Champ Car vs IRL 2008

Discussion in 'Automotive' started by the cup, Jan 5, 2008.

  1. the cup

    the cup Member

    Jul 10, 2002
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Well, we might as well get it started.

    2008 is shaping up to be another exciting year in the American Open-Wheel battle between Champ Car and the IRL. Already the off-season has been full of drama with rumors flying about the IRL trying to get Paul Tracy to defect, questions of how will the IRL cope with loosing Hornish and Franchitti (two of their biggest stars) to NASCAR, and can Champ Car make it through a season without a promoter pulling the plug on a race.

    Winter can be long and dreary but thoughts of the upcoming racing season sure do keep me warm and content.

    How is everyone else holding up?
     
  2. the cup

    the cup Member

    Jul 10, 2002
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    IRL schedule 2008

    Saturday March 29, Homestead, Miami
    Sunday April 6, streets of St. Petersburgh
    Saturday April 19, Twin Ring Motegi, Japan
    Sunday April 27, Kansas Speedway
    Sunday May 25, Indianapolis 500
    Sunday June 1, Milwaukee Mile
    Saturday June 7, Texas Motor Speedway
    Sunday June 22, Iowa Speedway
    Saturday June 28, Richmond Raceway
    Sunday July 6, Watkins Glen, NY
    Saturday July 12, Nashville Superspeedway
    Sunday July 20, Mid-Ohio
    Saturday August 9, Kentucky Speedway
    Sunday August 24, Infineon Raceway
    Sunday August 31, Belle Isle Park
    Sunday September 7, Chicagoland Speedway
     
  3. the cup

    the cup Member

    Jul 10, 2002
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Champ Car schedule 2008

    All races will be held on Sundays.

    April 20, Long Beach, CA
    April 27, Houston, TX
    May 18, Laguna Seca, CA
    June 1, Zolder, Belgium
    June 8, Jerez, Spain
    June 22, Cleveland, OH
    June 29, Mont-Tremblant, Canada
    July 6, Toronto, Canada
    July 20, Edmonton, Canada
    July 27, Portland, OR
    August 10, Road America, WI
    September 14, Assen, Holland
    October 26, Surfer's Paradise, Australia
    November 9, Mexico City, Mexico
     
  4. the cup

    the cup Member

    Jul 10, 2002
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
  5. the cup

    the cup Member

    Jul 10, 2002
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
  6. Pack87Man

    Pack87Man BigSoccer Supporter

    Sep 1, 2001
    Quad Cities
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: Tracy to stay in Champ Car!

    Holy crapola, what is wrong at CCWS? The TV schedule comes out and is absolutely pathetic, between the tape delayed races and the ONE HOUR PACKAGED RACES??? Then, the Atlantics champ decides that he really doesn't need the $2 million prize and pisses off to the Indy Pro Series. It would be one thing if it was the Indy Car Series, and I understand that it's a high quality ride at Andretti Green, but still, it's the IPS. Finally they lose their race steward, who by all accounts was the most respected man in the management there. Add to that there are only three confirmed drivers with cars on the grid (IndyCar has 10 guaranteed, with several more pretty much assured, and their testing starts a lot later) and this is shaping up to be a disaster for Champ Car. Everyone here knows I fall on the IndyCar side of the fence, but I am not trying to be mean. This *looks* like a disastrous set of events. I'm willing to be convinced otherwise, but it will take a lot.
     
  7. the cup

    the cup Member

    Jul 10, 2002
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Re: Tracy to stay in Champ Car!

    I don't know, I just don't know.

    The TV schedule is bad but I can deal with it. I actually don't mind the tape delay races but the one hour coverage for 4 of the races hurts, the only silver lining is that those 4 will be on ABC. After suffering for years with poor tv coverage for MLS I can see that Champ Car is just taking what ABC/ESPN will offer.

    But I don't know, the future for Champ Car is dark, now more than ever I think. It just seems to be run so piss-poorly. Why is it so hard for teams to get driver line-up put together?

    I really like the venues CC is at, Mont-Tremblant, Long Beach, Laguna Seca, Surfer's, Zolder, Jerez and Road America. And I absolutely love the new Panoz car and the Cosworth Push-to-Pass engine. But why can't they seem to get their act together? It boggles the mind, they have so many things going for them.

    Now, I've thought for awhile now that both CC and the IRL could survive on their own. And I'm not saying this just because CC is having huge problems right now, but with the way things are looking and with poor economic times looming, these two series need to get together and merge. There are a lot of fans out there that would vomit at the thought of a merger, but CC is hurting, things aren't all that rosey with the IRL either. A merger is what needs to happen or open-wheeled racing in the good ol' US of A is going to die.

    Those are just my feelings though, I could be wrong.
     
