Allmendinger in Cup race, leaving Champ Car for NASCAR

UPDATE #2 This rumor is upgraded to 'fact' today – See Hot News. Rumors say that Allmendinger was being paid $200,000 a year to drive Champ Cars for Forsythe Championship Racing. Allmendinger was offered a three-year NASCAR contract at three million dollars per year, plus percentages. Allmendinger’s management team reportedly gave Forsythe an opportunity to match that offer, but Forsythe declined and broke off negotiations, saying the gap between what Allmendinger wants and what he is willing to pay is insurmountable.

10/23/06 According to this SPEEDTV.com article, A.J. Allmendinger is leaving Champ Car for NASCAR and it will be confirmed Tuesday at a Red Bull press conference.

"I spoke with A.J. and his agent tonight and they informed me of their decision," said Gerald Forsythe, who hired Allmendinger after he was fired by RuSPORT four races into this season.

"I told him that I was disappointed, our team was disappointed and Champ Car fans will be disappointed but I wished him well."

"They want three million dollars a year plus prize money and that's just not realistic," said Forsythe last week. "I want A.J. and Champ Car wants A.J. but not at that price."

[Editor's Note: Credit to Forsythe for not upsetting the salary structure in Champ Car by giving in to Allmendinger's demands. Yes, AJ is good, and yes he is American, but no one is irreplaceable. In fact, Scott Speed, from his F1 exposure, is far more popular than Allmendinger around the world, and with Champ Car becoming more global, they are better off investing the money in Speed should he lose his F1 ride. With that said, everyone in Champ Car is sorry to see Allmendinger go as he was a nice kid. We have removed AJ from our 2007 Champ Car Silly Season page. This opens up a good ride and a lot of drivers will be clamoring for it.]

10/23/06 Champ Car driver A.J. Allmendinger has been entered to drive Team Red Bull's entry in this weekend's Bass Pro Shops 500 Nextel Cup race, but he needs to be approved by NASCAR before he can focus on making his Cup debut. Allmendinger, who has five wins in the Champ Car series this season, will try to qualify for Saturday's Craftsman Truck Series race in a fourth Bill Davis Racing entry. Allmendinger has made truck series starts at New Hampshire and Talladega with that team.

Allmendinger is believed to be the leading candidate to join Brian Vickers when Team Red Bull begins fielding two Toyotas in the Nextel Cup Series next year. Bill Elliott had long been considered a candidate, but he failed to qualify the team's entry when it made its debut at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Elliott was also to drive for the team at Atlanta and Texas, but he'll now drive for R&J Racing at Atlanta. Scene Daily