So when are we gonna hear from Forsythe?

[nigelred5]

I've tried to be patient for tomorrow's press conference, but come on? Not so much as a statement? GF must still be trying to swallow that pill.

[MSG1]

GF tends to be a rather quiet personality and I am not expecting him to speak out. At some point his team will likely make a statement, likely after Wednesday's official announcement/press conference by the IRL.

[DBell]

I agree with both of you. It's a big pill he's trying to swallow and he doesn't tend to say much in the press. PT said last weekend he didn't know if he had a ride or not. I guess we'll know when PT knows. He's not shy about speaking.

[dataman1]

I remember reading a statement from Kenny Seewig, Forsythe Team Manager, that they would be racing someplace but Mr. Forsythe had to tell them which series. I have read so many items since RM's article I can't remember when or where I saw the statement.

Add to that, the IndyStar reporting that "all nine CCWS teams" attended the meeting at IMS yesterday indicates a representative from Forsythe was there. Doesn't mean they will race in IRL but at least they showed some interest. Gerry is a competitor who wants to win. I bet he shows up.

[Rogelio]

I can not imagine why Forsythe would not want to fund a team. He is certainly going to spend as much as he was before. Here has an opportunity to be at the Indy 500 again.

[bennybigb]

Hmmmm.

I too wonder why Mr. Forsythe wouldn't want to field an IRL team, maybe because he doesn't like the IRL?

[JasonD]

I wouldnt be surprised if GF pulls out and sells the team. I hope he doesnt but he might be at that point now. Who would he sell it too? I havent a clue maybe I'll start a Villeneuve rumor of him buying the team with Berry Green.

[BobGarage]

Who would he sell it too?

PT! he'd make a great team owner when he gets out the car!

[DBell]

Why not PT and JV together. Now that would be an interesting team.

[ChicagocrewIRL]

and if Forsythe does end up in the IRL, how many races will he attend ???

He was basically an absentee owner last season, by all accounts.

[Rogelio]

PT! he'd make a great team owner when he gets out the car!

I like the idea. I am PT fan and I would love to see him as an owner. His years are numbered, so why not start up a team.

[newf66]

Why not PT and JV together. Now that would be an interesting team.

"Free hockey helmets all around" I'm guessing.

I wonder if those two get along.

[heelntoe]

Hmmmm.

I too wonder why Mr. Forsythe wouldn't want to field an IRL team, maybe because he doesn't like the IRL?

Or, because after losing tens of millions between CART and OWRS/CCWS trying to be the biggest winner, he'd rather not go to the other side looking like the biggest loser before a wheel turns.

[CCFan]

Or, because after losing tens of millions between CART and OWRS/CCWS trying to be the biggest winner, he'd rather not go to the other side looking like the biggest loser before a wheel turns.

You might have something there, Heel.

[Ruben Barrios]

Maybe he is buddhist now

[-Helix-]

Hopefully he brings a team with him to the unified series. Forsythe had a popular team back in the CART era and it'd be unfortunate to see a team that's been in the sport so long cease to exist.

[Turn-In]

and if Forsythe does end up in the IRL, how many races will he attend ???

He was basically an absentee owner last season, by all accounts.



It doesn't matter if he is there or not. He doesn't do race strategy and he doesn't engineer the car, so if he isn't there, they are not missing a vital piece...

[nigelred5]

Some team owners are absent all the time. Isn't it obvious that there had been some significant personality issues in CCWS management since it's inception? Don't you think GF could have made it down from Chicago to sign the agreement in person at the same time as KK? He obviously met with TG to sign it, so I'm not so convinced that it is TG that GF has had the problems with lately.

Unfortunately, in reality GF hasn't had a sponsor since the CART days with Players. I know, he owns Indek but that apparently hasn't been enough.

[garyshell]

Some team owners are absent all the time. Isn't it obvious that there had been some significant personality issues in CCWS management since it's inception? Don't you think GF could have made it down from Chicago to sign the agreement in person at the same time as KK? He obviously met with TG to sign it, so I'm not so convinced that it is TG that GF has had the problems with lately.


The report was that KK flew to Chicago for GF to sign the papers.

Gary

[Chris R]

I thought I read that TG flew to Chicago to get the papers signed not KK.... although, I guess it does not matter all that much!! :)

[BobGarage]

The report was that KK flew to Chicago for GF to sign the papers.

Gary

no, TG flew to Chicago to see Jerry

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/open-wheel-unification-announced/



a press release was issued as George was flying back from Chicago where he visited Forsythe

[garyshell]

no, TG flew to Chicago to see Jerry

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/open-wheel-unification-announced/

I stand corrected. I had read an earlier report, which I just tried to find without success, that it was KK who had shuttled the papers to Chicago.

Gary

[JasonD]

I stand corrected. I had read an earlier report, which I just tried to find without success, that it was KK who had shuttled the papers to Chicago.

Gary

And werent you just slamming someone else the other day for not having their facts straight. :rolleyes:

[garyshell]

And werent you just slamming someone else the other day for not having their facts straight. :rolleyes:


Do you really want me to go dig up the article or post which said KK was the one who flew to Chicago? This is hardly the same issue as someone suggesting that the drivers would be put in Dallaras for the first time when they hit the grid at Long Beach, which is precisely the circumstance under which I suggested someone need to get the facts straight. A little different situation don't you think? I never suggested that poster couldn't make an honest mistake, I suggest he was talking out his ...

Gary

[veeten]

a better question...

Has anyone seen Mr. Newman? :look:

and I don't mean Ryan, either... ;) :p :

[cartpix]

a better question...

Has anyone seen Mr. Newman? :look:

and I don't mean Ryan, either... ;) :p :


I didn't see Justin Wilson at the press conference & I think he would have stood out. I didn't see graham, either, but then again, he could have blended in better on that little computer player, I was watching.

But back to Forsythe. The guy who was standing behind Brian Barnhart, in theorange shirt, I think, is one of Gerry's guys. I've seen him A LOT around the Forsythe pits, in the past.

Jeff

[pits4me]

and if Forsythe does end up in the IRL, how many races will he attend ???

He was basically an absentee owner last season, by all accounts.

Considering he has several business irons in the fire, one would not expect anything less.

[bblocker68]

I didn't see Justin Wilson at the press conference & I think he would have stood out. I didn't see graham, either, but then again, he could have blended in better on that little computer player, I was watching.

But back to Forsythe. The guy who was standing behind Brian Barnhart, in theorange shirt, I think, is one of Gerry's guys. I've seen him A LOT around the Forsythe pits, in the past.

Jeff

Graham was there. He was on the stage behind KK for the introduction and hand shake.

[edv]

Graham was there. He was on the stage behind KK for the introduction and hand shake.
And Nelson Phillipe was there, too.
I have read nothing about him making a comeback.
Anyone have news about him?

[cartpix]

Graham was there. He was on the stage behind KK for the introduction and hand shake.

Yep, Just watched the Speed broadcast. Also I was wrong about the guy in the orange shirt. He's KK's guy, not GF's. Duh, he's Eidswick. Sometimes I'm kinda dense.

Jeff

[nigelred5]

did I miss something??
from Mark C's report on the press conference

"Also in the mix are three teams that fielded two cars in Champ Car last season: Forsythe Pettit Racing, Team Minardi USA and Pacific Coast Motorsports"

When did Pettit hook up with Forsythe??

[BobGarage]

did I miss something??

When did Pettit hook up with Forsythe??

26th November 2007..


heres the press release



INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- (Nov. 26, 2007) -- Two of the most competitive teams in the Champ Car World Series will combine operations for the 2008 season.

Forsythe Championship Racing owner Jerry Forsythe and RuSport owner Dan Pettit announced today that they will combine operations and run under the banner of Forsythe/Pettit Racing beginning with the 2008 season.

Forsythe, a co-owner of the Champ Car World Series, said: "I am pleased to announce the combination of Forsythe Championship Racing and RuSport Racing. I know that Dan (Pettit) and I share the same goal and that is to compete for a championship. This partnership will enable us to do that and I look forward to a successful season for Forsythe/Pettit Racing in 2008 and for many years to come."

