Overheard in Long Beach

UPDATE There is a possibility of fielding an Indy 500 entry. We have a good relationship with an existing team, who will help us pull the equipment together that we need. I'm sure nobody is surprised to hear, the only thing that I need to do now is to get the money, and that's my mission, put a program together and do a good enough job. For us it's really important to compete in IndyCar as often as possible. It's our intention to build back into IndyCar again. Therefore, getting as many events under our belts this year is extremely important. Hopefully, we can pull that off. We will be making an announcement as soon as it's a done deal. Derrick Walker

04/19/08 Alex Tagliani who, like many other good Champ Car drivers, was left hung out to dry when Champ Car folded in the 11th hour, is said to be talking to Duncan Dayton about the team's possible 2nd entry in ALMS in 2009…….Derrick Walker tells us he still has no definite plans after this race (outside of the Atlantic Series) but he's trying to keep the doors open in hopes that he can put something together in Indy Car or sports cars for 2009……..The grandstands look 80% or more full for the ALMS race and the crowd looks every bit as good as 2007, so we hear race officials are happy with the result given the slow economy…….We are hearing that Pacific Coast Motorsports may announce their previously rumored Indy Car program on Wednesday with the goal of starting in the Indy 500 and running the rest of the schedule. Mario Dominguez is still rumored to be the driver that will be announced…..We hear that Tony Cotman reminded the drivers that the nine transition to the IRL drivers are running for IndyCar points so be careful not to take them out or spoil their result…..There was a rumor going around that if the IRL IndyCar race was not able to run on Sunday in Motegi the race would just be cancelled and no points awarded because of the logistics for the teams to get back to the USA in time for next weekend's Kansas City race. That would have meant no points would be awarded here in Long Beach for the nine transitioning drivers, but now we are hearing that the IRL may try for Monday should Sunday be a washout….Speaking of the Kansas race IndyCar race, we hear it's a sellout.