From Marshall Pruett's article stating Newman Wachs is either looking at Indycar or GP2 for Jon Edwards.

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/indycar-newman-wachs-ready-to-move-up/

“Our fallback is that we haven’t sold our Atlantic cars yet. We haven’t advised anyone on our team that we aren’t going to go forward if our sponsorship plans fall through. We also haven’t been paid the purses from the Atlantic Championship we were told we’d be given, so some of our move is centered around that.”

Umm..oops..If the Atlantic Series can't even pay their drivers what they're promised - they should fold.

With sad I agree they should fold and see more ILS entries for next year.

Not surprising if you read the tea leaves properly.

I had posted this in another thread...but it might have gotten by.

Genoa is selling their cars, transporter, and equipment. So they appear to be done.

Steve

Still waiting on Atlantics response about this. I would imagine that we will see the state of the series laid out in the next few weeks. Right now it does not look too terribly great, but it will depend on what they are doing to rectify this situation and position themselves for next year.

One item to note, they are not really in competition with Indy Lights. You go to Atlantics to either step to Indy Lights or go overseas. You go to Indy Lights because you want to race Indycar only. If you eliminate atlantics, you will get more people jumping from Star Mazda straight over to the European series, because we would not have any higher tiered series preparing for anything other than Indycar.

That is also one of the mindsets of some people stuck in their USA ways. Kids/Teenagers now-a-days are not limited to the AOWR scene. They are exposed to the series held outside of the US. They watch F1, they watch LMES, ALMS, etc. They realize that now may not be the best time to be in AOWR especially with ride buyers beating out talent 9 times out of 10. Look at Pags, graduated Atlantics, then went to CC for a year. He would have been out of a job, but his talent was realized and now he is an incredible driver in ALMS. Rahal luckily has been ushered into open wheel and has been able to stay.

These kids deserve more than a ladder to one series that cannot put them in a seat. Is hildebrand going to be going for a 2 peat for 2010? Who would actually pony up some cash for a big car ride? Is that his only goal? He may be better off, keeping relationships with IRL teams, but moving to the Euro scene and keeping his skill set fresh while still doing some ovals to keep him in the oval mindset.

Pardon the rant. I personally do not see the Atlantics threatening Lights car counts. They are not in competition. I rather see the Atlantics as being beneficial to keep the quality of drivers who want to futher their career without a single focus on driving in an Indycar.

SteveLevin - 20 October 2009 10:59 AM

I had posted this in another thread...but it might have gotten by.

Genoa is selling their cars, transporter, and equipment. So they appear to be done.

Steve

Is this 100% fact? They ran Indy Lights last year as well. Are they selling those cars or all of their atlantics equipment? Do you have a link or source?

They are definitely selling three 016's and a transporter and equipment. I didn't realize that they had a lights setup (which must have had it's own truck, etc., since some of the race dates conflicted).

So based your correction it sounds like they are only running Lights next year.

Steve

can't say anything about the years race purse, but the winner's check for the championship was paid. the biggest problem with the series is poor communication between johnson and vicki. its something that needs to be ironed out this winter. Mazda is committed through 2011 on the series.....

huskyfrk - 23 October 2009 03:46 AM

can't say anything about the years race purse, but the winner's check for the championship was paid. the biggest problem with the series is poor communication between johnson and vicki. its something that needs to be ironed out this winter. Mazda is committed through 2011 on the series.....

Edwards won the championship and according to Marshall's article the Atlantic Series hasn't paid their dues unless things has changed since the article.

Hitokiri2 - 23 October 2009 10:54 AM

Edwards won the championship and according to Marshall's article the Atlantic Series hasn't paid their dues unless things has changed since the article.

You are correct Hitokiri. Edwards and Newman-Wachs Racing have both openly reported neither have been paid as of yet... although the team is "hopeful".

the winner got his check.. it was presented at the banquet.