rec.autos.simulators

CART and the IRL, who parted company in 1995, have conducted
face-to-face
talks that could bring the two racing circuits together again and put
the best
drivers back in the showcase Indianapolis 500.

"I can confirm that there have been some very informal talks with Tony
George," said Andrew Craig, president and CEO of Championship Auto
Racing
Teams. "However, I am not prepared to comment on any of the details."

Scott
PA-Scott
--
Scott B. Husted
ICQ# 4395450

Scottie

http://irlinsider.adnetweb.com/599tvfms.htm

-- JB

Tell me about it!  A buddy of mine and I went down to the race at Dover last
year, and I would be willing to bet that damn near 50% of the laps were run
under yellow.  Something like 7 drivers running at the checkered flag.  I think
only 2 were on the lead lap.......  Kinda like F1...... <g>.  Actually I love
F1, but it is getting very mundane as well.........

As you know we totally disagree on this issue <G>   However,  I do lean
towards your view that a reunification is going to be one tough job to get
done.  You also mention Tony George and Satan taking part in the
negotiations.  Here I thought they were the same person.  But we wont go
there ;)

The one thing this has going for it is Bill France.  Mr. France knows how to
get things done and I would never bet against him if he is serious in this
reunification.

I wonder if they remain seperate entities but somehow manage to work out an
agreement to get CART drivers back for just the Indy 500?  I have no idea how
but I think that is one of the BIG issues here beyond the individual series.

Time shall tell.

Scott
PA-Scott
High Gear Editor - "The View" (Coming June 1)
G.T.S. Racing - http://www.GTS-Racing.com

--
Scott B. Husted
ICQ# 4395450

------
"INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indy Racing League is no closer to ending its feud
with rival CART, despite talks aimed at bringing the two sides together, IRL's
president said Thursday.

In his most extensive comments on the 4-year-old split in American open-wheel
racing, Tony George accused CART of fueling reports of a reconciliation to
boost its stock price, soothe sponsors and divert attention from the Indianapolis

500.

While admitting once again that it would be difficult for both series to survive,

George said he got no indication of common ground at a meeting last week with
Andrew Craig, chief executive officer of Championship Auto Racing Teams.

"As long as we have different philosophies, we're never going to strike any kind
 of accord," George said. "I can't say I'm encouraged by anything we talked
about."
----------------

THIS GUY IS ON ***!!  (Leo Mehl)

"Those CART guys are very concerned with what's going on here. If they come back
here with the same engines we use, the same chassis, they'll get their doors
blown off."

ROFL - Yeah, by who ??    Billy "Ill make a lap sooner or later!" Boat???

-----------------------

INDY 500.   R.I.P.

--
Scott B. Husted
PA-Scott on TEN
G.T.S. Racing - http://www.racesimcentral.net/
High Gear "The View" Editor - http://www.racesimcentral.net/
http://www.racesimcentral.net/~sbhusted
ICQ# 4395450

<SNIP>

"So while the rest of you spin your wheels pondering the possibility
of an IRL/CART reunification under the guidance of Bill France, I'm
betting that Roger Penske will be busy trying to figure out how to
sign Jeff Gordon as the driver for the new American Eagle-Penske F1
car."

<END SNIP>

You may be right about the idea of a Penske F1 chassis being a crazy
idea -- I'm also sure that a lot of people would have said the same
thing about the idea of a Penske/Mercedes 209-pushrod engine before
April or May of '94, too.  Penske's recent lack of success in
developing a CART chassis doesn't mean his chassis operation is all
washed up -- for all we know, the '00 Penske champ car chassis may be
the thing to make the Reynards obsolete.  It could happen, given the
level of competitiveness in the CART series.  So, given that, why
automatically assume that the idea of a Penske F1 chassis is
ridiculous?  

Speaking of ridiculous, though, it seems you missed the point of the
editorial altogether -- my point was that if the upcoming F1 race does
overshadow the IRL and CART in the U.S., then both sides had better
bury the hatchet fast and make amends, before all we have left is
NASCAR and F1.

-- JB

In this sort of "National Racing League/American Racing League"
scenario, there might still be room for one division to use engine
leases, and the other division to allow engine ownership -- with the
engines also able to crossover from one division to the other, making
for some WILD manufacturer/engine builder competition.  

-- JB

As an aside, what kind of fool says that Penske developed the Indy
winning Mercedes engine? Unless my memory fails me, it was designed and
built at Ilmor Engineering like all the Merc engines. Okay so the Penske
designers had input on some parts but still...

Incidentally how is Penske American? Aren't the chassis designed and
built over here? Isn't the engine designed and built here and badged by a
German company? In fact I think the only American things about a Penske
champ car are the driver and tyres.

I think John has just crossed the line into insanity...

M

Penske masterminded the concept -- or Penske's people did, at least --
so he gets the credit by default.  FWIW, I'm also aware that Roger
does NOT personally lay up the carbon fiber tubs by hand, either.

Roger Penske is a U.S. citizen; Penske's enterprises are U.S.-based
corporations.  How much more American do you want?  You might as well
ask "How American is a Dodge Neon?"  Or, "How Japanese is a Honda
Accord?"  A Penske team with an American engine manufacturer's name on
the valve covers and an American driver would no doubt be an American
team.  

Just crossed the line?  Heck, I've lived there for years! <G>

FWIW, there have been rumors about a united Toyota/Penske F1 effort
(no, I'm not pulling this one out of my arse -- see last week's
National Speed Sport News).  With an American driver in the seat, it
would be "American" enough for most U.S. fans, I'm sure.

Scott
PA-Scott
--
Scott B. Husted
ICQ# 4395450