Champ Car team co-owner Carl Haas plans to take his multiple
title-winning team to the rival IndyCar Series in 2009 if a merger between the
two championships cannot be agreed before then.
Haas, who owns Champ Car's most successful team
Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing with Paul Newman an Mike Lanigan, told SpeedTV:
"It hasn't happened yet but we've certainly considered going.
"It may not happen this year, but it's highly probably that
we'll go for 2009 because there needs to be one series."
There have been several unsuccessful attempts to unify Champ
Car and IRL in the 13 years since they split, but with only Paul Tracy, Graham
Rahal and Oriol Servia confirmed so far for Champ Car this season, Indy boss
Tony George is rumoured to have proposed a new deal to Champ Car bosses.
Team PKV co-owner and 1996 Champ Car champion Jimmy Vasser is
eager for the two series to unite as soon as possible: "We've got to make a deal
with Tony George," he said.
But Conquest Racing boss Eric Bachelart believes there are
still issues that prevent a successful merger: "The problem I see is that the
IRL and Tony [George] would want control and that's tough for the Champ Car
guys," he said.
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