PG says no CC teams might go to IRL

[mikiec]

From Curt Calvin at the Indianapolis Star....
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080219/SPORTS0107/802190444/1052/SPORTS01

Standout paragraph (for me)....

Gentilozzi said Champ Car’s owners have a document in their possession to vote on, and a decision could come as early as today. Bankruptcy is among the options they could consider. Gentilozzi did not discuss the document’s details, but it likely centers on bankruptcy of the series they purchased in 2004.



The four owners of the Champ Car World Series could decide the fate of the Indianapolis-based series today, but one of them offered a word of caution.

Paul Gentilozzi doesn’t expect to see very many, if any, Champ Car teams in the Indy Racing League this season.
“I don’t know of a Champ Car team that is a go,” Gentilozzi said today. ̶( One owner) told me he’d run (the Indianapolis 500), but he will not run the season.”
Walker Racing is the only Champ Car team that has confirmed its interest in joining the IRL, but team owner Derrick Walker reiterated today that he still doesn’t have the financial backing to make the move.

Said Gentilozzi of moving his Rocketsports team to the IRL: “I can’t make the numbers work.”

Gentilozzi said his Brazilian driver and sponsor aren’t interested in oval-track racing, which is the cornerstone of the IRL.

Gentilozzi said Champ Car’s owners have a document in their possession to vote on, and a decision could come as early as today. Bankruptcy is among the options they could consider. Gentilozzi did not discuss the document’s details, but it likely centers on bankruptcy of the series they purchased in 2004.

Gerald Forsythe, Kevin Kalkhoven and Dan Pettit are the other owners of the series.
David Higdon, Champ Car’s executive vice president of strategic development, said there will be no announcement today.

“We’re in the same position we were last week: Discussions are being held, but nothing is done,” he said. “We’re continuing to operate as Champ Car. We should know imminently which direction we’re heading.”

Meanwhile, IRL officials are making plans to accommodate Champ Car teams, just in case.

Brian Barnhart, the president of the IRL’s competition division, said today that league founder Tony George, who is negotiating a possible reconciliation with Champ Car’s owners, has asked him to determine which IRL teams have cars and equipment to spare.

Barnhart noted at least 60 cars owned by various IRL teams. Ten are owned by Vision Racing, which George owns.

̶( He) has me talking with these teams about chassis, but he does not have (anyone) buying it yet,” Barnhart said of George.

Walker Racing is believed to be the only Champ Car team that has an IRL chassis in its possession, but it is on loan from an IRL team.

George has been in talks with Champ Car’s owners since November, and talks have picked up steam in recent weeks. George has not set a deadline for a decision, but the IRL’s first race is March 29 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The IRL is scheduled to test at the Homestead track next week. Barnhart said a later test is being arranged for Champ Car teams that make the switch to the IRL.
George could not be reached for comment.

Said Barnhart: “I still think there is some work (to do), and they are still talking.”
Walker said everyone continues to play a wait-and-see game.

“I’ve heard everything from a deal is very imminent to the possibility of one or two (Champ Car owners) being resistant,” he said. “I’d guess that anybody in Champ Car who can pursue an IRL program is at this point.”

[gofastandwynn]

From Curt Calvin at the Indianapolis Star....
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080219/SPORTS0107/802190444/1052/SPORTS01

Standout paragraph (for me)....

Yea, listen to Gentlozzi, he hasn't come back to haunt. you in the past.

PG says “I don’t know of a Champ Car team that is a go,”.

OK, but then Paul Tracy says:

“I’m supposed to fly in Indy later this week to get fitted for a seat and then we’re going to have to thrash to make it to the first test in Homestead,”

So clearly one of the CC owners is coming over and PG says he knows nothing about. Sounds about right. Thank God he isn't coming over IMHO...

[heelntoe]

Yea, listen to Gentlozzi, he hasn't come back to haunt. you in the past.

PG says “I don’t know of a Champ Car team that is a go,”.

OK, but then Paul Tracy says:

“I’m supposed to fly in Indy later this week to get fitted for a seat and then we’re going to have to thrash to make it to the first test in Homestead,”

So clearly one of the CC owners is coming over and PG says he knows nothing about. Sounds about right. Thank God he isn't coming over IMHO...

Amen! This is NOTHING more than the worst guy of CCWS making his final whine as he won't be getting a handout any longer. And, as he was probabaly the guy who pushed the hardest to get GF and DP to hold out since he apparently has no option.Let's hear what Sanguin has to say about this!

