THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The possible unification of America's two open-wheel racing series was in the hands of lawyers who, on Wednesday, were working out the final details of a deal that could re-energize the struggling sport.
The proposed deal, which could be announced as soon as Friday, would see some teams from the Champ Car World Series blended into the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series, with immediate gains in car count and races.
"It is still not done, but still moving," IRL spokesman Fred Nation said. "The lawyers are still lawyering, and we are still trading drafts and whittling away at the issues. We're optimistic the issues can be resolved."
Meanwhile, Champ Car spokesman David Higdon said series co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven, a key person in the negotiations, was still in England on family business and would not return to the U.S. until sometime late Thursday.
Since the IRL began competing with what was then the established Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) series in 1996, the two have gone head-to-head for drivers, teams, fans, sponsors and TV ratings.
Things have only gotten worse for both sides in the face of current U.S. economic woes.
Before the proposed agreement, Champ Car was set to begin its season April 20 in Long Beach, Calif., with no more than 17 cars, while the IndyCar Series was in danger of starting its season with as few as 16 cars on March 29 in Homestead.
With the deal apparently nearing completion, it appeared Wednesday that between six and 10 cars from the Champ Car side would take the offer of a free Honda engine lease program, free Dallara chassis and $1.2 million in team incentives from IRL founder and Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Tony George.
Several Champ Car teams are not expected to take George's offer because it would take an additional $2 million or more to compete in the IRL. The teams that don't have the sponsorship or backing to continue will either close down or move to sports car racing, which is less costly.
Obviously, those who would take the deal see it as a winning proposition.
"I believe it would be a stronger series again with a lot of solid events," said Eric Bachelart, a former open-wheel driver and now owner of Conquest Racing in the Champ Car series.
"What the IRL has is a good package, with the Indianapolis 500 and some other things that will help attract sponsors. There will be lots of cars, lots of teams. A good show."
