Hell not quite frozen over: IRL and Champ Car back together?

After a bitter battle between North America's two premiere open wheel series, the IndyCar Series and Champ Car, it seems that the two sides may finally burry the hatch and join in one league for the 2008 season.

The deal is far from over and false starts in merging the two leagues have failed over the years, but this time the deal hinges not on IndyCar’s Tony George or Champ Car’s Gerry Forsythe and Kevin Kalkhovenon but rather on IndyCar's ability to move their race at Twin-Ring Motegi in Japan from April to later in the season. The racetrack is owned by Honda, sending IRL president Tony George to Japan to meet with officials to smooth things over with the IRL’s only car supplier. The April race would be replaced by the Long Beach Grand Prix, a feature race for Champ Car.

Under the deal two additional races from the Champ Car Series would be added, Edmonton and Surfer’s Paradise Australia. Champ Car owners would also receive free Dallara chassis and Honda engines to help with the transition from Champ Cars chassis and engines as well as be eligible for the TEAMS program, which gives each team $1.2 million for every full-time car entered.

Calls to IndyCar Series public relations president John Griffin seem promising. He told SpeedTV.com's Robin Miller,

"It's as close as it's ever been to being together, but we don't know if we can
get across the goal line. But no one is giving up yet."

That statement is a good sign to fans that have been waiting for the unification since IndyCar's inception in 1996.

In recent years, IndyCar Series has been home to many a star including Tony Stewart (1997 Champion), Dario Franchitti (2007 Champion) and Sam Hornish (2001-02, 06 Champion) who have all moved over Nascar. While Champ Car has seen the dominance of Sebastian Bourdais who will compete for Toro Rosso in Formula1 in 2008. The IRL and ChampCar have always been able to hone in the talent, but their ability to compete with the 900 pound guerilla that is Nascar would center on the unification of the two Series.
(source)

UPDATE: Apparently, Champ Car is none too happy with the fact that the negotiations between the two series have been leaked. Champ Car series co-principals Gerald Forsythe and Kevin Kalkhoven had this to say:

"Unfortunately, leaks and media reports about a possible unification of Champ
Car and the Indy Racing League [IRL] have significantly hampered discussions. Over the past three years, we have fielded and offered several proposals regarding unification of the two premier U.S.-based open-wheel racing series, but we have been unable to reach an acceptable solution. Discussions currently are at a standstill, and we therefore are proceeding with plans to continue as Champ Car."

I for one would love to see the two sides come together. I think that the IRL puts out some of the most exciting races in motorsports. The races are short, they feature side by side action and usually a win comes down to the wire. Hopefully, they can agree to terms, because the separation has only hindered the two sides, not helped.

(source)

It's been fun blogging with you,
Kate