Russo and Eric talk shop, and Eric gets 2 phone calls

[The Snout]

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/champcar/14019/

[Dov]

From speedtv.com:

“Champ Car is changing the business model in motorsports,” believes Russo, speaking with the confidence of a preacher. “It is the first time a high-tech open-wheel series is committed to having a single engine builder, a single chassis manufacturer and a single tire supplier.” “That means the fans are buying tickets to see a competition between drivers, instead of among 800 ECU [Engine Control Unit] software engineers,” he explains.

Although he reckons the Cosworth deal has reassured Champ Car’s long-term survival, Russo makes a point of outlining that’s just the tip of the iceberg: “It’s not the purchase of Cosworth which has cemented the future of Champ Car. It is the series leadership that has, and this acquisition is just the latest example of [Kalkhoven and Forsythe’s] capabilities.”

“There’s not a doubt in my mind Champ Car’s business model is the one that makes more sense [in the USA at present], at least from a team owner’s perspective,” states Russo.

Since the confirmation of the Cosworth purchase, Bachelart reveals, “I’ve got phone calls from two former Champ Car owners who thought the series was going to die and who are now telling me, ‘Things are different, I want to come back.’”

[The Snout]

I beat you by 3 minutes Dov , but if the mods want to remove my duplicate thread no problem.

[Dov]

Hey Snout,

Yeah, this article seems to be very popular. Not a big surprise since it's another positive Champ Car article of the many that have been posted today. At least my post was only three minutes behind your post and Snrub was a distant third.....try to keep up, will ya Snrub?! Snout, since you did post this article first then it's only fair that the mods delete mine and Snrubs.

[marcus]

I will just merge the two threads guys

[macdaddy]

One must wonder which two people phoned Mr. Bachelart.
And whether or not the fans want them back...

[Kicking-back]

It would be churlish of fans not to welcome back any good driver who wants to be in the series.

[Uesque]

Originally posted by macdaddy
One must wonder which two people phoned Mr. Bachelart.
And whether or not the fans want them back...

Who among the former CART'ers is running with either Chevy power or Toyota engines that they're paying for?

[Snrub]

Originally posted by macdaddy
One must wonder which two people phoned Mr. Bachelart.
And whether or not the fans want them back...

I think the fans will accept back pretty much any of the teams. I resent Ganassi because he's a TOOL. I don't feel good towards Andretti, but it's less pronounced.

I bet it's more recent ones, like Emmo's team. Rahal left only when he thought he had no choice. Fernandez might have been regretfull, but he had a much better season in the IRL than he ever could have had in CC. Obviously it wasn't Penske. Nunn was positive towards the series when he left. Who's left to mention?

[Brian W Keske]

Originally posted by Snrub
I bet it's more recent ones, like Emmo's team. Rahal left only when he thought he had no choice.

The very strong rumor via Autosport is that Rahal is going to finally run a Prodrive Ferrari in the ALMS and Le Mans next year. To be followed by him running the Prodrive Aston Martin in 2006.

I would say that will keep Rahal pretty busy in addition to his IRL team. And I don't think he will leave the IRL.

[Omega99]

I don't expect we'll see any teams switching over form the IRL this year. If it happens that's great, and the fact that there is some positive word from those who left is also great. Sponsorship is too scarce in OW right now, so I don't think anyone's going to take a real big chance if it might mean losing what they have.

[f1manoz]

I doubt we'll see any of that bunch crossing over any time soon, not while the Yen keeps their teams chugging along. Once the Yen runs out, then some will go cabbing, others may come back with their tails between their legs, wanting a piece of the pie.

[BootsOntheSide]

The most likely teams to return are probably Fittipaldi (in one form or another) and perhaps Mo Nunn, although publically he has been putitng a lot of effort into finding new sponsors and drivers for the IRL. Rahal and Fernandez both have Honda on their side, so there'd be no logic in them returning.

[Snrub]

Exactly what I was thinking Boots. I don't think the odds on Nunn are very good (500:1?) but that's the only one I can see switching.

[macdaddy]

There are two, even three, teams that I would not welcome back.

[jjspierx]

I'd welcome back ANY team, even Ganassi and AGR. They are big names and have big money and sponsors behind. Thats what are series needs, no matter how much pride we have, we need to be excepting and let them back if they wanted to. IMO of course.

[macdaddy]

They should be signing up for swimming lessons now then, before it's too late. They can't take the bridge as it burned down and they never bothered to try to fix it.

[racefanatic]

I'd love to see Patrick's team back, even though I guess it's Walker now, right?

I totally agree with you jjspierx, any team should be welcomed back.

[macdaddy]

When does Marlboro have to bail out of motorsports in the USA?
That would be a coup, possibly the proverbial straw.
But I'm just wishful-thinking.
(Unless, of course, Japan bails too)

[codename_47]

Well, it's probably "just" (like that'd be a bad thing! ) people like Stefan Johanssan, who dissapeared when the Pookfare did.....

Or perhaps Hemelgarn, remember all the fun we had with that one earlier in the year....

However, if, and it's a big if I feel, it turns out to be one of the current other series teams, then I would NOT be happy about their return to the fold, but I wouldn't object to their coming back, mainly because of the massive boost to Champcar (well, further boost! ) that even the non-specialist press would have to pick up on, and also after a while the true reasons for their switch in the first place would have to come out.

....imagine, just for a second, that Penske decided to come back (yeah I know, but stick with me on this one!)...since he was a barometer of the first switcharoo a year before everyone else, imagine what sort of message that would send out to the wide world!

Keep on dreaming!

[macdaddy]

We were "dreaming the same dream" for a minute there, codename!

[Liz]

I don't want Andretti or any of his drivers back, I don't want Helio back. We'll talk about Dixon and Manning, who are only in it for the money, when someone has money to pay them.

[StickShift]

Liz, care to explain why everyone other than Dixon and Manning are in it?

[dubby99]

I would like to see Dixon back because he is championship material or he is suppose to be. He proved he was a champion going flat out around the ovals, now lets put him back in a real race car on real race tracks and see how he goes.

But i would love to see Kenny Brack back in champcars but i think his open wheel days are done.

For now anyway.

[macdaddy]

I'd welcome back most any of the drivers.
For a select few team owners, it's a different story.
I'll be the first to admit that I'm of poor memory, but some things become engrained forever.