  8. Pack87Man

    Pack87Man BigSoccer Supporter

    Sep 1, 2001
    Quad Cities
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: Tracy to stay in Champ Car!

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

    Now this is some news. I certainly hope they get this done and dusted, and we have a kick ass 20 race, 25 car schedule in time for 2008, and if not then, for 2009.
     
  9. the cup

    the cup Member

    Jul 10, 2002
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Yeh, it's going to happen. Maybe not for this year but probably for 2009. It has to because both CC and IRL are hurting, CC with no sponsorship and rich owners loosing too much money, and the IRL with drivers bolting to NASCAR and their fans with them.

    It's going to come down to how much control will George give up and how much are the 3 CC Amigos willing to settle for. Eventually though they all have to realize that without a merger both series would eventually run out of money.

    It will be a good thing, I just hope they keep some European races and I hope somehow they can still race with the Panoz cars.
     
  10. Pack87Man

    Pack87Man BigSoccer Supporter

    Sep 1, 2001
    Quad Cities
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'd be perfectly happy without the Euro races. We have plenty of road courses on this continent (I would want to see a couple of Canadian races and maybe the Mexico City race), and I want to see the series remain majority ovals. Of course, the crown jewel will always be the Indy 500.
     
  11. the cup

    the cup Member

    Jul 10, 2002
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    If we are to take that Speed TV article as accurate it states Tony George wants Edmonton, Toronto, Long Beach, Mexico City and Surfers Paradise as part of the IRL schedule. I'd agree with those (except maybe Edmonton, why not Cleveland instead?) and also add Road America, Laguna Seca and Mont-Tremblant.

    As far as the Euro races I know many IRL fans aren't going to like those but you can't argue with how many people showed up to those, especially Assen. If any series is going to be successful you have to go where the stands are going to be full. Also, Mario Andretti has been quoted many times saying that he would like his grandson Marco to make it to F1 but if that is going to happen you have to have some races in Europe to show yourself off. (I believe Rahal has some F1 aspirations as well.) Now, I'm not saying our merged series should be a feeder series to F1, (F1 bores the hell out me sometimes) but I think a strong open-wheeled series needs to have a presence in Europe too.

    Ideally I'd like to see one of two things happen, first CC and the IRL merge fully and have the Indy 500 of course and then an equal number of ovals, street circuits and road courses. Say six of each and have a 19 race series.

    Or, keep the IRL and Champ Car independent but have 7 or 8 races that the two share. That would create some incredible competition between the two series.

    On a side note, now that F1 isn't racing at the IMS why not have a second race there later in the year on the now unused road course? That could be pretty cool too, have both series compete there at the end of the year as the season finale.
     
  12. the cup

    the cup Member

    Jul 10, 2002
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Merger called off

    Nope, no merger at least for now.

    http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080128/SPORTS0107/801280351/1052/SPORTS01

    Quote
    "The window of opportunity has closed for Champ Car World Series teams to receive Tony George's financial assistance to join the Indy Racing League for 2008, George said Sunday.

    George, the IRL's chief executive officer, said that in meetings last fall with Champ Car's leadership, he offered to help its teams pay for IRL cars on the condition they participated in his series for at least two seasons. When none came forward in a timely manner, George chose to scrap his plan.

    "Teams started coming to me in December and January, and there's not much I can do at that point," George said. "I needed to know earlier so we could get the cars ordered."

    Champ Car co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven said George never formally made an offer to either him or partner Jerry Forsythe. "I never, ever saw an offer from Tony George," Kalkhoven said. "We never received anything in writing."

    Champ Car's machines are different from the IRL's and not able to be integrated. George said the two-year stipulation was made because the IRL will introduce new cars for the 2010 season. "For me to make the investment, it makes sense to do it for two years, not one," George said.

    George said his offer came "back when there was time to do it for '08."
    The IRL season begins March 29 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Champ Car's season is scheduled to open April 20 in Long Beach, Calif.
    There have been two open-wheel series since George founded the IRL in 1996. Both are based in Indianapolis.

    George said he told Kalkhoven and Forsythe in separate meetings that he would help teams acquire a new car and a used one as a backup for each full-season driver supported by a proper budget. He would not have bought the cars outright. "I wasn't going to wholesale make that offer," George said. "I would make sure they had equipment; it would not necessarily be free."

    Forsythe could not be reached for comment. Kalkhoven insisted he hasn't spoken with George "in nine months."

    George said he made it clear the IRL would be the sanctioning body in a unified series. He offered to include several of the events that Kalkhoven and Forsythe own, such as the Long Beach (Calif.) Grand Prix, in future IRL schedules. "I tried to get all those guys to consider not having ownership in the series; rather, they should make their other racing-related businesses a more profitable part of a unified series," George said. "I told them, 'Let us own and operate the series, and we'll make sure everyone is able to transition into equipment for the remainder useful life of the equipment."
     