[cartpix]

PG is a tool! Any other time he has opened his yapper, people cringe Maybe the numbers don't work, for him. I think free chassis & $1+ million offered by TG, are numbers that work for the undersponsored & underfunded CC teams (read: most of them).

Jeff

[SoCalPVguy]

Two people a combined series can do without:

AJ Foyt, Paul Gentilozzi

Addition by subtraction.

[mikiec]

Don't get me wrong, I totally agree with everything you guys are saying... I just found the article and posted it for everyone to see and discuss.


Maybe the numbers don't work, for him. I think free chassis & $1+ million offered by TG, are numbers that work for the undersponsored & underfunded CC teams (read: most of them).

What else does PG want?? Bus fare to get to the track???!!!

[ChaimWitz]

This does not surprise me since dear old Paulie G-String will soon end up as the irrelevant tiny footnote to racing history that he deserves to be. He is the voice of spite and evil so I never trust a word he says. I usually bet against him... and I almost always end up smiling.

[McLovin]

PG = Sanguin????....both are in a "state of denial" :D :p : :s mokin:

[BobGarage]

What else does PG want?? Bus fare to get to the track???!!!

the ability to destroy as third series, just as he did with Trans-Am and Champ Car?? ;)

[McLovin]

the ability to destroy as third series, just as he did with Trans-Am and Champ Car?? ;)

That will be his legacy...and of course, how he eclipsed Mark Donahue's record for most wins in TA. :eek: :vader:

[Ruben Barrios]

3 time's a charm...

[PSfan]

PG is a tool! Any other time he has opened his yapper, people cringe Maybe the numbers don't work, for him. I think free chassis & $1+ million offered by TG, are numbers that work for the undersponsored & underfunded CC teams (read: most of them).

Jeff

Hate to side with PG, and not in regards to the running of his team, but the numbers I read don't add up in my head either:

Taking Walker racing for example. He recently made claims that he would run Power in CCWS if they ran the season, or IRL in case of a merger, he is also looking for sponsorship to run a car in IRL. Whats the relevancy? Well he must have been prepared to run 2 cars in champ if he offered Matos a deal? So let me get this straight, if gotten 2 mil from Matos he would be running 2 cars in a series, but $1.2 (And thats if its for the team and not per car...) isn't enough to continue his sponsor hunt for a 2 car team in IRL...

I'm inclined to believe Millers free cars and money is slightly off the mark, and its Probably 1.2mil but I can sell you a new and used chassis for that much... Other words one or the other...

[Chris R]

sounds pretty much like sour grapes to me.... good riddance.....

as for Foyt and his little tantrum - it would be unfortunate to lose him, yes he is pretty much the "Vegas" Elvis these days - but he is a legend in AOWR and his presence would be an asset to the series.....

and for those who think TG "won" the war - one only has to listen to AJ to get the distinct impression it is a very hollow "victory" indeed since NOTHING the original IRL stood for is intact except TG as "leader" and as much as he wanted more control, I am not sure that was really the primary part of his "vision":
american cars - nope
american drivers - nope
american motors - nope
all ovals - nope
all us tracks - nope
no engine leases - nope
lower costs - maybe relative to 1995 - but no different than competition
pretty much the only part of his original plan intact is the Indy 500 at the head of the pack......
so no one really wins - perhaps this merger has a chance after all.....

[Cart750hp]

Let me make it easy:

-PG says "no teams might go"?
Who cares about his opinion now? What happened to his opinion during rebuilding CC? This guy is the lord of the fanatics so I wouldn't be surprised if he's doing his brainwashing thing to his fellow fanatics.

-PG says, "his sponsors are not interested in ovals"
Really? So...does that mean he will move his team in ALMS or in Rolex? Do it. Might consider moving to Brazil.

-PG says, "maybe for Indy 500"
Ah, I knew it. That's just the old way of saying, "I'll hang around. Until you pay me more, that's when I'll race with you".

I do challenge any CC owners, teams, and associates that if they disagree with IRL, open your own series or join somewhere else. Don't make this merger it's about you. IMO of course.

[Danimal]

This Will Not Fix Major Open Wheel Racing In North America! -- This Will Only Take Away From It! There Will Be No Road America, No Laguna Seca, No Australia, No Portland, No Cleveland............The "new" Series Will Still Be Indy Car, Only With Long Beach, and Maybe A Couple Of Other Races......Long Beach Is All Tony Really Wants.

If This Were A True Business Merger, With True Business People, The Two Series Would Run As One Series The First 1-3 Years With Both Chassis & Engine Packages, and All The Races............After At Least 1 Year, They Could Start Selling Off Assets They Feel Are Not Profitable, Open Wheel Racing Will Then Be What It Should Be: - 18-20 Races, 20 - 26 Drivers From Allover The World With Worldwide Sponsors.............Sound Like CART Back In The Mid 90's???............If You Look Back At The History of Open Wheel Racing In The Modern Era, That Was When Open Wheel Racing Was Actually More Pleasing To People Than NASCAR!

Also, Here Is A Thought: Has Anyone Thought About The Atlantics?.......They Are A Better Funded Series Than Champ Car or Indy Car...........Maybe The People In Charge Of The Atlantics Series Should Run a Merged Series??....Just A Thought!

PS: I Know I Am A New Poster Here!

[BobGarage]

Also, Here Is A Thought: Has Anyone Thought About The Atlantics?.......They Are A Better Funded Series Than Champ Car or Indy Car...........Maybe The People In Charge Of The Atlantics Series Should Run a Merged Series??....Just A Thought!

you know that Champ Car run the Atlantics right?

[cartpix]

Don't get me wrong, I totally agree with everything you guys are saying... I just found the article and posted it for everyone to see and discuss.



What else does PG want?? Bus fare to get to the track???!!!

Sorry if it sounded like I was shooting the messenger.

We all have to remember, Paul has done his best to derail other mergers. If CC merges, he won't be an "owner" anymore. After all, we saw what he did, when he owned Trans Am.

Jeff

[IMSA_Dude]

the ability to destroy as third series, just as he did with Trans-Am and Champ Car?? ;) [ darth ]The ability to destroy a series is insignificant, next to the power of The Farce(tm)! [ /darth ]

YOU HAVE NO CHANCE TO SURVIVE MAKE YOUR TIME.

ALL YOUR CHAMPCAR ARE BELONG TO US!

[ChaimWitz]

This Will Not Fix Major Open Wheel Racing In North America! -- This Will Only Take Away From It! There Will Be No Road America, No Laguna Seca, No Australia, No Portland, No Cleveland............The "new" Series Will Still Be Indy Car, Only With Long Beach, and Maybe A Couple Of Other Races......Long Beach Is All Tony Really Wants.

If This Were A True Business Merger, With True Business People, The Two Series Would Run As One Series The First 1-3 Years With Both Chassis & Engine Packages, and All The Races............After At Least 1 Year, They Could Start Selling Off Assets They Feel Are Not Profitable, Open Wheel Racing Will Then Be What It Should Be: - 18-20 Races, 20 - 26 Drivers From Allover The World With Worldwide Sponsors.............Sound Like CART Back In The Mid 90's???............If You Look Back At The History of Open Wheel Racing In The Modern Era, That Was When Open Wheel Racing Was Actually More Pleasing To People Than NASCAR!

Also, Here Is A Thought: Has Anyone Thought About The Atlantics?.......They Are A Better Funded Series Than Champ Car or Indy Car...........Maybe The People In Charge Of The Atlantics Series Should Run a Merged Series??....Just A Thought!

PS: I Know I Am A New Poster Here!

Danimal, welcome to Purgatory. All interesting thoughts but the fact is that the OWRS bunch have done a fine job of proving that they are not business people when it comes to the racing business. My sense is that the right things will happen over time but that all this mayhem is happening now because the OWRS group is imploding. So, sadly there in no other way. Good thought about Atlantics, however. They seem to have their act together despite all the chaos around them.

[tbyars]

This Will Not Fix Major Open Wheel Racing In North America! -- This Will Only Take Away From It! There Will Be No Road America, No Laguna Seca, No Australia, No Portland, No Cleveland............The "new" Series Will Still Be Indy Car, Only With Long Beach, and Maybe A Couple Of Other Races......Long Beach Is All Tony Really Wants.

Danimal, with all respect, I don't think you really get it. At this point, it doesn't look like there will be CC races at any of those places anyway, merger or not. CC DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY!

Read the press coming out of Australia. If the IRL wants to run there, they are willing to accomodate. If they don't, they aren't looking to have CCWS anyway. Whether there is a merger or not!


