IndyCar Series Poised to Release Details of OWR Merger Today
Written by Allan Brewer · February 27, 2008
Press Conference Beamed Live via Speed, ESPN News, IndyCar.com
The highly-anticipated press conference outlining details of a merger between the Indy Racing League and Champ Car World Series comes today in Miami, where Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner and IRL founder Tony George will share the podium with CCWS’ Kevin Kalkhoven at 12:15 PM EST.Many of the details of the agreement in principle reached last week are already known: an inducement of Honda race engines and Dallara chassis for the newly-entering teams, technical support and data transfer from existing IRL competitors to the former CCWS entries, participation in the TEAM program that includes over $1 million in guaranteed support, and a scheduling conflict between at least one race that could divide the field one last time.
On Monday (February 25th) nine CCWS teams participated in an IndyCar Series orientation in Indianapolis. Conquest Racing announced its participation with veteran driver Frank Perera behind the wheel. Equipment distribution has already begun to the teams making the switch.
Full Day of Activity at Homestead on Wednesday
Also on the docket for Wednesday at Homestead Miami Speedway is the first open test of the IndyCar Series season, commencing at 4PM EST and running to 10 PM. Among the participants are Andretti Green Racing’s Danica Patrick, Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti, and Hideki Mutoh; Helio Castroneves and newcomer Ryan Briscoe of Penske Racing; Vision Racing’s Ed Carpenter and AJ Foyt IV; Milka Duno at Dreyer & Reinbold; Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon of Target Chip Ganasssi Racing; Roth Racing’s Marty Roth and Jay Howard; Darren Manning of Foyt Racing, Ryan Hunter-Reay of Rahal Letterman Racing, and Panther’s Vitor Meira in a newly-liveried National Guard/Delphi Dallara/Honda.
IndyCar.com: Open Test Participants
An afternoon announcement is forthcoming from Sarah Fisher in which she is expected to partner with Lyn St James and Janet Guthrie in an IndyCar Series effort for the 2008 campaign that may or may not include the road course portion of the schedule.
None of the newly-arriving teams from Monday’s orientation are expected to participate at Homestead; they are, however, anticipated to be available for next week’s Sebring International Raceway test on March 3rd through 6th.
The Indy Pro Series will test on Thursday during the day, apart from the IndyCar Series.
The press conference will be carried live by SpeedTV and ESPN News; as well as streaming audio and video on IndyCar.com beginning at 12:25 PM EST.
Live Timing and Scoring of the open test will also be available on IndyCar.com following the press activities on Wednesday.
The IndyCar Series and Indy Pro Series tests are open to the public on both days at Homestead Miami Speedway.
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3 Responses to “IndyCar Series Poised to Release Details of OWR Merger Today”
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Ok, everybody take deep breaths.
Oh crap… I feal a brain tumor comming on!
I just watched the press release. There idiots,I wouldn’t trust these guys with my go-cart track!
Name dropping, Mic feedback, No CC drivers that I could see.
No I won’t go to Long Beach, these guys are just after the $$$$$$.
To bad they just killed the sport.