IRL, Champ Car Series Discuss Merging

[Shiba-Kun]

IRL, Champ Car Series Discuss Merging


Associated Press

Saturday, March 25, 2006


Indy Racing League President Tony George and Kevin Kalkhoven, co-owner of the Champ Car World Series, confirmed yesterday that they are talking about unifying the rival American open-wheel series.

Replying to recent published reports about so-called merger talks, George acknowledged that he and Kalkhoven have been talking "fairly frequently," but added, "I think [an agreement] is certainly possible, but I think we're a long way from there at this point."

George, speaking at a news conference at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida, where the IRL IndyCar series opens tomorrow with the Toyota Indy 300, said, "There's always the temptation to start charging ahead but, so far, I've tried to keep focused on really trying to understand what all we both have to consider in discussions we've had on unification."

Asked if he now believes it is important to have only one open-wheel series, George said, "I, for a long time, have been one of those who believed it certainly would be nice if open-wheel racing were unified."

Kalkhoven said he also has enjoyed the conversations with George, but cautioned that "no one is saying we want to do this at all costs."

George, whose family owns and operates the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, announced the formation of the IRL in 1995 as an all-oval alternative to the established Championship Auto Racing Teams series that raced on ovals and road and street circuits. The IRL began competition in 1996.

The addition of a second series frustrated and split a fan base already shrinking after the retirement of longtime stars such as Mario Andretti, Johnny Rutherford, A.J. Foyt and Al Unser in the early 1990s.

To make matters worse, most of the top drivers and teams from CART moved to the IRL over the next several years.


·