If This Were A True Business Merger, With True Business People, The Two Series Would Run As One Series The First 1-3 Years With Both Chassis & Engine Packages, and All The Races............After At Least 1 Year, They Could Start Selling Off Assets They Feel Are Not Profitable, Open Wheel Racing Will Then Be What It Should Be: - 18-20 Races, 20 - 26 Drivers From Allover The World With Worldwide Sponsors

Exactly who has said this is a true merger? That is simply a wet dream of some of the Fanitics. It's not; it's an absorption. It's not a merger because CCWS doesn't look like they can put on another season without spending a boatload of money the owners just don't want to spend!

CCWS has failed, based on the weakness of the management team. When you fail like that, you don't get to make many of the rules in the "afterlife."


Also, Here Is A Thought: Has Anyone Thought About The Atlantics?.......They Are A Better Funded Series Than Champ Car or Indy Car...........Maybe The People In Charge Of The Atlantics Series Should Run a Merged Series??....Just A Thought!

Frankly, I hope Vicki gets a shot to just take her series back over, no questions asked. If she does, I'm not worried about her in the least. She'll flourish.

[SoCalPVguy]

If This Were A True Business Merger, With True Business People, The Two Series Would Run As One Series The First 1-3 Years With Both Chassis & Engine Packages, and All The Races............After At Least 1 Year, They Could Start Selling Off Assets They Feel Are Not Profitable, Open Wheel Racing Will Then Be What It Should Be: - 18-20 Races, 20 - 26 Drivers From Allover The World With Worldwide Sponsors.............Sound Like CART Back In The Mid 90's???............If You Look Back At The History of Open Wheel Racing In The Modern Era, That Was When Open Wheel Racing Was Actually More Pleasing To People Than NASCAR!

Wecome to the jungle !!! Your ideas on how to merge two series are correct IF you can make the assumption that 1) it is a merger between equals and 2) there is time to implement a long-term solution as you outlined.

Unfortunately your are incorrect in both assumptions:

1) This is NOT a merger of equals - it is a surrender by the amigos after squandering very possible opportunity to succeed since buying the series in 2004.

2) CCWS is broke or close to it and cannot pay their bills now, no way they would even complete the 2008 season at this rate - there is NOT time to implement a three-year phase in merger of the two series. If they sold off assets as you suggested there would be nothing left and I think that KK has finally come around to this realization.

Not a TG fan here; but a businessman who knows "when to say when". Bite the bullet: take a few steps back, regroup (i.e suffer the crapwagons for a while), rebuild the popularity of the Indy 500, re-formualize the product (progessive cars & engines) in a year or two, attract new sponsors to a unified series, attract new venues (possibly some old CART locations), drop bad (possibly some old IRL locations) locations, attract some 'known' American drivers, increase TV exposure, increase marketing, and in about 10 years AOWR could (and I emphasize "could") be back on the road to success - the damage of the split has been so bad that it will take that long.

[tbyars]

Good post, SoCal.

[SoCalPVguy]

Good post, SoCal.

Thank you, TB, maybe we WILL have a chance to have a unified beer at the LBGP this year at the "Yardhouse".

[tbyars]

Thank you, TB, maybe we WILL have a chance to have a unified beer at the LBGP this year at the "Yardhouse".
Might happen. Right now, I have KC, Nashville, Kentucky and, of course, TMS on my schedule for 2008, but if things happen the right way, I may well trade out LB for Kentucky. Haven't done that race for 9 years now.

[Cart750hp]

Thank you, TB, maybe we WILL have a chance to have a unified beer at the LBGP this year at the "Yardhouse".

Don't forget to count me in. We were just in Parker's Lighthouse 2 hours ago with my co-workers and saw most of the fence are in place along Shoreline. That start/finish line Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is already there too and the podium.

CC management failed the series, it's not the other way around. A very good example of how bad the management of CC for the past 4 years. More lies and BS than what they could deliver. Now, LBGP will have a fresh start once and for all. I hope no project coming on that weekend for me.

[OWFan19]

Thank you, TB, maybe we WILL have a chance to have a unified beer at the LBGP this year at the "Yardhouse".

I went out there to visit a friend. I got tanked at the Yardhouse, then walked over to the Aquarium, really cool place.

[electron]

SoCalPVguy, great post!

that says it all in few words. I like these aproaches.
count me in as a follower of things if they go this way.

[Danimal]

I Appreciate Your Views, and I Also Appreciate You Not Ripping My Views To Shreds!

However, They Do Not Have 10 Years To Survive....Honda Will Be Gone, and Then You Have Exactly What Champ Car Is Now, Except WIth The Indy 500, Which Is Dwarfed By The The Brickyard 400, and Possibly The Moto GP Race!

