CART Shareholders Approve Dissolution - Thoughts on Champ Car
Written by Scott Keller · December 30, 2005
The previous owners of the Champ Car World Series finally dissolve their company. A chapter in American Open Wheel Racing closes, as a new one is beginning to unfold.
IndyStar.com: CART shareholders approve dissolution
The Indianapolis Star reports today that CART has finally wrapped up their operations, and is no longer in existence. This is more of a formality than anything, because they had no real reason to exist once they sold their assets and their race series.
It is amazing that Champ Car even exists, several years after the ordeal with Tony George, and his attempt to “seal his vision” by a “hostile takeover” of CART. While the series is anything but a powerhouse in the realm of autosports, it has survived. There world is changing rapidly, and so is auto racing. Even NASCAR in all of it’s power and position, is trying to keep up with the times. Champ Car has a lot of work to do to gain its former glory.
The current owners of Champ Car, Kevin Kalkhoven, Paul Gentilozzi, and Gerry Forsythe, have done a decent job of forging ahead, and building a series based on its own assets. Most importantly, the Three Amigos are not enthralled by running the Indy 500. Instead, they seem to be focused on building a series that stands on its own. Unification just isn’t going to happen on their terms. They need to not even think about. Tony George has proven that when he has the “upper hand”, that everything is on his terms. I feel that the only way unification will ever happen, is when (not if in my opinion) George has run Indy into such a deep hole, that he has no choice but to beg Champ Car to return. Things in Speedway, IN are in bad shape, if you haven’t noticed lately (bye bye Toyota).
As a sidelined CART fan, I have not totally signed onto the Champ Car bandwagon. These guys have a lot of work to do. I attended the Long Beach Grand Prix last year, and the race lacked energy and excitement. I felt like I was at an Indy Lights race (except that the cars were much faster). It was like a club race on steroids. The San Jose race was a total joke, no matter how Kalkhoven tries to spin it. The main problem I have with Champ Car’s vision, is how they measure success. They seem to measure it on how much of a “carnival atmosphere” they generate in a city. I measure it on how many people are watching on TV, and how many newpapers even devote a column to Champ Car coverage. Face it, there is very little coverage, and Champ Car is basically irrelelvant in the United States. Fortunately our neighbors to the north and south are underpinning their series. The Cannucks especially like Champ Car racing.
I will watch 2006 with an open mind for the first few races, but they had better step it up if they want to keep me interested. Please Amigos, no more 18-car fields!
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8 Responses to “CART Shareholders Approve Dissolution - Thoughts on Champ Car”
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18 car fields will be the deal for 1 more year until the new chassis comes out. Deal with it. CC gets buts in the seats, no argument.
Much has been written about how Champ Car is buying their TV time while the IRL has abc/ESPN contract. I would love to know what the IRL TV contract says about minimum car car counts at each race, and if they have an out if the count isn’t met. With only 12 confirmed cars for next year TG is in real trouble. How many cars can AGR, Penske, Ganassi and Rahal put on the grid? Funny, they are all former CART teams with a history of looking for better deals. Come to your own conclusion what that means for the future of the IRL.
Doug, thanks for your comments. I’m not sure why the new chassis will raise car counts??? I think the problem is money, not the type of car.
I do hope that the car count goes higher, because I feel as if I’m seeing about 10 quality cars, and 8 junkers out there at most CCWS races.
CCWS has a *long* ways to go, in my opinion.
The fact that Champ Car has a long way to go is fact. Considering they are only in their third year of competition speaks volumes of how far they’ve come.
They need better TV exposure (7 races on broadcast TV in ‘07), better sponsors, better races, better everything. With the Atlantic series gaining more entrants this year look for more teams in Champ Car in ‘07. The new chassis is the key, even if you wanted to start a new team in ‘06 there not enough of the old chassis available.
As for competitive teams, how many cars in the NASCAR field of 43 have a chance of finishing in the top ten, let alone win a race? Same can be said for F1 or the IRL. There will always be two or three top teams competing for the front and the rest as also rans.
i’ve been a champ car fan for years ..no doubt about it champ car is not the series it use to be i would never miss a race live or on tv but now if you can get a race on tv you already know who won it trying to avoid the outcome is a challange if paul tracy leaves i can’t imagine why i would continue to watch..as for the irl i like a few of their drivers but not as much as i dislike that whining mike a.rob n/falls ont
Hi Scott, the grid count will not change much this year. Look at it this way. Would you fund a new car for this year knowing that it will be obsolete in 2007? I’m sure that was Doug’s point. Notice that the Atlantics have a new chassis and engine combo for this year and they are predicting up to 35 cars on the grid. That is where the growth will come from. (if it comes) I hope so anyway. Like you, I really miss the days when Open Wheel was king. Thanks for the story.
BJ, You are absolutely right. Why invest all that money into a car that will be obsolete. The new Panoz, cosworth package will be a lot cheaper than the current package and will be lighter too. You already know that Ganassi will be coming over to champ in 07. He is already fielding cars in champ car minor events this year to get his feet in the door. There is a good chance too that the better teams from Atlantics will step up to the big stage with the new package as well. Bring on the teams, exciting drivers and hopefully some good rivalries to make headlines. Any exposure is good exposure.
Folks. The biggest problem Champ Car has is keeping its stars. Zanardi gone, Montoya gone, DaMatta left, Bourdais talks of leaving, Tracy talking of NASCAR.
This has been going on for 10 years. It’s sad that Champ Car doesn’t get it. Growing a fan base in America (probably in Canada and Mexico also) is about getting Americans to fall in love with a personality. Without keeping the stars, there is no one for a fan to latch onto and keep them interested.
For example, my wife now sits down next to me when the race is on and says “Where’s that Bourdais guy?” Then she stays and watches for 20 minutes. If Bourdais leaves after 06, I’ll have to say “he no longer races in Champ Car, he went to F1.” No more sitting for 20 minutes, and it will be another 2 or 3 years before someone catches her attention enough to grab another 20 minutes of her time in front of the tv.
Champ Car needs to start keeping its stars. Once they do this, they will start getting organic growth in their fan base and in another 10 years they will achieve the popularity they are seeking.