[Bob Tanner]

I thought this piece by Robin Miller was an interresting read and a different take on the IRL/CAR (a.k.a. Indy Racing Series) deal. It starts:

Carl Haas and Paul Newman agree it's way past time to make peace with Tony George. Derrick Walker says "anything" Champ Car can do to unify open wheel racing is a "no-brainer." Jimmy Vasser was emphatic when he said his series has "got to find a way" to do a deal with the IRL founder. Keith Wiggins might already be in the IRL if he still had his own team.

So, if all these CART Lifers understand the reality of the situation, then why are Gerry Forsythe and Kevin Kalkhoven still kidding themselves?

Why in the name of Joe Heitzler wouldn't they accept George's gracious offer to give them cars and engines for 2008, plus put five of their key races on the IRL schedule and pay them a sanction fee?

For the entire story, go to:SPEEDtv.com - The Online Motorsports Authority | Commentary | Robin Miller, Tom Jensen, Dave Despain, Jeff Olson, Darrell Waltrip, Dennis Noyes, and more!

[DOF_power]

I just hope the 2 series will merge eventually. So far TG's proposal has seemed rational.

[Racer Duck]

yeah, miller's story seems to indicate champcar's front office is in shambles. wouldn't be surprised to see a small revolt...

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

yeah, miller's story seems to indicate champcar's front office is in shambles. wouldn't be surprised to see a small revolt...

I found this one a bit "strange" on a couple of levels.

(1) Robin Miller (former Indianapolis Star Motor Sports writer) was a staunch CART-kinda guy who had many, many, many bad words said about Tony George. He was to CART what Tom Higgins was to NASCAR. He's mellowed some since the Star let him go for rumor-mongering, but this piece represents a major departure for him.

(2) Miller isn't know for accuracy in his writings, as I mentioned above. I forget the particulars but he reported a guess as absolute truth in a Star article and they let him go immediately. Therefore, the extent of ChampCar's dysfunction is, in my mind, questionable.

All that said, the guy is outspoken and says what he thinks, sparing no one's feelings. He's entertaining and I like him.

[DOF_power]

I just hope the 2 series get to become 1 once more. Both are short on teams and ratings and the future of neither took separat doesn't seem to look bright.

The Indy 500 race needs more cars and more stars.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by DOF_power

I just hope the 2 series get to become 1 once more. Both are short on teams and ratings and the future of neither took separat doesn't seem to look bright.

The Indy 500 race needs more cars and more stars.

Can Kalkoven accept Tony George as his boss?

You know my feelings on this, T.G. blew it as far as American open wheel racing is concerned, in 1995 when he didn't banish the rear engined cars and institute the Silver Crown cars as the premier open wheel cars in this country. We've discussed the arcane-ness of that postulate ad nauseum.

I believe CART's dogmatic desire to become a world power in auto racing led to its 2003 bankruptcy and will shortly lead to its following the IROC Series down the path of auto racing history.

[DOF_power]

Bob I just don't understand your obsesion with the mid-engined layout.
The front engined RWD layout is actually french BTW; it was initially known as (and still is in some countries/regions) as the Système Panhard (or in more layman terms a Panhard layout (car)). The mid engined cars were no more or less foreign than the front engined RWD ones.

As for the all american "National Championsip" series, it was influenced by the europeans since its early days.
In the 1916 edition of the AAA National Championship (future USAC National Championship, future CART-Indycar Championship, today's split IRL and CC championships) most races were won (12 out of the 15) with (adapted/modified) 1914 Grand-Prix "cars" from Peugeot (10 victories) and Mercedes (2 victories). Italian-english Dario Resta was the National champion; and amongst other foreigners was also a swiss driver called Louis Chevrolet.
And those Grand Prix cars were "studied" at local shops and replicated (there some fuss with the Premiere Grand Prix Peugeot replicas). The Miller/Offenhauser engine was "boroughed" from the Peugeot EX3/EX5 Grand-Prix cars, who themselves (Peugeot) "bouroughed" it (along with other IP) from Hispano-Suiza (and people are shocked today by the McLaren-Ferrari McLaren-Renault spy scandals of today, bah pure amateurism compared to the "good ol' days ).

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by DOF_power

Bob I just don't understand your obsesion with the mid-engined layout.
The front engined RWD layout is actually french BTW; it was initially known as (and still is in some countries/regions) as the Système Panhard (or in more layman terms a Panhard layout (car)). The mid engined cars were no more or less foreign than the front engined RWD ones.

As for the all american "National Championsip" series, it was influenced by the europeans since its early days.
In the 1916 edition of the AAA National Championship (future USAC National Championship, future CART-Indycar Championship, today's split IRL and CC championships) most races were won (12 out of the 15) with (adapted/modified) 1914 Grand-Prix "cars" from Peugeot (10 victories) and Mercedes (2 victories). Italian-english Dario Resta was the National champion; and amongst other foreigners was also a swiss driver called Louis Chevrolet.
And those Grand Prix cars were "studied" at local shops and replicated (there some fuss with the Premiere Grand Prix Peugeot replicas). The Miller/Offenhauser engine was "boroughed" from the Peugeot EX3/EX5 Grand-Prix cars, who themselves (Peugeot) "bouroughed" it (along with other IP) from Hispano-Suiza (and people are shocked today by the McLaren-Ferrari McLaren-Renault spy scandals of today, bah pure amateurism compared to the "good ol' days ).

My fixation on front engined open wheel comes from heritage. It's just what I grew up with. Old habits (in my case REAL old!) are hard to break.

IRT drivers from Europe, don't you mean Gaston Chevolet, vice Louis Chevolet? Gaston won the 500 in... 1915 or 1916? One year either side of Ralph DePalma's win, if I recall correctly.

[DOF_power]

>
^ Gaston was the younger brother of Louis (who founded with Durant the Chevrolet company). There were actually 3 Chevrolet brothers.

Also after more than 42 years since Jim Clark won, don't you think it's time to let go ?!

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by DOF_power

>
^ Gaston was the younger brother of Louis (who founded with Durant the Chevrolet company). There were actually 3 Chevrolet brothers.

Also after more than 42 years since Jim Clark won, don't you think it's time to let go ?!

I still hold a grudge against Bonnie Lewis, a fifth grader who ratted me out for letting the air out of Mrs. Woods', our fifth grade teacher, tires. That was 12-13 years before Clark's victory. I was [rightfully but needlessly] summarily punished for that. Jimmy's win in his rear-engined Lotus, is small potatoes to Bonnie's running afoul of my sensitivities. After 42 years I'm just getting started in my bias. <g>