With America’s two open-wheel series finally unified, the calendar poses the next roadblock: The season-opening race is just five weeks away.
At this point, nobody knows how many teams and cars will move from the now-defunct Champ Car World Series to the Indy Racing League’s IndyCar Series in time for the March 29 opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
“The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive,” IRL spokesman Fred Nation said Saturday. “There has been great interest from most of the Champ Car teams. They will be welcomed with open arms as we have teams from CART (the forerunner of Champ Car) over the years. Already there is a wonderful sense of camaraderie and relief that this long family squabble is over.”
The IRL is planning a meeting Monday in Indianapolis for most of the Champ Car teams. A news conference to announce the details of the agreement, including additions to the 2008 schedule, is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday at the Homestead track, where the IRL will hold preseason testing Wednesday and Thursday.
None of the Champ Car teams will be there, but the IRL is expected to set up a special test for the newcomers at Homestead before the opener.
Even before Friday’s announcement that IRL founder Tony George and Champ Car co-owners Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe had signed off on the agreement to close down Champ Car and run as a unified series, teams were preparing to make the move.
The open-wheel rivalry lasted 12 years. The peace process began several weeks ago when George, also president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, offered any Champ Car team interested in switching to the IndyCar Series a free Honda engine lease program, free Dallara chassis and $1.2 million in team incentives.
Champ Car team owner Derrick Walker said last week he already put his Champ Car equipment at the back of his Indianapolis garage and was beginning to work on new IRL cars in preparation for the move.
“The path won’t be easy in the beginning, but Walker Racing is ready for the challenge,” Walker said. “It’s going to be a rough old ride because we don’t have the familiarity with the Dallaras and it’s a more experienced formula. The bottom line is that it’s great news.”
It is expected that the two-car Newman/Haas/Lanigan team that has won eight series championships, including the last four, will lead the move to the IRL from Champ Car.
Newman/Haas/Lanigan would bring 19-year-old American Graham Rahal, the son of longtime open-wheel star Bobby Rahal, and a budding open-wheel star, along with Englishman Justin Wilson as their drivers.
Today’s races
NASCAR SPRINT CUP
Auto Club 500
Site: Fontana, Calif.
TV: Fox, 1:30 p.m.
Track: California Speedway (D-shaped oval, 2 miles, 14 degrees banking in turns).
Race distance: 500 miles, 250 laps.
Fast facts: The Daytona 500 winner has gone on to win that season’s championship nine times in Cup history. . . . Matt Kenseth is seeking his third consecutive February win at Fontana. . . . Hendrick drivers had a tough afternoon at Daytona. Defending champion Jimmie Johnson finished 27th, Jeff Gordon was 39th and Casey Mears placed 35th after hitting the wall.
Next race: UAW-Dodge 400, March 2, Las Vegas.
On the Net:
NHRA
Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals
Site: Chandler, Ariz.
TV: ESPN2, 5 p.m., tape.
Track: Firebird International Raceway.
Fast facts: John Force, competing in his first event since his horrific crash at Texas Motorplex on Sept. 23, made the elimination field during the final qualifying session and advanced to the semifinals before losing to Robert Hight. Three of the four members of Team Force made it to the semifinals. . . . Tony Schumacher is second on the top fuel win list behind Joe Amato (52).
Next event: ACDelco Gatornationals, March 16, Gainesville, Fla.
On the Net:
