Merger Imminent?

[Knowlesy]

It is inevitable that we can't fit everything we want into the first year and maybe not the second year. Short term pain (which ist isn't really, let's be honest) for long term gain and all that.

I see Kalkhoven and George are meeting up today to finalise things with the announcement tomorrow.

autosport speculate that they could run the Motegi and Long beach events the same day, but that both races would be run with the Indycar points system. Quite how that would be worked I don't know.

[Tim Northcutt]

It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over, Gang...

Read this interview with Paul Tracy

http://winnipegsun.com/Sports/OtherS...64010-sun.html

The Indy star also is reporting that the IRL and Cahmp car are supposed to sit down today (provided Kalkhoven arrives in Indy from London at a decent hour) to continue the talks to finalize the deal....

Like I said in my column late yesterday....I'll wait until all of the principal players are on the same podium to say "It's Over" before I'll believe it....

We've had talks come close in the past, only to have someone pull the rug out at the last minute to kill the deal.

[Stefvh]

Justin Wilson, Will Power and Graham Rahal suddenly appeared here, http://www.indycar.com/stats/drivers-a-to-z.php

[enemy-ace]

So is Test Transponder whoever that is.

[indycool]

Sounds like a Yank.....what do his stats say?

[gttouring]

well good thing the IRL is being positive of the changes and including everyone...
this is somewhere between waiting for Xmas morning and waiting to be called into the dentist chair. Oi!

[Down F0rce]

Looks like it really is happening then! Lets hope the rumor about the announcement tommorow is true...

Also, Test Transponder is an awesome name.

[stradlin21]

i said it before

until it's officially announced

i'm not believing anything, i'm looking forward to Homestead

whether it's just the IRL or if it's the merged series

[D.R.T.]

This latest LB / Motegi is a bit troublesome though.

If they HAVE to, run both for Indycar equipment. Allowing CC teams to earn some extra points and some extra $$$

[Dutton]

I'd settle initially for it happening. The details can work themselves out, rather than worrying too much about them until something actually happens.

It can't actually be about to happen, can it?

[lnin0]

I think the best thing would be they come out and announce a merger BUT that it will be in 2009. Then we know it is all a done deal way in advance and everyone can start to work on the cars, schedules and all that for 2009 while fulfilling all the contractual obligations they have this year with networks, cities, tracks, drivers, sponser etc.

No bridges are burned that way. During the 2008 season you could see some cross racing going on. Off weeks for IRL and some teams could get some loaners and run CCWS races. Same for the CCWS guys showing up at some off week IRL races and of course everyone getting together for the 500.

Then next year you come out swinging with everything correct - not this half a wreck they want to do this year that will create as many new bumps as it solves. Yeah, it means one more year of limping along but at least we all know the cast will be coming off.

[yamato]

Originally Posted by lnin0

I think the best thing would be they come out and announce a merger BUT that it will be in 2009. Then we know it is all a done deal way in advance and everyone can start to work on the cars, schedules and all that for 2009 while fulfilling all the contractual obligations they have this year with networks, cities, tracks, drivers, sponser etc.

No bridges are burned that way. During the 2008 season you could see some cross racing going on. Off weeks for IRL and some teams could get some loaners and run CCWS races. Same for the CCWS guys showing up at some off week IRL races and of course everyone getting together for the 500.

Then next year you come out swinging with everything correct - not this half a wreck they want to do this year that will create as many new bumps as it solves. Yeah, it means one more year of limping along but at least we all know the cast will be coming off.

I think that the truth may be that without the merger, CCWS will not be able to fulfill those contracts as it is. In reality, if there is no merger, CCWS may just have to fold, and then all the races are gone, and a few teams still make the switch. It appears as if it will happen one way or the other.

[cptkablamo]

Originally Posted by Stefvh

Justin Wilson, Will Power and Graham Rahal suddenly appeared here, http://www.indycar.com/stats/drivers-a-to-z.php

What once was there has gone! Someone realised the mistake!

[climb]

Originally Posted by lnin0

I think the best thing would be they come out and announce a merger BUT that it will be in 2009. Then we know it is all a done deal way in advance and everyone can start to work on the cars, schedules and all that for 2009 while fulfilling all the contractual obligations they have this year with networks, cities, tracks, drivers, sponser etc.

At this stage, waiting one year would deprive 2008 of any interest

Originally Posted by lnin0

No bridges are burned that way. During the 2008 season you could see some cross racing going on. Off weeks for IRL and some teams could get some loaners and run CCWS races. Same for the CCWS guys showing up at some off week IRL races and of course everyone getting together for the 500.

Why should IRL teams find it interesting to participate to a dying series? Only extra costs

Originally Posted by lnin0

Then next year you come out swinging with everything correct - not this half a wreck they want to do this year that will create as many new bumps as it solves. Yeah, it means one more year of limping along but at least we all know the cast will be coming off.

Respect your views but I don't agree: I'd rather see a bit of mess in an unified series since right now

[Stefvh]

Originally Posted by cptkablamo

What once was there has gone! Someone realised the mistake!

Test Transponder is still there.

[climb]

According to italiaracing.net:

http://italiaracing.net/notizia.asp?id=18082&cat=3

IRL and CC have released a joint statement

[indycool]

Yep...saw it on Indy TV last night.....progress was made but still working on it.....

[stradlin21]

if the merge goes through does it mean we all have to become friends?

[Tim Northcutt]

I don't expect a formal announcement before Monday.

The IRL and CCWS will not want to share the spotlight with other big stories, and there are two that will occur in Indy today:

1. Indiana University is expected to fire their basketball coach over NCAA violations he allegedly committed, and

2. Presidential candidate John McCain is coming to the city to host a "Town Hall Meeting" downtown.

One event happens in the late morning and the other is expected sometime this afternoon.

[indycool]

Agree, Tim.....along with that, they still apparently hafta agree on a couple things, then the lawyers gotta figure out what "is" is, etc.

[Bernard Bram]

Originally Posted by Tim Northcutt

2. Presidential candidate John McCain is coming to the city to host a "Town Hall Meeting" downtown.

So what's his role in the merger story then?

[Tim Northcutt]

The Indy Star is reporting that Kalkhoven has left Indianapolis to go to his home in Oakland...and a deal has not been finalized.

IRL and CCWS people continue to work on details that still need to be resolved...but there is concern that time is growing ever shorter as the days pass.

Link:

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl.../1052/SPORTS01


Like I've said in my column this week:

"It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over"

[nickyf1]

What happened to the G-Force/Panoz IRL chassis? They always looked better than the Dallara.

[BootsOntheSide]

Originally Posted by Tim Northcutt

I don't expect a formal announcement before Monday.

The IRL and CCWS will not want to share the spotlight with other big stories, and there are two that will occur in Indy today:

1. Indiana University is expected to fire their basketball coach over NCAA violations he allegedly committed, and

2. Presidential candidate John McCain is coming to the city to host a "Town Hall Meeting" downtown.

One event happens in the late morning and the other is expected sometime this afternoon.

Neither series has shown this kind of commercial common-sense in recent years, so delaying any announcement would be a good sign. Realistically, it's more likely that nothing is finalised yet.

[SPRacer]

Indycar.com headline:

DONE DEAL

http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=10557