Another casualty

Boro · 11 Mar 2008, 03:25 (Ref:2148862)

http://www.walkerracing.com/media/di...id=417&lang=en

Walker out of IRL

climb · 11 Mar 2008, 14:40 (Ref:2149191)

Sorry but this topic is already being discussed elsewhere; I suggest to close this one

JamesRamone · 12 Mar 2008, 13:46 (Ref:2149983)

Minardi are also out. This is becoming abit of a farce

johntt · 12 Mar 2008, 14:53 (Ref:2150020)

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/indy...r_walker?.html

May not be over for Walker

mandretti39 · 13 Mar 2008, 03:21 (Ref:2150493)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesRamone

Minardi are also out. This is becoming abit of a farce

Not according to this: http://www.indycar.com/news/story.ph...aign=speedRead

Granted, it won't be known as Minardi Team USA, but it's still the same team.

climb · 13 Mar 2008, 07:23 (Ref:2150551)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mandretti39

Not according to this: http://www.indycar.com/news/story.ph...aign=speedRead

Granted, it won't be known as Minardi Team USA, but it's still the same team.

Excellent post and news!

particularly given the source: normally IRL release news about entries only when they're more than sure

My personal feeling is that the farce is what some CC nostalgic are trying to preceive ..

JamesRamone · 13 Mar 2008, 14:37 (Ref:2150831)

Quote:

Originally Posted by climb

Excellent post and news!

particularly given the source: normally IRL release news about entries only when they're more than sure

My personal feeling is that the farce is what some CC nostalgic are trying to preceive ..

At the time of my post it wasn't announced that Minardi would carry on under a different fashion.

Apologies if some of us are trying to fight the champ car corner. I just want a great open wheel series with a mixture of teams.

climb · 13 Mar 2008, 15:28 (Ref:2150875)

That's what we all want actually

Of course one of the consequences of this merger is a stronger series, which means, from a certian point of view, harder times for small teams; we have to expect some sort of selections in the years to come, and the growth of the series will have to be based to their ability to attract new strong outfits: for example, if some Nascar squads liked to join Penske and Ganassi in the both-sides-effort teams, it would be great.

But other will struggle, like it or not, and it won't mean it's a farce, just new times.

Tim Northcutt · 13 Mar 2008, 16:33 (Ref:2150919)

In Curt Cavin's racing blog at the Indianaplis Star today, he provides the reason why Walker had to issue the news release linked above at the start of this thread and stated that Walker is still pursuing support with hopes to be at Homestead at the end of the month

http://blogs.indystar.com/racingexpert/

mountainstar · 14 Mar 2008, 14:41 (Ref:2151741)

Well as I said some time ago, if a "merger" was going to happen it needed to be properly organized. We now have a lot of good races that are probably gone for good along with several teams as well. The announcement of a deal landed with a thud.

It's been ill conceived and half assed, but considering who's involved I'm not surprised.

climb · 14 Mar 2008, 15:53 (Ref:2151771)

I see your point ms, but I think that either they caught this chance or everything would have been missed once again. It's now or never IMO

Tim Northcutt · 14 Mar 2008, 16:17 (Ref:2151786)

This wasn't a "merger." It can be called unification, amalgamation, assimilation, or even the term used in Curt Cavin's blog, "Blendification," but it is clear that this was not a "merger," wherre parties on both sides will have a say in the future of open wheel racing. The IRL will call the shots, and that doesn't happen in a "merger."

Although many races will be gone for 2008, the slate is clean for 2009, according to Brian Barnhart, so I'm not sure exactly how man races will be gone for good...the ones that were successful and make sense in a unified schedule could and probably would come back.

As for teams, to have as many as nine cars come over comprising five teams on such short notice is a rather decent accomplishment (NHL, KV, Conquest, Dale Coyne & HVM).

Forsythe and Rocketstports dropping off is due to personalities...it seems clear in hindsight that those two were the roadblocks to past unification efforts.

No one really knows what PCM is going to do yet

Walker is still trying to put together an effort as noted above

By my count, they could lose all four of those, but only two teams definitely seem to be "gone" as of now....

FWIW

2112 · 14 Mar 2008, 20:46 (Ref:2151926)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Northcutt

This wasn't a "merger." It can be called unification, amalgamation, assimilation, or even the term used in Curt Cavin's blog, "Blendification," but it is clear that this was not a "merger," wherre parties on both sides will have a say in the future of open wheel racing. The IRL will call the shots, and that doesn't happen in a "merger."

This is exactly why I won`t bother with it this year....maybe more.
You see........if I wanted to see the IRL, I would have all along.

Image courtesy of andyblackmoredesign.com

mountainstar · 15 Mar 2008, 04:41 (Ref:2152184)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Northcutt

This wasn't a "merger." It can be called unification, amalgamation, assimilation, or even the term used in Curt Cavin's blog, "Blendification," but it is clear that this was not a "merger," wherre parties on both sides will have a say in the future of open wheel racing. The IRL will call the shots, and that doesn't happen in a "merger."

To me it was an acquisition(and a weak one at that), not a merger. There are a mass of disenfranchised people out there now and many wont be back.

