Random Comments--Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch jumped ugly with each other Friday night after an on track incident during practice for the Bud Shootout at Daytona International Speedway...both were called to the NASCAR trailer...from what we have been able to surmise...the demonstrations and jaw-jacking and "emotion" gave way to what some wags called "prepared, non-controversial" statements.
You may have seen reports in the Indianapolis Star, and on Speed TV's newly redesigned website, that Indy Racing League founder Anton H. "Tony" George and IRL co-presidents Brian Barnhart and Terry Angstadt, are on a trip to Japan. We confirmed that with IRL Media Relations. What we and others cannot confirm, is the subject of the conversations. We suspect the topic is a possible rescheduling of the Motegi Race, which comes up against the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 18-20. The rescheduling will make it easier for the IRL to assume a few of the Champ Car World Series's events, if it happens, and then the open wheel world would be reunited. Is that too late for 2008? We hear that all of the Champ Car teams would get the same deal to run the entire series that IRL teams get, and some accommodations on chassis and engines.
This may be Champ Car's Mitt Romney moment--the one when you realize that you really did spend too much of your own money, and that spending anymore in the future won't get you what you want, and will only serve to deplete your bank account.
Notice we said "MAY". You will remember past attempts at a reunification of both series, and the falling apart of those attempts. This seems to have a few more legs...but anything can happen. It may be too late for 2008.....but an orderly transition would probably give everyone time to figure out a real strategy for working on the strengths of a combined series so it can consume its fair share of racing oxygen.
John Force hadn't qualified for the Winternationals when last we looked. The fact that he is even running the NHRA Powerade Series Opener is remarkable. When we spoke to fellow Funny Car driver Ron Capps in Charlotte, we could tell by the tone of Capps' voice that he was spooked when he talked about Force's wreck in Dallas. Ford Racing and Force have collaborated on some expensive but effective changes to how the Funny Cars are constructed; the teams are ramping up for the summer, when the changes will become mandatory.
We'll have more as we find out real news during Speedweeks...not sponsor fluff.
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