Champ Cars & Indy Racing League Merger

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USA Today Feb 12:

Race is against time in open-wheel merger talks
By A.J. Perez, USA TODAY

As talks continue to end the split in American open-wheel racing between the Indy Racing League and Champ Car World Series, at least one team might not wait for an accord.

Longtime Champ Car owner Derrick Walker said he's considering taking his two-car operation to the IndyCar Series, a move that would leave Champ Car with as few as 15 confirmed cars if an agreement isn't reached in the coming days to end the 12-year rift between the two Indy-style racing series.

"We're just a small company who is trying to sell our wares, which for us is getting sponsors and going racing," said Walker, who is in discussion to keep his drivers (Will Power and Simon Pagenaud) and main sponsor (Aussie Vineyards) on board if he makes the transition. "That's our business. So we had to look at the IRL and look at the Indy 500, which we thought had a comeback year in 2007."

Walker, however, said he hopes he doesn't have to pick sides, something race fans, drivers and teams have done since the IRL made its debut in 1996. Many within open-wheel racing were cautiously optimistic Sunday that a deal could be worked out before the 2008 season that would merge both organizations under the IRL umbrella.

"Certainly, this is the closest the two organizations have been to finding a way to unify the sport," IRL spokesman Fred Nation said. "Unfortunately, time is short."


IRL founder Tony George and other series officials met with Honda executives in Japan on Monday in hopes of clearing the first major hurdle toward reunification: moving the date of the race at Twin Ring Motegi, the Japanese track owned by Honda.

Champ Car's season-opening Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 20, the USA's biggest open-wheel event outside the Indianapolis 500, takes place the same weekend as Motegi. The LBGP receives clearance from the city to run on its streets a year in advance, making a date change impractical.

"I sure wouldn't want to be the person or entity that stands in the way (of a merger)," said Bobby Rahal, an IRL team owner and Indy 500 winner. "If all that's in the way is moving Motegi to the fall, I sure hope (Honda officials) can see how a merger would benefit everybody."

Moving Motegi's date is just the first step. Merging the rest of the schedule and getting Champ Car teams the IRL's engine and chassis package would need to be worked out quickly since the IRL opens its season March 29.

"When I see it, I'll believe it," Rahal said. "We've been down this road so many times."