mikiec
21st February 2008, 09:43
From the Indy Star
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080221/SPORTS0107/802210498/1247/SPORTS
[quote="Curt Calvin"]The racing executives negotiating a unification of open-wheel racing intend to meet today in Indianapolis, hoping to resolve the last remaining issues standing in the way of an agreement.
Kevin Kalkhoven, a co-owner of the Champ Car World Series, said Wednesday he does not anticipate any insurmountable obstacles.
"It's just grinding out the details," he said of his exchange with Indy Racing League founder Tony George.
Kalkhoven is expected to arrive from London, where he has spent the past few days attending to family business. George could not be reached for comment, but his spokesman said a news conference to announce unification could come as early as Friday.
"There is still no deal, they're still negotiating, and there will be no announcement (today)," Fred Nation said. "But maybe we can do this Friday if everything goes well."
Asked what issues remained, Nation said: "Almost everything has a financial component to it."
Still to be resolved is the April 19-20 weekend that currently shows an IRL race in Motegi, Japan, and a Champ Car race in Long Beach, Calif., the latter of which has a contract that must be executed.
Jim Michaelian, Long Beach Grand Prix president and chief executive officer, said Wednesday he is still awaiting unification notice and final details.
Michaelian said he is aware one option is to stage both races as planned. If that happens, Champ Car's teams and its cars would go to Long Beach and its participants would receive the same number of points as the IRL drivers receive for racing in Japan.
Another option would be for the IRL to cancel the Japan event even though tickets are already on sale.
"Long term this is all very positive," Michaelian said of unification. "We're all looking very forward to showcasing Marco Andretti, Graham Rahal, Danica Patrick and Helio Castroneves while mixing it with a little bit of Paul Tracy. Add Justin Wilson and Tony Kanaan to that and you've got a bunch of interesting characters."
With only three races on the 2008 Champ Car schedule -- Long Beach]
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080221/SPORTS0107/802210498/1247/SPORTS
[quote="Curt Calvin"]The racing executives negotiating a unification of open-wheel racing intend to meet today in Indianapolis, hoping to resolve the last remaining issues standing in the way of an agreement.
Kevin Kalkhoven, a co-owner of the Champ Car World Series, said Wednesday he does not anticipate any insurmountable obstacles.
"It's just grinding out the details," he said of his exchange with Indy Racing League founder Tony George.
Kalkhoven is expected to arrive from London, where he has spent the past few days attending to family business. George could not be reached for comment, but his spokesman said a news conference to announce unification could come as early as Friday.
"There is still no deal, they're still negotiating, and there will be no announcement (today)," Fred Nation said. "But maybe we can do this Friday if everything goes well."
Asked what issues remained, Nation said: "Almost everything has a financial component to it."
Still to be resolved is the April 19-20 weekend that currently shows an IRL race in Motegi, Japan, and a Champ Car race in Long Beach, Calif., the latter of which has a contract that must be executed.
Jim Michaelian, Long Beach Grand Prix president and chief executive officer, said Wednesday he is still awaiting unification notice and final details.
Michaelian said he is aware one option is to stage both races as planned. If that happens, Champ Car's teams and its cars would go to Long Beach and its participants would receive the same number of points as the IRL drivers receive for racing in Japan.
Another option would be for the IRL to cancel the Japan event even though tickets are already on sale.
"Long term this is all very positive," Michaelian said of unification. "We're all looking very forward to showcasing Marco Andretti, Graham Rahal, Danica Patrick and Helio Castroneves while mixing it with a little bit of Paul Tracy. Add Justin Wilson and Tony Kanaan to that and you've got a bunch of interesting characters."
With only three races on the 2008 Champ Car schedule -- Long Beach]