George and Menard to buy the IRL?

UPDATE Tony George spoke of the rumors involving himself and Wisconsin home improvement store magnate John Menard considering putting a group together to buy the IndyCar Series.

“I haven’t had any conversations with him regarding buying the IRL or taking over Milwaukee," George said. “I don’t know that either one of us wants to do that. We’ve been building our relationship with the IndyCar program now for two years and he has been sponsoring Ed. The indications are he wants to continue that.

“John is a good guy to have involved in our sport and a great guy to have involved in our team. He has a lot of racing interest and hopefully he’ll find an opportunity in continuing to be a part of it. He has talked to the League about being an engine provider in the future. He has that element of his motorsports portfolio to leverage. He is interested and I know he has expressed recent interest." Versus

07/30/09 The IRL's Commercial Director Terry Angstadt was also asked about the rumor that Tony George and John Menard were putting a group together to purchase the IndyCar Series away from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation.

“I would guess Mr. Menard has some liquid assets," Angstadt said. “Any good company could put a book together and see what the IndyCar Series is worth. If the group associated with those rumors were the likes of Tony George and John Menard I don’t think anyone would have a lot of anxiety about it. But if it were a group out of New York City that is going to flip it five years from now, that might cause a little anxiety.

“I would view those that feel that Tony George does not have a major role in open-wheel racing are very naïve. He may not have the title or the day-to-day operating of the League but the influence and life-long commitment to open-wheel racing is there and as strong as it has ever been." Versus.com