All together now? The Indy 500 could benefit from an influx of teams and drivers, but the benefits of a unified series would extend far beyond the 500. (LAT photo)n » More Photos

Motegi, owned by Honda of Japan, also faces some challenges in re-scheduling so Honda’s Robert Clarke, Champ Car’s Dick Eidswick, Kalkhoven and George are desperately trying to find a solution.

“It’s as close as it’s ever been to being together, but we don’t know if we can get across the goal line,” said George on Thursday evening. “But no one is giving up yet.”

Added Kalkhoven: “Both sides want this to happen very much and we’re working on it.”

Supposedly, the Motegi people were agreeable to moving back one week, which is currently the date for the IRL race at Kansas City. The ISC-owned facility reportedly declined the request because it’s already a sellout for the NASCAR/IRL package.

Clarke, the former leader of Honda Performance Development who tried to put the two sides together in 2006 along with Mario Andretti, might have to travel with George to Japan this weekend to try and find a solution while Eidswick works on Champ Car’s options.

Drivers, mechanics and owners in Champ Car learned of this amalgamation after returning from a test last week at Sebring, Fla. As expected, most were happy to hear about unification even though it means their current Panoz chassis would be rendered show cars.

“It’s not a bad deal but you’ll still need some money,” said Derrick Walker, whose Indy-based team started in 1990. “You have to have two car configurations (oval and road course), the crash damage is higher with ovals and it’s a big fat schedule. It’s going to be a rough old ride for our Champ Car teams because we don’t have the familiarity with the Dallaras but the bottom line is that it’s a great gesture to put this thing together.”

Jimmy Vasser, who is part owner of PKV Racing, echoed Walker’s sentiments.

“There’s been a lot of silence lately so, if this is true, this is what needs to happen,” said the 1996 CART champion. “It’s a very good day for motor racing.”