Long Beach to IRL?

[racinthestreets]

If Toyota is going to stay involved I would think they will be pushing to have their powerplants in the race and therefore the IRL as the series.

No question. It makes no common sense for Toyota to have any association with CCWS if they are remaining true to IRL in American open wheel racing. I am sure that TG loved the arrangement between Toyota and the The Toyota Atlantic Series.

If this does not happen and Toyota decides to end their sponsorship, is OWRS strong enough to attract a deep-pockets sponsor for this event?

Exactly JohnSSC!

Time will tell. I would think that LBGP would want to announce the new contract before or during the 2005 event, but, they very well could take a wait and see approach to see how the road racing of the IRL is received. I believe the the OWRS has a plan, and as we have seen of late they have determined to keep those plans out of the media - but in motion. Cheers OWRS

[indycool]

Well, not exactly "out of the media." When rumors started last spring about Long Beach going to the IRL, Gentilozzi told the media OWRS would run a street race in LA opposite it.

[Rollin thunder]

If Toyota wants to get Long Beach, then why does the article below say, they're gonna leave the IRL in 2006?

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...unt.62d5a.html

[indycool]

Because that article DOESN'T say that. That article says it's a possibility. It says about the same as Mark C. is saying and others have been rumoring for more than a year. It quotes nobody from Toyota as saying "we're gone after 2006." No Toyota official has ever even hinted at it.

[paul-collins]

Here's what it says, exactly:

But Toyota's lack of success in the IRL this year, and its growing success in the truck series, has fueled increased speculation that Toyota will enter Nextel Cup soon.

Toyota's contract with the IRL runs through the 2006 season. The investment it would take to run in Cup, at least $100 million, could force Toyota to make an either/or decision on Cup and the IRL by 2007.

Couldn't they just shave off the extra VIP stuff from their F1 program to fund the IRL run?

[indycool]

http://www.speedtv.com/commentary/13495/

[Flatspot]

This thread has gone seriously off topic. I personally don't really care what may happens to the IRL or Toyota within it. When there is speculation that they may be coming back to Champ Car or that they are out of Long Beach, then the discussion should be on this forum. In the meantime, Toyota's plight in running circles should be on the other board. Thanks for listening to my rant.

[macdaddy]

Flatspot's Rant:
Toyota's plight in running circles should be on the other board.

Absolutely right, and thanks for that.

[paul-collins]

Actually, it's still relevant. Toyota is the prime sponsor of LBGP. Without a prime sponsor of this magnitude (albeit not necessarily Toyota), LBGP doesn't happen. So

1. the race could go on as it is,
2. Toyota could switch series,
3. Toyota could push LBGP to switch series, or
4. LBGP could get another sponsor, at which time the same questions will be asked.

Simple, right?

Anyway, for 2005 Michaelean has confirmed OWRS. The discussion of LBGP's future is really for next year's silly season.

[Flatspot]

double post. Sorry

[Flatspot]

Yes paul it is simple. If the last few posts had been about items a-d I wouldn't have said anything, except they weren't. Thanks for keeping me in check.