OT-CART/IRL back together again?

RPM2Night just reported that CART and the IRL might be forming one league in the near future. This is just speculation right now but it is very possible. Anyone else see this segment? Chris

Nothing on www.cart.com about it. Dunno, scary thought. But is this a league thats seperate of the CART/IRL leagues or is this a combination of CART/IRL or what? I think the combo of CART/IRL might run into problems with manufacturers since, on both sides of the fence, the manufacturers have sunk millions of dollars (or more) into their respective components.

I wouldn't bet on it. I'm surprised the IRL has lasted this long already. Aside from Indy, it doesn't appear that they are making any money. Just look at the stands at any IRL event. Virtually empty. Personally I think Tony George is a spoiled, power hungry little punk, if he had his way there would be no more CART. By the way, I was willing to travel anywhere in the US for the USGP, except Indy. Mr. George will not be getting any of my cash! Many others feel the same. I wish he'd give it up & let the "REAL" drivers race at Indy on Memorial Day weekend instead of a bunch of CART has- beens & backmarkers!!!! I don't even watch his little "Who Cares 500"anymore!

On Mon, 24 May 1999 07:49:40 -0500, "Chris Schletter" >CART/IRL or what? I think the combo of CART/IRL might run into problems >with manufacturers since, on both sides of the fence, the manufacturers have >sunk millions of dollars (or more) into their respective components. Chris, The stumbling block seemed to be about leasing vs buying the engines. The CART camp wanted to continue with the leasing whereas Tony George's group wanted their current arrangement of buying the engine from the manufacturer and then having work done either by the team or some outsourced engine builder. The CART engine companies did agree with the normally aspirated formula, though. Both these series really need to get together. Neither one is doing well compared to the Nascar package.

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>Just look at the >stands at any IRL event. Virtually empty. Personally I think Tony George is a >spoiled, power hungry little punk, if he had his way there would be no more >CART. By the way, I was willing to travel anywhere in the US for the USGP, >except Indy. Mr. George will not be getting any of my cash! Many others feel >the same. I wish he'd give it up & let the "REAL" drivers race at Indy on >Memorial Day weekend instead of a bunch of CART has- beens & backmarkers!!!! >I >don't even watch his little "Who Cares 500"anymore!

I don't know you, but we must have been separated at birth. Thank you for your on-the-money outburst! Trey Behan

I think this speculation is a result of a recent editorial in National Speed Sport News which conjecturred that the sale of Penske's tracks to the France family might spell the demise of CART's dates at those tracks, and, ultimately, the demise of CART. I personally don't see a CART/IRL reunification happening -- the IRL is a privately-owned company, and CART is a publicly-held organization, and getting everybody together (and pleasing CART's stockholders) would be like mixing oil and water. -- JB

John, The ownership status would be a barrier to "complete" unification. However, the Speedway and CART weren't unified prior to 1996 and all was peachy. Few people care who races at Long Beach or C***te. The key is Indy. If CART and the IRL have common car and engine specs, then the private/public ownership issue is moot. The whole issue around engine leases are, perhaps, a greater barrier. Which raises a question that you may be able to answer, John. If an IRL team uses a CompTech or Brayton engine, can they work on it? I've heard/read that they can't. Cheers, Jim Praying for sunny skies and an easy trip from the Speedway to Market Square Arena on Sunday for Pacers v. Knicks. What a great day to be a gun-totin', banjo-pickin', normally aspirated Hoosier!!!

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> I personally don't see a > CART/IRL reunification happening -- the IRL is a privately-owned > company, and CART is a publicly-held organization, and getting > everybody together (and pleasing CART's stockholders) would be like > mixing oil and water. > -- JB