Pettit, who purchased RuSport last season from Carl Russo and also serves as a co-owner of the Champ Car World Series, said: "I am thrilled to be partnering with Jerry Forsythe. The entire Forsythe team has experience competing at the highest levels and winning championships. I think combining our efforts will give us a team that can contend for a title immediately."

Forsythe Racing is one of the most successful teams in the history of Champ Car having amassed 32 wins, 34 poles and one championship in 16 years of competition. The team, which began operations in 1983, but took a hiatus from 1985 until 1993, has campaigned such well-known drivers as: Teo Fabi, who in 1983 won four races and captured six poles, including the Indianapolis 500, and went on to place second in the Champ Car standings; Jacques Villeneuve, one win, finished second at the 1994 Indy 500 and was "Rookie of the Year" at both Indy and for the Series; the late Greg Moore, five wins; Patrick Carpentier, five wins; Alex Tagliani; Paul Tracy, 12 wins and the Series championship in 2003; and A.J. Allmendinger, who scored five wins in just nine starts in 2006. Last year, Forsythe Championship Racing campaigned four different drivers. Oriol Servia made 11 starts placing sixth in the points, while Paul Tracy had one victory (Cleveland). Mario Dominguez and David Martinez also contested races.

RuSport joined the Champ Car World Series in 2004 and has quickly risen to become one of the top teams in the Series. It has scored four wins in four seasons and finished second in the championship standings the last two years with driver Justin Wilson. In their inaugural season, Allmendinger finished sixth in the standings and captured the Roshfrans Rookie-of-the-Year award. In 2005, former Formula 1 driver Wilson joined the team and he and Allmendinger formed a dynamic duo contending for the championship and race wins all season. Wilson scored the team's first two victories that year and eventually placed third in the championship with Allmendinger finishing fifth. The following year, Wilson notched another win and captured the first of his two runner-up showings in the final standings (2006 and 2007). This past year he earned the team's fourth win (Assen, Holland).

Forsythe/Pettit Racing, which will operate out of the Forsythe Championship Racing Indianapolis-based shop, is expected to announce its 2008 driver line-up soon.

The 2008 Champ Car World Series season will consist of 14 races, six in the U. S., three in Canada, three in Europe and one in both Australia and Mexico City. The season opens on April 20 with the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

[nigelred5]

Yup, sure missed that. I was pissed off and tuned out at that time.

[nigelred5]

Well, I guess we just heard what I have suspected we were going to hear.

[garyshell]

Well, I guess we just heard what I have suspected we were going to hear.


Huh? What did we just hear?

Gary

EDITED: Oh never mind this was the first thread I saw this afternoon. I saw the others now!

[dataman1]

Forsythe spent some hefty dollars at the end of 2007 season to lure Kenny Seewig away from NHL. I wonder what he will end up doing. If you didn't know Kenny was the team manager that called races for Sebastian.

[Ruben Barrios]

great situation... screwing your employees and drivers because he still holds a grudge!! Could have told PT two weeks ago couldn't he? Again PT has to hear it from Mickelwright... Only people who have something to hide send news without talking face to face with the people they just $^cked!!
If he was so pissed he had the choice not to sign...

[nigelred5]

That Southwest getaway fares commercial comes to mind right now. GF should be happy Vegas is a long flight away from Chicago right now.

[weeflyonthewall]

I can not imagine why Forsythe would not want to fund a team. He is certainly going to spend as much as he was before. Here has an opportunity to be at the Indy 500 again.


Actually it costs much more to run IndyCar than CCWS. Then there's the crash damage and part degradation changing from oval stagger to street/road set-up. GF was never much of an oval guy was he?

[weeflyonthewall]

Forsythe spent some hefty dollars at the end of 2007 season to lure Kenny Seewig away from NHL. I wonder what he will end up doing. If you didn't know Kenny was the team manager that called races for Sebastian.

May not have been wasted. There are other opportunities. Oh, did anyone mention another open wheel series that may be filling in CC's schedule for 2008? A1GP or SuperLeague?