So here is Part 1 as I have it titled… the way things are going, we may be up to Part 100 by the time everything is sorted out.

Without further adieu, here is the open wheel addendum to my column of this week (click here if you would like to read the News & Notes for Feb. 17, 2008)

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It’s done, race fans… DONE! And damn if open wheel hasn’t desperately needed this for years!

Tony George (IndyCar Series lead man) and Kevin Kalkhoven, Dan Pettit, Gerry Forsythe and Paul Gentilozzi (the 4 Amigos who have tried to run Champ Car since they bought it out of bankruptcy a few years ago) seem to have reached an agreement to run together as one series beginning in a month (more specifically March 29 – currently slated as the IndyCar opener in Homestead, FL). There is an IndyCar test next week and from what I have been told, there will be Champ Car teams in attendance and possibly even running as full time teams on track. In the meantime, Champ Car teams such as PKV and Forsythe have been welcomed into the IRL Andretti Green and Ganassi team shops in Indy to inquire about borrowing or purchasing parts to help begin their new Dallara chassis programs (which will be required in this merger of sorts).

Music to my ears!… as I know it is music to your ears as well, if you are an open wheel fan.

But the notes are a bit out of tune for some in the Southern parts of this country. Those in the NASCAR community are starting to get a little nervous I believe. REMEMBER, in 1995, the last time when the open wheel series were together as one, THEY were much more popular than NASCAR. Since the OW split in ‘96, NASCAR has gradually come to enjoy their new found fame. I’m sure they don’t want it to end as the ultra high paychecks and mainstream media coverage has become a nice part of life for many. But, what goes up, must come down… those of us who have followed Open Wheel since birth have witnessed that very fact over the last decade and a half.

Case in point, the France Family, owners and operators of the NASCAR series and many of the ISC tracks, including Kansas, have allegedly not been very cooperative in moving the IndyCar Kansas race date to accommodate this merging of the series. In the end it most likely won’t matter as many Champ Car date conflicts will be wiped off the schedule, the IndyCar Japan race will be willing to be flexible and Kansas will go on as scheduled… but that was not a nice gesture to have shown everyone in the early stages of these changes.

Then, on the NASCAR Now show on ESPN Tuesday night, journalist Terry Blount was making comments that this open wheel merger is “too little, too late”. Dude, are you serious? Even in studio guest, Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman said Terry may be speaking too soon on that point. Terry was asked if the current 4 open wheel defectors (Dario Franchitti, Sam Hornish, Patrick Carpentier and Jacques Villeneuve) had known that this merger was indeed this close to becoming a reality, would they have still made the move to NASCAR for 2008?

Terry: “Oh absolutely. Had all 4 of those guys known

this was going to happen, believe me the're on the train

to NASCAR as soon as they can do it… As far as keeping

those guys around, that wasn't going to happen.”

Hmmm, someone needed to enlighten him to the fact that Dario Franchitti wasn’t even supposed to campaign a season in IndyCar last year as he was contemplating retirement… his win record wasn’t huge and he wanted too much money for someone with that sort of resume! But Michael Andretti made it happen and lo and behold look at what luck was the result? WOW, is all I can say… the switch to NASCAR, although shocking, does indeed make sense for his wife Ashley Judd as she seems to be convinced that not only can the NASCAR coverage better help her career, but that those tin tops are safer. Hey Ashley, last year they were NOT safer… but with this CORN car, you may have won out on luck yet again. Good on ya, Judd… you are a nice good luck charm in more ways than one!

Now I’ll give Mr. Blount Sam Hornish… we all knew Sam just wanted a new challenge after 3 championships and the Indy 500 win in ’06… plus, Sam is a really good talent and NASCAR may suit him for a few years… but I’m sure he’ll be back for the Indy 500 at least once or twice more.

Patrick Carpentier and Jacques Villeneuve? Well, JV told me at the F1 race two years ago that he just doesn’t trust the IndyCar chassis and he continued at that time to believe that they just weren’t safe enough… so if he comes back to American Open Wheel, it may only be because his jaunt in NASCAR has been surprisingly unsuccessful (lack of sponsorship). Hey JV, we WILL indeed welcome you back… you were the last Indy 500 winner and champion of the series as one.

I’m not clear on Carpentier’s contract in stock cars, but even with that said, I bet he is back this year for sure… stay tuned.

So as of now, with Tomas Scheckter being only a part time driver for whatever reason, we are looking at about 22 full time cars on the grid in the merged series. Check Cavin's blog (link below) for the proposed lineup.

I will write more, possibly on a daily basis this week, as news is breaking in many directions and it is certainly getting exciting!

BUT, in the meantime, as I mentioned, THE most informed source on this subject is Curt Cavin with the Indy Star… I highly recommend you keep tabs of his blog here.

And until my next writing… let’s get ready and excited for a SWEET re-birth of IndyCar!!!!

CrashG@SpeedFreaks.TV