  13. Nanbawan

    Nanbawan Member

    Jun 11, 2004
    Haute Bretagne
    Club:
    Stade Rennais FC
    Nat'l Team:
    France
    I hope Montagny secures a seat in CCWS, he's quite probably one of the best F1 drivers without a seat at the moment. Many teams wanted him as a test driver in Formula One given the good job he made at Renault, Super Aguri and Toyota yet he desperately wanted to race. So, may he land in the Champcar series where he will have his share of racing !

    http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=12508

    Franck Perera - who has been part of the Toyota F1 driver program for a long time - also seems to find his stride there...

    http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=12512

    Beside my jingoistic considerations, it might be an interesting battle for the title after all if you throw in Wilson, Power and hopefully for the US, Graham Rahal. ;)

    I just hope that another year of French domination may tire the audience ; the sport desperately needs Americans to have a shot at the title within this truly international series.
     
  14. Pack87Man

    Pack87Man BigSoccer Supporter

    Sep 1, 2001
    Quad Cities
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Reports are that the unification of American open wheel racing is all but done. Thoughts? I know I'm supremely excited about the Iowa race this year if this holds true.
     
  15. the cup

    the cup Member

    Jul 10, 2002
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    I have just been kicking back and waiting to see what happens. There are so many different reports out there, some say that it is a done deal while others say the deal is off and more likely something will happen in 2009.

    I wish there were enough open-wheel fans in the US to support both series and the oval fans could flock to the IRL and the street and road course fans could flock to Champ Car but that just isn't going to happen, that's the reality of things.

    It is an exciting time though and I check out the different auto racing websites two or three times a day for news. Maybe by the end of the week we will know more.
     
  16. CRASH 4 ARSENAL

    Jan 26, 2006
    Chicago
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    I am so excited about this possible reunification. I know it will not solve all the problems in AOW, but it is the necessary first step.

    Maybe I am hopelessly optimistic, but I do think OW can regain some, not all, of what in had. Sports fans are fickle and with some clever marketing (which I know might be too much to hope for from TG and the IRL) OW can start to rebuild. I always look back to where OW was and where NASCAR was prior to the first Brickyard 400 as recently as 1994. There is no reason to think things can’t change again.

    Of course the next step is making the IRL formula green and attractive to new engine and chassis builders. But a single OW series is the first step.

    Fingers crossed that things will work out.
     
  17. the cup

    the cup Member

    Jul 10, 2002
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    It looks like the merger may be off for this year, Motegi's website shows "final" for their original race dates.

    http://www.mobilityland.co.jp/indyjapan/

    Tony George said that if Motegi can't be changed there won't be a merger this year.
     
  18. Flyin Ryan

    Flyin Ryan Member

    May 13, 2004
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Please, for the love of God, for the love of auto racing, and for the love of racing fans that want a second mainstream American racing series again, merge.

    -Flyin Ryan, veteran of 3 Charlotte IRL races, 6 Indy 500s, and 5 Richmond IRL races
     
  19. the cup

    the cup Member

    Jul 10, 2002
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    I think a merger will come but most likely 2009, it is just way too close to the begining of the racing season to work out a merger now.

    Hell, to work out the details they might be lucky to merge in 2009 even if they start working on it now. I would think merging the two together is going to be much more complicated that any of us imagine.
     
  20. the cup

    the cup Member

    Jul 10, 2002
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Wow! Here is another report about the merger.

    http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/65213

    Nothing is official yet but things are looking good. I am going to sit back and wait until something comes out that is official but this should be fun.

    There are good things about a merger and bad things as well, but for sure it is something we need to happen.
     
  21. Flyin Ryan

    Flyin Ryan Member

    May 13, 2004
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yeah, fans that have been crying for a merger for so long have been burned many times in the last 12 years.

    ESPN says official announcement Thursday. I can wait 48 hours.
     
  22. Pack87Man

    Pack87Man BigSoccer Supporter

    Sep 1, 2001
    Quad Cities
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Cue the Hallelujah Chorus.
     
  23. Nanbawan

    Nanbawan Member

    Jun 11, 2004
    Haute Bretagne
    Club:
    Stade Rennais FC
    Nat'l Team:
    France
    On the whole, I guess it's a good news though I feel it's kinda pity that thing unfolds in such a hastened way. Why not make the deal now, complete the season for both series and merge 'peacefully' in 2009 ?

    Many people are going to be hugely affected by this very swift revolution. Teams, mechanics, organisers ,etc and of course, some drivers...It's gonna be quite a mayhem for those who were just preparing what would have been the final ChampCar season...
     
  24. alexp92

    alexp92 Member

    Jul 5, 2007
    this will be great, cant wait for the st pete gp. too bad seb moved to f1, if only he would have stayed one more year
     

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