Holes in the history of IndyCar

Dear AR1: I am still confused as to the meaning of a "unified IndyCar racing series." For instance, I was under the impression that after the merger of the IRL and Champ Car all open wheel records from CART and Champ Car would be included going forward in the historical canon for the new "unified series." Why then when I look at IndyCar.com and I pull up the details on…say the Long Beach Grand Prix, why do I see only three previous race winners? It seems in telecasts too that the statistics given about certain issues tend to waver between more current IRL-only data and data with a longer history dating back through the pre-IRL years depending on what looks best at that given moment. Am I dreaming or is there in fact vast, winged conspiracy of some nature? Tim Howell, York, PA

Dear Tim, That was our impression as well, and we have noted the same discrepancies. Perhaps with the merger, Tony George was not able to negotiate with Kevin Kalkhoven and Jerry Forsythe the transfer/ownership of all the CART and Champ Car records into the IRL. That would be the only reason we could think of to cause such gaping holes in the history of IndyCars. Mark C.