DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The long, bitter and divisive war between IndyCar and Champ Car that began in 1996 seems to have come to an end.
Gerry Forsythe and Kevin Kalkhoven of Champ Car are close to reaching an agreement with Indy Racing League founder Tony George to join forces. The one hurdle that needs to be cleared is getting officials at Twin-Ring Motegi in Japan, to move its race date from April to later in the season so that the Long Beach Grand Prix can be added to the IndyCar schedule.
George, IndyCar president of competition Brian Barnhart, IndyCar President of commercial development Terry Angstadt and retired Honda racing executive Robert Clarke flew to Japan on Saturday to meet with Honda officials Monday to personally negotiate the move in the Japan race date, which is vital because that facility is owned by Honda, the sole engine supplier of IndyCar.
IndyCar Vice President of public relations John Griffin remained hopeful a resolution could be reached.
“Meetings have and will continue to be ongoing, but there are no set dates for a formal announcement,” Griffin said. “There’s still some work to be done.”
Under terms of the agreement, any Champ Car team that agrees to compete on the full IndyCar schedule will get free Dallara chassis and Honda engines to assist in the transition from Champ Car, which uses a completely different engine/car formula. They would also be eligible for the TEAMS program, which pays $1.2 million per car for full-time series participation in place of prize money.
In addition to adding the Long Beach Grand Prix to the schedule, the IndyCar Series is expected to add two more races off the Champ Car schedule, including Edmonton and Surfer’s Paradise, Australia.
Champ Car would cease to exist and IndyCar would run the series.
Longtime racing star Mario Andretti, the 1969 Indianapolis 500 winner who won IndyCar national titles in both USAC and CART, has made many attempts to bring the sides together in the past.
“It’s the only solution we have to save the sport we love so much,” Andretti said. “The bottom line is that this is desperately needed. There are no losers in a situation like this, starting with the fans.”
The combined series could have as many as 24 cars participating for the full season. The IndyCar Series would be the sanctioning body for the combined series with the 92nd Indianapolis 500 as the centerpiece event.
“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,” George told Robin Miller of SpeedTV.com on Thursday evening. “But no one is giving up yet.”
Kalkhoven made some curious moves on Friday, however, when he issued a statement stating his anger over media leaks.
“Unfortunately, leaks and media reports about a possible unification of Champ Car and the Indy Racing League have significantly hampered discussions,” Kalkhoven said in the release. “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.”
But even after issuing this statement, IndyCar sources said Kalkhoven made phone calls to George and Barnhart urging them to come back from Japan “with a deal.”