Olymon...I concur that LONG BEACH is a primo event would be important to IRL.

HOWEVER

In truth, where will LONG BEACH and any other CHAMP CAR venue go if they want to have near same kind of racing.  They will be able to go to IRL and all get what all the need/want.

It’s way past time to allow CHAMP CAR to continue to be believe they are a legitmate player in this high stake game with IRL. 

It only emboldens the CHAMP CAR hierarchy to stall, demand and posture that they are somebody.  They are not anymore.

I just think it’s time to take IRL as the ones to be dealt with and has been igonored to long.

One would have to assume the “money on table” Derrick Walker speaks of will be going to People who run Long Beach. You have to assume it’s only way Long Beach would agree to this compromise.

Everyone is really down on CCWS for not accepting any/all offers made.  I think it’s clear at this point that there is a huge riff between GF and KK and that’s why KK is finally talking to TG.  The reports that he represents all the CCWS series owners in this negotiation isn’t exactly true.  All the owners don’t want the same thing.

Could be that KK is looking for whatever allows HIM to recoup as much of his investment as he can and be d*mned what GF wants. 

Why would Walker be talking about dusting off the Panoz for LB if he’s really committed to the IRL.  Just go to Japan and write off CCWS once and for all instead of hedging your bets.  Nothing wrong with being in both series, which he’s done before, if that’s what you want to do. But no need to bad mouth either of them at this point.

i like mbalton’s idea… have the the big boys run motegi, and have the atlantics and ips run long beach… lol

Hmm the weekend of April 18-20 is a Cup off week, could we see some deals being brokered to try and get some of the former open-wheelers back into the cars again for a one off race (JV, JPM, Robby, Smoke in the Long Beach race, and maybe the rest of them in Japan racing on the Oval) to try and make sure this deal works (ratings/attendance wise)

For the greater good, I understand the compromise, but GOOD GRIEF!!! It’s really like kissing your sister!

If the only hiccup for an unified series is for the IRL to race in Japan and the CC to race in Long Beach for this one time only, then so be it.

I’d just like to comment on how entertaining this article was to read. Specially the 1st three paragraphs. I had to read that out loud to some co-workers here at the office and it was hilarious. As to the issue, ChampCar’s funeral is long overdue. Get rid of Kalkoven and get Kevorkian.

Why do they have to run the old cars?  Seems if they have to be separate they could at least use the same equipment.

Fisha695 - 21 February 2008 01:46 PM

Hmm the weekend of April 18-20 is a Cup off week, could we see some deals being brokered to try and get some of the former open-wheelers back into the cars again for a one off race (JV, JPM, Robby, Smoke in the Long Beach race, and maybe the rest of them in Japan racing on the Oval) to try and make sure this deal works (ratings/attendance wise)

Even though I doubt that would ever happen, the idea is intriguing. It would in a way be a nice farewell to Champ Car/CART and a great way to end the series.