CDW & RuSport

[luke]

JW will be at either nhl or fcr next year.

[stradlin21]

Originally Posted by luke

JW will be at either nhl or fcr next year.

as DRT loves to say...............source?

[luke]

Originally Posted by stradlin21

as DRT loves to say...............source?

He has been linked with both for years now, for a top ride. as rusport has folded I'd say its highly likely he'll end up at either team. any link to him in the IRL? Not gonna happen.

[indycool]

There are rumors about Wilson and ALMS. There have also been rumors (denied AT THIS POINT) that N/H/L will go IRL. IMO, firm predictions don't have much basis yet. Given the history of other teams in CC, I would think N/H/L would be the only one he'd be looking at. Forsythe and PKV swapping out drivers for extraordinary issues (Forsythe to put a Mexican in a seat, PKV to can Gommendy when he ran out of money and shuffle Legge off to Coyne while under contract) would make ME uneasy.

[Mystery]

I wouldn't be so quick to rule out AGR you know. I can imagine Justin might be interested and I can see the attraction for CDW, but on the flipside AGR doesn't need the sponsors so might not be that interested.

I'm just not sure what there is to gain by staying - yes JW might have his best shot at the championship, and at NHL would be clear favourite, but being the champion in the year after Bourdais leaves isn't exactly going to be a ringing endorsement. Making a splash in a new series might be. I'm sensing by JW's comments that he's isn't short of offers so might make a personal decision for personal reasons. That means essentially all predictions are worthless

[cos]

...and doesn't JW still have shareholders to answer to?

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by Mystery

I wouldn't be so quick to rule out AGR you know. I can imagine Justin might be interested and I can see the attraction for CDW, but on the flipside AGR doesn't need the sponsors so might not be that interested.

Has Canadian club not done a runner ?

Originally Posted by Mystery

I'm just not sure what there is to gain by staying - yes JW might have his best shot at the championship, and at NHL would be clear favourite, but being the champion in the year after Bourdais leaves isn't exactly going to be a ringing endorsement.

I disagree. The championship obviously still has meaning and weight (though not as much as years gone by). Bourdias and Allemendinger have found rides in arguably the two biggest series in the world, so in that sense winning or being competitive in the ChampCar series is a benefit.

[mountainstar]

This was going to happen the minute russo sold the team all due to the team being based in denver, colorado rather than where the motorsport business is based in the USA(indy charlotte socal). It is hard to obtain parts, services and personnel. As I understand the terms under which rusport was sold that the team and staff would be protected for a period of time.

[Mystery]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Has Canadian club not done a runner ?

Hmmmm - not sure. I do seem to vaguely recall something about them going with Dario now you mention it.....

I disagree. The championship obviously still has meaning and weight (though not as much as years gone by). Bourdias and Allemendinger have found rides in arguably the two biggest series in the world, so in that sense winning or being competitive in the ChampCar series is a benefit.

I'm not saying it's not a worthwhile championship in itself, but surely there would be some loss of value, even if only from a sense of personal achievement in being the best driver, out of those who haven't already left. Would have loved to have seen JW & Seabass in identical machinery though - suspect it would have been close.

[JohnSSC]

I think the point Mystery is making is that the championship would mean more in a situation where Bourdais had stayed. In a series perceived to be weak talent-wise, Bourdais leaving makes it even weaker. Thus, should Justin stay and win, a valid question is: who did he beat? Especially in view of the revolving-door at most teams right now.

To mountainstar's point: so far as I know, FedEx goes to Denver, as does DHL, UPS, the USPS and lots of other folks. I mean, how hard can it be to get parts? I understand they also have banks there so that would not be a problem - if there is money, people could still be paid.

Methinks the problem is that being as there is no money, then there is no longer a team.

[stradlin21]

It doesn’t matter what spin the champ car fans want to put on this

This is a major blow to the series, RuSport are one of the series strongest teams but have seen their operation shrink during the last year

Rocketsports aren’t committed to next season either yet so it’s a doubt we’ll see them and KK will have to dig deep in his pockets again to keep Conquest on the grid

On the AGR thing, AGR HAVE confirmed that they will remain as a four team next season, that was never ever an issue, that’s just Champ Car fans trying to get a dig in at the opposition

On the same day that Chip Ganassi announced the expansion of his IRL programme, RuSport announced the closure of their team. The tide is swinging in TG’s favour

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by stradlin21

KK will have to dig deep in his pockets again to keep Conquest on the grid

??