Jim, Unfortunately, a primary symptom of the problem is that few people care who races at Long Beach or C***te. Unification is not going to solve that. What is really needed here, from either IRL or CART, is a good measure of showmanship and a focus on what their customers want. The France family over the years has understood that, and for that reason NASCAR has thrived. The differences that split CART from USAC and later caused the formation of IRL and trademark battles over the use of "Indycar" are at the core of the matter. First, for any of them there must be some leadership in the direction of customer service rather than the current fascination at the top of each of these three organizations with (1) getting richer quicker, (2) prowess in technical specifications, and (3) the racing itself. Bill France has let those issues develop as a result of business success. We won't see more open wheel racing (except the annual Memorial Day hypefests) on TV or in the newspapers than we do right now until someone with that vision gets involved. Maybe we can talk Bruton Smith into buying one of these. He will turn it into the circus that the paying public will buy into. Then, we can watch the racing aspects thrive. Sorry if I got a little longwinded while on my soapbox..... > John, > The ownership status would be a barrier to "complete" unification. However, the > Speedway and CART weren't unified prior to 1996 and all was peachy. Few people > care who races at Long Beach or C***te. The key is Indy. If CART and the IRL > have common car and engine specs, then the private/public ownership issue is moot. > The whole issue around engine leases are, perhaps, a greater barrier. Which > raises a question that you may be able to answer, John. If an IRL team uses a > CompTech or Brayton engine, can they work on it? I've heard/read that they can't. > Cheers, > Jim > Praying for sunny skies and an easy trip from the Speedway to Market Square Arena

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> on Sunday for Pacers v. Knicks. What a great day to be a gun-totin', > banjo-pickin', normally aspirated Hoosier!!! > > I personally don't see a > > CART/IRL reunification happening -- the IRL is a privately-owned > > company, and CART is a publicly-held organization, and getting > > everybody together (and pleasing CART's stockholders) would be like > > mixing oil and water. > > -- JB

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In rec.autos.sport.indy (I think) there was a huge thing about this. IMO, reunification would be a GREAT move. I live in Phoenix, so I'll give you my example. When the CART guys came here, the stands were full. Not packed beyond capacity like at the NASCAR races, but full. Now, after Buddy Jobe sold the track to ISC and the IRL cars have been coming here, even the USAC Silver Crown weekend brings more people (don't get me wrong, I love the Silver Crown races!!!). It is downright EMPTY!!!! Empty like the stands at Qualifying for the 500 EMPTY!!! I imagine that ever since that screw-up in letting CART go, they have been losing lotsa money at the IRL race. As long as Tony George gets absolutely no say in whatever league survives, I'm all for it. -- Kirk Lane ICQ: 28171652 >I think this speculation is a result of a recent editorial in National >Speed Sport News which conjecturred that the sale of Penske's tracks >to the France family might spell the demise of CART's dates at those >tracks, and, ultimately, the demise of CART. I personally don't see a >CART/IRL reunification happening -- the IRL is a privately-owned >company, and CART is a publicly-held organization, and getting >everybody together (and pleasing CART's stockholders) would be like >mixing oil and water. >-- JB >>RPM2Night just reported that CART and the IRL might be forming one league in >>the near future. This is just speculation right now but it is very possible. >>Anyone else see this segment? >>Chris

It seems that at every track that CART was at before, the crowds have plummeted (Phoenix, Indy (at least for Qualifying)) but at the other tracks where a champ car has never burned ***, the IRL draws a decent crowd. -- Kirk Lane ICQ: 28171652 RMRL #119 >The one exception is Texas Motor Speedway. They consistently draw over >100,000 per race. About the same draw as a BGN race there. >The more I watch them, the more I view them as spares. Some of their >racing has been entertaining. >Bill France is brokering a deal and it is possible >(but not likely) the re-unified league would compete under the Nascar >umbrella. A good idea because of the stability of Nascar. >Tim. >>I wouldn't bet on it. I'm surprised the IRL has lasted this long >>already. Aside from Indy, it doesn't appear that they are making any >>money. Just look at the stands at any IRL event. Virtually empty. >>Personally I think Tony George is a spoiled, power hungry little punk, >>if he had his way there would be no more CART. By the way, I was willing >>to travel anywhere in the US for the USGP, except Indy. Mr. George will >>not be getting any of my cash! Many others feel the same. I wish he'd >>give it up & let the "REAL" drivers race at Indy on Memorial Day weekend >>instead of a bunch of CART has- beens & backmarkers!!!! I don't even >>watch his little "Who Cares 500"anymore!