Official – IndyCar/Champ Car Merg

So it’s official now,  The IndyCar Series and the Champ Car Series (formerly CART) unify as one leauge.  Here is the summary of the deal. 

• The Indy Racing League is poised to absorb teams/drivers that had been competing in the Champ Car World Series.
• An initial orientation session for prospective teams was conducted Feb. 25 by Indy Racing League presidents Brian Barnhart (competition and operations) and Terry Angstadt (commercial division). All nine Champ Car World Series teams attended.
• Conquest Racing (former Champ Car Team) announced plans to compete in the opener with a two-car team at the season opener in Homestead
•  Additional teams are in the process of acquiring equipment and preparing cars for the opener
• IndyCar Series officials expect others to join by the opening of practice for the 92^nd Indianapolis 500
• Discussions are proceeding to incorporate races in Edmonton, Alberta, and Surfers Paradise, Australia, Long Beach, and at Twin Ring Motegi
  • The IRL Regulars will race at Twin Ring Motegi on April 19th
  • The Champ Cars will race one final time at long beach
• Champ Car World Series teams that are participating in the IndyCar Series will compete on the streets of Long Beach, using their 2007 equipment, for IndyCar Series points and prize money
• All current IndyCar Series events and ’08 scheduled Champ Car events will be reviewed for the ’09 schedule.
• Assisting transitional teams is the TEAM (Team Enhancement and Allocation Matrix) program, which provides a $1.2 million foundation per car for full-schedule operations
  • The Program for Teams with the financial ability to compete all season will be a one-year Honda basic engine lease agreement and two Dallara chassis from a pool of new and used cars to the extent of the pool available for up to two seasons.
• Transitional CCWS teams will be paired with regular IndyCar Series teams for technical assistance
•  Meetings have been scheduled with representatives of the Edmonton and Surfers Paradise events regarding ’08 races

• The IndyCar Series will purchase various non-tangible assets, such as intellectual property and historic records. Also, it will purchase the CCWS medical transporter

•  Individual meetings will CCWS teams expressing interest in competing in the IndyCar Series have been scheduled
• Cosworth, the Champ Car World Series engine supplier, will continue supporting other racing ventures
•  The Champ Car Atlantics development program will continue on its own
• The Indy Pro Series will continue as the stepladder series to the IndyCar Series
•  George intimated his preference for a 20-race 2009 season
• IRL officials expect between 8 to 12 cars to be added to the 16-car IndyCar grid for the season opener

Read the full transcript and story on IndyCar.com

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~ by JD on February 28, 2008.