Originally Posted by stradlin21

On the AGR thing, AGR HAVE confirmed that they will remain as a four team next season, that was never ever an issue, that’s just Champ Car fans trying to get a dig in at the opposition

No one was suggesting AGR wouldnt be a four car team. The comment was regarding the potential loss of its backer of the #27 car.

[indycool]

I suppose there IS a potential loss, but we don't know the length of the contract or any of the other details. AGR announced recently it had 40-plus sponsors for the team, so don't reckon they're hurtin'.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by indycool

I suppose there IS a potential loss, but we don't know the length of the contract or any of the other details. AGR announced recently it had 40-plus sponsors for the team, so don't reckon they're hurtin'.

There is a difference between Naming rights, presenting and associate sponsors though.

[indycool]

Oh, certainly there is.......but that volume, added up, is probably a pretty impressive number.

[climb]

Just a question: why should AGR enter a car in CC (apart from making CCfans happy )?

[D.R.T.]

Is there any other reason needed, Climb ?

[indycool]

Yes, there is. Sponsor ROI, series payoff structure, what it can accomplish and what that accomplishment would be worth down the road.......making CC fans happy is not the mission of an IRL team, and vice versa.

[Mystery]

Originally Posted by climb

Just a question: why should AGR enter a car in CC (apart from making CCfans happy )?

Ehh? Has anyone suggested that? If this dates back to my NHL or AGR comment I was suggesting Justin might jump series if he or his sponsors don't fancy CC next year.

[Red Bulldog]

Originally Posted by Mystery

Would have loved to have seen JW & Seabass in identical machinery though - suspect it would have been close.

Maybe you still will - at STR

[paul-collins]

Confusion reigns!

When talking about CC and AGR, they mean Canadian Club - Dario's sponsor. It's been confirmed by Chip that CC is not following Dario, and asserted elsewhere that CC is not leaving AGR - but there's no confirmation one way or the other.

[D.R.T.]

Robin Millers angle on the whole CDW future

We told you several weeks ago that CDW was getting out of Champ Car and likely heading for ALMS, but staying with Wilson at Newman/Haas/Lanigan might still be an option.

CDW is in Chicago, like N/H/L, and it’s believed the software clearing house is interested in getting involved with Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang camps. And CDW would be treated with a lot more class than they have been the past several months.

http://www.speedtv.com/commentary/41067/

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

I think the point Mystery is making is that the championship would mean more in a situation where Bourdais had stayed. In a series perceived to be weak talent-wise, Bourdais leaving makes it even weaker. Thus, should Justin stay and win, a valid question is: who did he beat? Especially in view of the revolving-door at most teams right now.

To mountainstar's point: so far as I know, FedEx goes to Denver, as does DHL, UPS, the USPS and lots of other folks. I mean, how hard can it be to get parts? I understand they also have banks there so that would not be a problem - if there is money, people could still be paid.

Methinks the problem is that being as there is no money, then there is no longer a team.

John, your recent responses mark you as someone who is not in the business. As someone who is I can tell you yes, with modern tech and transport you could run a team from anywhere. However being based outside of those key areas makes it much more difficult to recruit staff and have ready access to the many subcontractors and suppliers that make the motorsport world turn.

Note Penskes complete merge of race operations and move to North Carolina to a former Panasonic factory. Just makes life and business easier.

[JohnSSC]

Why thank you mountainstar! That description likely fits just about everyone here, not excluding yourself (no offense) despite your protests to the contrary. Whether I am in the business or not makes my point (or yours) no less valid.

The point that was evidently missed is that a team can survive outside of the areas you designated. The implication that was made in your post earlier was that RuSport/RSport/WhateverSport was folding simply because it was based in Denver. The reason they are closing their doors is lack of $$ - not location.

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

Why thank you mountainstar! That description likely fits just about everyone here, not excluding yourself (no offense) despite your protests to the contrary. Whether I am in the business or not makes my point (or yours) no less valid.

The point that was evidently missed is that a team can survive outside of the areas you designated. The implication that was made in your post earlier was that RuSport/RSport/WhateverSport was folding simply because it was based in Denver. The reason they are closing their doors is lack of $$ - not location.

It does make your point less valid if you have no clue what you are talking about.

Sure a team can survive anywhere with modern tech and transport. The point is that it is easier to do so in those key areas. Rusport always had a hard time from the beginning attracting personnel because of it's location.

As I understood it, Rusports days in Denver were limited once the team was sold. A 3rd car at PKV is more likely.