By Andrew Cutler
February 14 2008

For 13 years fans have been praying for an IRL/CCWS merger. The flurry of recent developments, editorial musings and internet rumors suggest that something along those lines may be in the works. Here is what has been happening - as best as I have been able to understand it, that is!

About one month ago it was reported that, back in October of '07,  IRL founder Tony George floated an offer to the teams of the CCWS - the financially troubled successor organization to CART - in which he offered to pay for their purchase of chassis & engines if they would join the IndyCar Series. Intially, the offer was turned down: in fact, not all CCWS squads claim to have even known about it.

Then, about two weeks ago, the word got out that CCWS management were in "serious" negotiations with George about unifying the two series, possibly even in time for this season. A major sticking point - some say THE major point - was a scheduling conflict between the race dates between the ICS' Motegi (Japan) race and the CCWS' Long Beach GP, one of three races that the ICS is rumored to be interested in folding in to their schedule. Tony flew to Motegi to talk to Honda officials (they own the track) about changing the date of that event. He came back earlier this week, reportedly with Honda's blessing to alter the schedule as he saw fit.

So, what changed at the CCWS between last October and early February? Internet rumor says that CCWS owners Kevin Kalkhoven (pictured above), Gerry Forsythe, Paul Gentilozzi and Dan Pettit were told by financial experts that the series would face several further seasons of running up debts before they could hope to turn a profit.

To this point, there have been no comments as to the status of the talks with the IRL, and that has gotten alot of people on the edges of their seats. CCWS venues are wondering if they will be holding races this year. Teams and drivers are wondering which series they will be competing in, or if they will even be competing at all. 

In the end, the hand of CCWS management may be forced by the league's team owners. Newman-Haas-Lanigan, the dominant squad in the series, has been openly musing about switching to the IRL by 2009. Uncertian - and somewhat impatient - with what is going on currently, Walker Racing has openly stated that they will make the jump this year if they can find proper sponsorship funding.

Tony George is in England this weekend for the wedding of IndyCar driver Scott Dixon, so any merger discussions - if that is indeed what they are - are on hold for now. I'll post a follow-up article as developments warrant.