IRL and CHampCar to merge

[Shamrock]

Announcement to come Friday, but it looks more like a hostile takeover than a merger.

http://sports.yahoo.com/irl/news?slug=txindycarmerger&prov=st&type=lgns

[stncttr908]

The only chance open wheel racing has stateside against NASCAR is a merger/takeover. However, if they take the cars completely off street/road courses and put them on ovals I still won't care. Aside from the 500, these cars belong on road courses.

[bigC]

The only chance open wheel racing has stateside against NASCAR is a merger/takeover. However, if they take the cars completely off street/road courses and put them on ovals I still won't care. Aside from the 500, these cars belong on road courses.QFT.

i'm not a big fan of oval racing either, and if they race mostly on ovals, i will exclusively watch F1. also, if they cancel the race in Toronto, which is likely since it conflicts with a current IRL race date, then i'll likely won't follow the sport any longer. they're also talking about canceling the Montreal race.

[Shamrock]

From what I've read...when they merge, not this year, but in 2009, they will have 9 ovals, 11 road courses.

[stncttr908]

I could live with that.

[Shamrock]

It's official, but with a twist. IRL couldn't move the Motegi race, so that weekend, Champcar will race Long Beach, and the IRL will race Motegi, both receiving respective points. After that, then Champcar will be absorbed.

[slaWter]

So Champ Car teams have to get and learn the new car very quickly.
Those are different cars, right?

[Shamrock]

Correct. But the IRL is giving Champ Cars an extra test weekend to get "up to speed".

[slaWter]

Man that's gonna be tough for those teams and drivers!