said it would consist of the existing IndyCar Series events, plus Edmonton and Australia and what is being billed as the Champ Car finale April 20.
The Long Beach race, which conflicts with the IndyCar Series event in Motegi, Japan, will go on as scheduled with Champ Car equipment but with IndyCar Series points awarded. The event then will be folded into the schedule beginning in 2009.
The season is to open March 29 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
George would like a half-and-half mix of ovals and road courses totaling about 20 events, he said.
Road America President George Bruggenthies has had preliminary discussions with the IRL but as of mid-afternoon Wednesday hadn't heard from Champ Car as to how their 2008 contract would be resolved.
"Do I expect to have a race? No," Bruggenthies said from his office in Elkhart Lake. "I guess they've been so busy with those challenges that they haven't had time to worry about wrapping up their legal details.
"I'm waiting for confirmation about 2008, and I'd like to be on the schedule for '09."
The road course, generally considered the best in the country, has held CART and Champ Car races every year but one since 1982.
Current and previous venues will be considered for future races, as will new opportunities, George said, but "some give and take" may be needed for the overall good of the sport, George said.
The Milwaukee Mile is scheduled for a race June 1 and has a deal through 2009. Although the track has a 75-year history of Indy-car racing, its attendance last year was among the weakest of the 11 ovals on the circuit.
"I really don't have any fears because I think we've built a good relationship with the IndyCar folks over the past two years," said Craig Stoehr, chairman of the Milwaukee Mile Marketing.
"What we're really working on, which we would have even without the merger, is co-marketing, co-promotion initiatives and how we can piggyback off of the Indy 500 the weekend before. Hopefully the fact that they've merged now gives us a much better product to promote."
Nothing said in the news conference made Bruggenthies any more or less hopeful about Road America's long-term prospects.
"The only thing I'd say is if they're talking about adding road races, we'd have to be close to the top of the list for driver, team, sponsor and fan appreciation," Bruggenthies said. "We have a long history."
If politics are involved in the decision, Houston and Cleveland, for example, could have an edge because they are promoted by Mike Lanigan, one of the partners in Newman / Haas / Lanigan Racing.
Among the other details of the unified series:
• Champ Car teams showing the budget to compete will be provided two chassis - probably one new and one used - as well as a one-year basic Honda engine lease. This is in addition to the $1.2 million per car in support provided under a plan announced in October to replace the event purse formula.
• As many as 12 new entries fielded by current Champ Car teams could be on the grid for the March 29 season opener, said Brian Barnhart, chief operating officer of the Indy Racing League.
• Participation could be limited by the availability of chassis and engines in such a short time frame, Barnhart said.
• Champ Car teams will work with existing IndyCar teams to get up to speed. Pairings included Kalkhoven's team with Chip Ganassi's and Newman / Haas / Lanigan Racing with Rahal Letterman.
League still sorting out reunification
By DAVE KALLMANN
[email protected]
Posted: Feb. 27, 2008
The 2008 IndyCar Series schedule, cobbled together amid hasty reunification talks, still needs a few details to be worked out, but once they are, the task of shaping the sport's direction for the future will begin.
Will such traditional Champ Car venues as Road America and Portland and Cleveland return?
"In a couple, two, three weeks, we'll start having conversations with some of those," Indy Racing League founder Tony George said Wednesday during a news conference in Homestead, Fla.
"Obviously they're going to need to be knowing how they're going to be planning for their future, one way or another."
George and Kevin Kalkhoven, Champ Car's principal owner, met publicly for the first time since reaching agreement last week to bring their series together.
The new IndyCar Series did not publish a revised schedule, but they said it would consist of the existing IndyCar Series events, plus Edmonton and Australia and what is being billed as the Champ Car finale April 20.
The Long Beach race, which conflicts with the IndyCar Series event in Motegi, Japan, will go on as scheduled with Champ Car equipment but with IndyCar Series points awarded. The event then will be folded into the schedule beginning in 2009.
The season is to open March 29 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
George would like a half-and-half mix of ovals and road courses totaling about 20 events, he said.
Road America President George Bruggenthies has had preliminary discussions with the IRL but as of mid-afternoon Wednesday hadn't heard from Champ Car as to how their 2008 contract would be resolved.
"Do I expect to have a race? No," Bruggenthies said from his office in Elkhart Lake. "I guess they've been so busy with those challenges that they haven't had time to worry about wrapping up their legal details.
"I'm waiting for confirmation about 2008, and I'd like to be on the schedule for '09."
The road course, generally considered the best in the country, has held CART and Champ Car races every year but one since 1982.
Current and previous venues will be considered for future races, as will new opportunities, George said, but "some give and take" may be needed for the overall good of the sport, George said.
The Milwaukee Mile is scheduled for a race June 1 and has a deal through 2009. Although the track has a 75-year history of Indy-car racing, its attendance last year was among the weakest of the 11 ovals on the circuit.
"I really don't have any fears because I think we've built a good relationship with the IndyCar folks over the past two years," said Craig Stoehr, chairman of the Milwaukee Mile Marketing.
"What we're really working on, which we would have even without the merger, is co-marketing, co-promotion initiatives and how we can piggyback off of the Indy 500 the weekend before. Hopefully the fact that they've merged now gives us a much better product to promote."
Nothing said in the news conference made Bruggenthies any more or less hopeful about Road America's long-term prospects.
"The only thing I'd say is if they're talking about adding road races, we'd have to be close to the top of the list for driver, team, sponsor and fan appreciation," Bruggenthies said. "We have a long history."
If politics are involved in the decision, Houston and Cleveland, for example, could have an edge because they are promoted by Mike Lanigan, one of the partners in Newman / Haas / Lanigan Racing.
Among the other details of the unified series:
• Champ Car teams showing the budget to compete will be provided two chassis - probably one new and one used - as well as a one-year basic Honda engine lease. This is in addition to the $1.2 million per car in support provided under a plan announced in October to replace the event purse formula.
• As many as 12 new entries fielded by current Champ Car teams could be on the grid for the March 29 season opener, said Brian Barnhart, chief operating officer of the Indy Racing League.
• Participation could be limited by the availability of chassis and engines in such a short time frame, Barnhart said.
• Champ Car teams will work with existing IndyCar teams to get up to speed. Pairings included Kalkhoven's team with Chip Ganassi's and Newman / Haas / Lanigan Racing with Rahal Letterman.
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