Champ Car makes its pitch to Dover

UPDATE We are hearing that Dover is trying to get the IRL and Champ Car to talk in the hopes of reaching some sort of agreement. Champ Car has reached out and in fact Tony George finally met with Kevin Kalkhoven in NY City (SPEED News reported) when both were in town to meet with Dover Motorsports and make their pitch for the Long Beach race. So far the meetings with Tony George have proved fruitless, but at least there is a dialog. We still maintain that this article's proposal is the best way forward for now. Mark C. 04/21/05 The buzz builds on what happened at a meeting Wednesday in New York. Kevin Kalkhoven, the most influential of the three team owners who own Champ Car, Long Beach Grand Prix Association chief Jim Michaelian and representatives from Dover Motorsports, the Grand Prix Association's parent company, were all a part of the gathering. Sources with knowledge of the meeting said Champ Car made its pitch to stay in Long Beach. Kalkhoven could not be reached for comment and the Grand Prix Association declined to comment on the meeting. The IRL has also been in discussions with Dover. "They are aware of our continued interest and our offer to sanction the event, and we are awaiting their response," said Ken Ungar, the IRL's vice president of business affairs, on Wednesday. What happened at the Wednesday meeting is certain to quickly become a part of a rumor mill. Press-Telegram