Official: Champ Car and IRL merge : culture|garage

Official: Champ Car and IRL merge

February 23, 2008

Posted by Chris

Tags: motorcycles

You probably heard the rumors earlier this week, but now it’s official. Champ and IRL have agreed to merge leagues. Back in 1995 things got a little rocky in the Indy Racing League. Half of the teams broke off and started CART. Well in 2003 CART when bankrupt. In 2004 some dudes with a lot of money, bought the defunct series and named it Champ Car.

Then they realized neither IRL or Champ were making any money. And everyone was watching NASCAR. So rather than split their audience, they made the decision to merge. What effects will that have on the series? Is it really going to change anything? I get the funny feeling that it’s just too late.

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4 Responses to “Official: Champ Car and IRL merge”

Tonka Says:
February 23rd, 2008 at 10:33 am

I’m sure Tony George is thrilled with this. He now owns the top open wheel series in North America. Too bad he had destroy it to own it.

I for one won’t be watching IRL. Ugly spec cars, blatty engines, oval tracks, and overly-hyped but marginally skilled drivers all make it clear that my limited recreation time (and money) is better spent elsewhere.

So-long open wheel racing.
Aaron Says:
February 25th, 2008 at 3:14 pm

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think it’s the other way around: the series was actually CART in 1995, and then half the teams split off to join the IRL. The IRL was created by Tony George which was based around [his track, that selfish bastard] the Indy 500 and other oval races (kind of like the Daytona 500 and Nascar). CART continued on (with engine suppliers Honda and Toyota), then went bankrupt; CART was bought and retooled as Champ Car. Eventually Honda and Toyota left for the IRL (and I think it’s just Honda now right?), and with the departure of Sebastien Bourdais, Champ Car was/is a former shell of itself. Personally, I think it might be too late (to steer viewers away from Nascar), but I hope not. With the merger, I hope open-wheel racing gets back to what it was - our version of Formula 1 (no more waking up early in the morning to watch races across the pond). I’m just glad Honda’s still around supplying engines :p
Aaron Says:
February 25th, 2008 at 3:15 pm

I guess I shoulda put some breaks up in there :/ sorry
Aaron Says:
February 25th, 2008 at 3:16 pm

As far as driving talent goes…watch out for Sebastien Bourdais; I think he’ll give Lewis Hamilton a serious run for his money in F1 this coming season