Jointly from the "No Shit, Sherlock" and "Preaching to the Choir" Depts.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...335/-1/ZONES04

The Indy Racing League couldn't have scripted a better conclusion to an
exciting racing season than a virtual photo finish at Chicagoland
Speedway, giving Dan Weldon a blink-of-an-eye victory over Scott Dixon,
while Sam Hornish Jr. won a tie-breaker IRL title.

But such is the sorry state of open-wheel racing that the biggest news
of this past IRL season isn't Hornish's success, but rather that Danica
Patrick, who wasn't even in the chase for the title, opted not to jump
the IRL for NASCAR.

Hornish, despite winning the IRL championship and four races, including
the Indianapolis 500, will earn less this year than about three dozen
NASCAR drivers. IRL television ratings are foundering and attendance is
lackluster. The league struggled to assemble a 33-car field for the Indy
500.

Rival Champ Car isn't faring any better. Although this successor to
Championship Auto Racing Teams has emerged from bankruptcy, it is racing
only about 18 cars at each event. Attendance is flat and television
contracts anemic.

Since the 1995 breakup of open-wheel racing into warring camps, neither
side has gained traction. Meanwhile, NASCAR continues lapping the field.
It is only a matter of time before successful drivers in both open-wheel
leagues jump to NASCAR.

It's time to black-flag this losing formula. IRL and Champ Car need to
merge. Many of the differences that led to their divorce no longer
exist. Champ Car is unveiling a new Panoz chassis for 2007, giving that
series the more affordable car Speedway owner Tony George sought when he
initiated the split. Both groups drive on oval and racecourse tracks.

Differences in equipment, scheduling, rules and personnel will have to
be worked out, and a merger may need to be gradual. But George and Champ
Car co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven must continue their talks in earnest or
agree on a third-party arbitrator to unify open-wheel racing. Gentlemen,
start your bargaining.
--
Forty

“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and
mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.” - Ernest Hemingway

forty wrote:
Yeah...this from a pro IRL rag too.

"noone" <noone (AT) nowhere (DOT) com> wrote

That fact CC is the one who wants the merger tells me which business might
not be the loser here.

"Luke" <lukmer (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote

It tells you nothing. And who said that only CC wants the merger? It's
been obvious that both want it or TG wouldn't be involved in any
discussions. Only a twit like you would make decisions based on such
faulty logic.

"Harry Watt" <hwatt532 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote


Like saying TG wants a merger? Hint - he doesn't and it's you with the
faulty logic. Good luck with that, Brian Sweeney - I mean, some anom psuedo
prof in the midwest.

Unlurking (finally) on this.

- Kelly

"Slander, lies, character assassination---these things are a threat to every
single citizen everywhere in this country. When even one American---who has
done nothing wrong---is forced by fear to shut his mind and close his mouth,
then all Americans are in peril. It is the job of all of us---of every
American who loves his country and his freedom---to rise up and put a stop
to this terrible business."
- H. Truman, Speaking to the American Legion on McCarthyism, 1951

If the IRL had never turned a wheel, North Anerican o/w racing would have
been better off.

Randy C. wrote:
IRL been formed with common car specs, and all oval format with the 500
being a joint race it very easily could have helped open wheel racing.
It would have given more drivers more opportunity and more racing for
fans. Its the fan base split that caused the problem, not the series split.