Champ Car owner doesn’t see many teams in IRL

Paul Gentilozzi

The four owners of the Champ Car World Series could decide the fate of the Indianapolis-based series today, but one of them offered a word of caution. Paul Gentilozzi doesn’t expect to see very many, if any, Champ Car teams in the Indy Racing League this season.

“I don’t know of a Champ Car team that is a go," Gentilozzi said today. “(One owner) told me he’d run (the Indianapolis 500), but he will not run the season."

Walker Racing is the only Champ Car team that has confirmed its interest in joining the IRL, but team owner Derrick Walker reiterated today that he still doesn’t have the financial backing to make the move.

Said Gentilozzi of moving his Rocketsports team to the IRL: “I can’t make the numbers work."

Gentilozzi said his Brazilian driver and sponsor aren’t interested in oval-track racing, which is the cornerstone of the IRL.

Gentilozzi said Champ Car’s owners have a document in their possession to vote on, and a decision could come as early as today. Bankruptcy is among the options they could consider. Gentilozzi did not discuss the document’s details, but it likely centers on bankruptcy of the series they purchased in 2004.

Gerald Forsythe, Kevin Kalkhoven and Dan Pettit are the other owners of the series.
David Higdon, Champ Car’s executive vice president of strategic development, said there will be no announcement today.

“We’re in the same position we were last week: Discussions are being held, but nothing is done," he said. “We’re continuing to operate as Champ Car. We should know imminently which direction we’re heading." Indy Star