The irony in all this is that mr. george has everything now, so success or failure is all on his plate.

rush1 · 15 Mar 2008, 19:28 (Ref:2152765)

Derrick Walker was palying both sides, looking for the best deal. Probably he needs a set amount of money by a certain date to field a car in any series. Walker must have felt the 1.2 million dollars guranteed with additional prize money wouldn't cut it - he is not dumb enough to dip into his wallet.

If the series grows and and it attracts more sponsors, people like Derrick Walker will be back soon enough.

rush1 · 15 Mar 2008, 19:35 (Ref:2152773)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountainstar

To me it was an acquisition(and a weak one at that), not a merger. There are a mass of disenfranchised people out there now and many wont be back.

The irony in all this is that mr. george has everything now, so success or failure is all on his plate.

If CART had so many loyal supporters it would have flourished in the first place.

Victors always write the history and Tony George, via the "unification" now owns CARTS history like the stats.

CART can now join the pantheon of losing series like the USFL and the ABA here in the states. CART is gone and will become as irrelevent as the aforementioned sporting leagues.

SALEEN S7R · 15 Mar 2008, 21:56 (Ref:2152910)

You cannot re write history. What CART achieved will forever remain, both in terms of people's memories and on paper. Sure Champcar lost in the end and got bought up but to say CART and Champcar will become irrelevent is ridiculous, a lot of good drivers and teams have existed in Champcar over the years and a lot have moved on to other series.

D.R.T. · 15 Mar 2008, 23:46 (Ref:2152981)

Very well said Saleen.

Seems rush still wants to throw stones.

rush1 · 16 Mar 2008, 00:08 (Ref:2153000)

I wish the open wheel civil war never happened but it did and CART is gone for good, the racing community will forget as the years tick by. There will be no more champ car events or CART champions - its over.

You have to acknowledge the death of the patient to begin the healing process and the patient is completely dead.

We have to look forward to the future.

Mr Jinxx · 16 Mar 2008, 01:14 (Ref:2153054)

all of which is true, rush ... but to keep the analogy going, it is good practice to be courteous and sensitive to the relatives of the deceased, and to try and help them cope with the loss

rush1 · 16 Mar 2008, 13:58 (Ref:2153663)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Jinxx

all of which is true, rush ... but to keep the analogy going, it is good practice to be courteous and sensitive to the relatives of the deceased, and to try and help them cope with the loss

Well said, as long as they don't show up and pretend like the series will be a failure because one backmarker like Walkers operation can't field a team. If they act like the sky is falling in over this one small casualty I wouldn't have to open my mouth in the first place.

mountainstar · 16 Mar 2008, 18:49 (Ref:2153961)

Quote:

Originally Posted by rush1

Well said, as long as they don't show up and pretend like the series will be a failure because one backmarker like Walkers operation can't field a team. If they act like the sky is falling in over this one small casualty I wouldn't have to open my mouth in the first place.

Walker is a back marker? What planet have you been on for the past 10 years? They've won a hell of alot of races.

You know this last minute half assed deal put a lot of people out of jobs or soon to be out of jobs? I would be concerned a team with the stature and prowess of Walker can't field a car. There are 40 guys there that may be out of a job soon.

The uptake rate for champcar teams so far is poor. There are a lot of teams with intentions but many don't have anything confirmed yet. Apparently the "free" hondas come with stipulations attached and the "free" dallaras have turned out to be handed down junk.

I keep reading uniformed comments about race teams or races being "rested" till returning for 09. Nobody has money to keep the staff twiddling thumbs and the lights on waiting around till 2009 to see what happens. Once you close the doors, even if temporarily, people move on and you end up starting having to start anew.

I guess Forsythe is looking at ALMS now which is great. After being at Sebring this weekend, it's looks like a good place for champcar refugees.

climb · 17 Mar 2008, 12:16 (Ref:2154611)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountainstar

To me it was an acquisition(and a weak one at that), not a merger.

That's what I have been telling for a long time, I'm happy you agree with me now

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountainstar

There are a mass of disenfranchised people out there now and many wont be back.

Apart from you and some diehard cc fans, this mass is not that big; about (ex CC)team bosses, well if somebody give them the money to run a team in IRL they'll do without exitation

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountainstar

The irony in all this is that mr. george has everything now, so success or failure is all on his plate.

I see no irony in that: I'd just call it "logical consequence", and I see nothing bad in it.

climb · 17 Mar 2008, 12:23 (Ref:2154619)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountainstar

Walker is a back marker? What planet have you been on for the past 10 years? They've won a hell of alot of races.

....

Walker are a big name, no doubt about it, but we have to admit that in the last 4-5 years they (like almost everyone different from N/H/L) were not frontrunners as thay used to be

Top respect to them though

mountainstar · 17 Mar 2008, 20:01 (Ref:2155008)

Quote:

Originally Posted by climb

Walker are a big name, no doubt about it, but we have to admit that in the last 4-5 years they (like almost everyone different from N/H/L) were not frontrunners as thay used to be

Top respect to them though

Really? Look at where they finished in the championship last year.

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