There Are 7 Guys With Egos The Size Of Canada(Fred Nation, Tony George, Brian Barnhardt, Paul Gentilozzi, Gerry Forsythe, Kevin Kalkhoven, and Dan Petit) That Have Alot Of Money, And Have Almost ZERO Respect For Open Wheel Racing In North America! Lack Of Respect Is What Started This, and It Is Still Prevelant!

I Was There The Day The So Called "3 Amigos" of Champ Car, Watched Adrian Fernandez & Bobby Rahal Walk Away in a Long Beach Hotel.........and Tommy Kendall told Me How How Paul Gentilozzi Was A Great Guy! ..... But I Was Also There The Day That Jeff Ward Won A IRL Race In Texas, While Chip Ganassi Was Pitching His IRL Program To Target In Monterey, California.............The Same Weekend Chip Was Running His CART Cars At Laguna............I Also Remember Penske Telling CART Board Members At Houston All Of His BS About The Direction That CART Should Proceed, and Then Left For The IRL The Very Next Year

Open Wheel Racing In North America Was Featured On Some Of The Best Permanent Road Courses, As Well As Ovals, and Street Courses In The World. The Three Disciplines In Racing Created In My Opinion A Real Racing Champion! NASCAR Has Tried To Emulate, By Having 2 Road Courses, and Various Types Of Ovals On Their Schedule……..But Having An Equal Divide Of Road Courses. Street Courses. And Ovals Showed A Real Racing Champion
]PS: I May Not Post Again, I Was Just Very Upset WIth All That Was Being Said! It Is Sad To See Open Wheel Racing Basically Disntegrate From The USA. I Listend To Rusty Wallace Say How This Years Daytona 500 Was The Most Thrilling Race He Had Ever Seen.........I Guess He Missed The Alex Zanardi Passs on Bryan Herta at Lagua Seca?[/font][/color][/font][/color]

[Danimal]

I Appreciate Your Views, and I Also Appreciate You Not Ripping My Views To Shreds!

However, They Do Not Have 10 Years To Survive....Honda Will Be Gone, and Then You Have Exactly What Champ Car Is Now, Except WIth The Indy 500, Which Is Dwarfed By The The Brickyard 400, and Possibly The Moto GP Race!

There Are 7 Guys With Egos The Size Of Canada(Fred Nation, Tony George, Brian Barnhardt, Paul Gentilozzi, Gerry Forsythe, Kevin Kalkhoven, and Dan Petit) That Have Alot Of Money, And Have Almost ZERO Respect For Open Wheel Racing In North America! Lack Of Respect Is What Started This, and It Is Still Prevelant!

I Was There The Day The So Called "3 Amigos" of Champ Car, Watched Adrian Fernandez & Bobby Rahal Walk Away in a Long Beach Hotel.........and Tommy Kendall told Me How How Paul Gentilozzi Was A Great Guy! ..... But I Was Also There The Day That Jeff Ward Won A IRL Race In Texas, While Chip Ganassi Was Pitching His IRL Program To Target In Monterey, California.............The Same Weekend Chip Was Running His CART Cars At Laguna............I Also Remember Penske Telling CART Board Members At Houston All Of His BS About The Direction That CART Should Proceed, and Then Left For The IRL The Very Next Year!

Open Wheel Racing In North America Was Featured On Some Of The Best Permanent Road Courses, As Well As Ovals, and Street Courses In The World. The Three Disciplines In Racing Created In My Opinion A Real Racing Champion! NASCAR Has Tried To Emulate, By Having 2 Road Courses, and Various Types Of Ovals On Their Schedule……..But Having An Equal Divide Of Road Courses. Street Courses. And Ovals Showed A Real Racing Champion!

I Hope I Am Wrong, and On Friday, Open Wheel Racing Is Fixed!PS: I May Not Post Again, I Was Just Very Upset WIth All That Was Being Said! It Is Sad To See Open Wheel Racing Basically Disntegrate From The USA. I Listend To Rusty Wallace Say How This Years Daytona 500 Was The Most Thrilling Race He Had Ever Seen.........I Guess He Missed The Alex Zanardi Passs on Bryan Herta at Lagua Seca?

[bblocker68]

I feel like I just read the stock ticker with all of those small caps.

Is ThAt A pRoGrAm On YoUr KeYbOaRd ThAt DoEs ThAt???

When I read it, I could hear James T. Kirk, over-emphasizing every first word in each letter :)

Saw the fencing up on my way over to 2nd street to meet friends at Legends. Lookin' good!!