Tony George was still optimistic about a plan to unify open wheel racing for 2008 following his trip to Japan to try and reschedule the race at Motegi to accommodate Long Beach. But, by the time George returns to Indianapolis, there might only be one series standing anyway. The word on the street late Monday was that Champ Car plans to file bankruptcy within the next 24-48 hours which, effectively, will end the 12-year war in open wheel.
Steve Johnson, president of Champ Car, was asked about the bankruptcy rumor on Monday evening and responded in an email: “I have not been informed and we have been hearing the bankruptcy rumor for 18 months. ”
However, at least one definitive sign pointed to the end of a series that began as CART in 1979 and was re-titled Champ Car after Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerry Forsythe took it over in bankruptcy court in 2004. Pat Caporali, hired a few weeks ago as CC’s new director of public relations, reported for her first day of work on Monday. But she was informed it might be a good idea to try and get her old position back with Chip Ganassi because there would be no work for her.
Other employees were reportedly told to cease working on 2008 projects and some began cleaning out their desks.It’s not known whether a bankruptcy proceeding was part of the plan to have the Indy Racing League assume control of open wheel. George has proposed free cars, engines and $1.2 million to any and all CC teams able to fund themselves for a full season.
He also agreed to add Long Beach, Edmonton and Australia to the ‘08 schedule and possibly one more venue, so it might be necessary for Champ Car to declare bankruptcy in order for those tracks to strike new deals with George. auto-racing.speedtv
The Indy Racing League apparently is armed with options to negotiate a reconciliation of open-wheel racing after a Monday meeting in Japan. The IRL sought and likely gained permission from Honda to move its April 19 race at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit north of Tokyo to accommodate the addition of Champ Car’s marquee event, the Long Beach (Calif. ) Grand Prix, which is obligated for April 20. If Champ Car is folded into the IRL, the Long Beach race will be one of several Champ Car World Series events added to this year’s IndyCar Series schedule.
To do so means moving the Motegi race. The options there include moving it to August, when the IRL has a break in its schedule, or to the end of the season as a non-points race. An other option is postponing the event for a year.indystar
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