Overheard in Long Beach – 3

UPDATE Rumor has it that the IRL is talking to the government of Mexico City about the possibility of a street race in 2009. This would surprise us because the cost to put on a race in the streets is sure to be a lot more expensive than using the already built Aut¢dromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

04/18/08 Long Beach GP honcho Jim Michaelian was all smiles Friday hinting that the crowd appears to be up over last year's legitimate 49,000 on Friday……the crowd gathered around the six historic Champ Car on display was huge indicating a lot of fans love Champ Car and regret that next year’s race will be run with Indy Cars. Many fans expressed to us the desire to see the new IRL car be the current Champ Car formula. Time will tell…..We hear the reason why Cosworth is not involved in doing Indy Car rebuilds is Roger Penske. Seems his Ilmor company is doing all the Indy Car rebuilds and that is keeping Ilmor from going belly up so Roger does not want to share in that work. With that said, another rumor going around is that Cosworth may be back in the IRL in 2010 (source) when the new car comes out. If true than why would they give people like Ian Bisco, who started the USA arm of Cosworth 25+ years ago, his walking papers after this race?