Why did the IRL not pick up Atlantic Series?

A reader writes, Dear AutoRacing1.com, Why didn't the IRL pick up the Atlantic Series from Champ Car? it would make a lot more sense that being sanctioned by IMSA where it will die a slow death. David Hauser

Dear David, We hear it was an ownership issue between the IRL and Atlantic Series owners Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe. We hear Tony wanted to own the Atlantic series and not pay anything for it.

Atlantic is not that much in the spotlight since the demise of Champ Car, nevertheless, it is interesting to check the competitiveness of the series, cars and particularly competitors. At Edmonton, 7 Atlantic drivers were faster than Marty Roth's IndyCar during the race. At Putnam Park, a 1.76 mile test track near Indianapolis, the Indy Lights cars were 4 to 5 seconds slower than the Atlantics. Perhaps the Atlantic cars are too fast for the IRL, where would they fit into their ladder system?

Atlantic is still the best racing ground to form young talented professional drivers looking to get hired at the top of the motorsports rank and IRL team principals will still have to seriously look at these drivers as their next hire. Mark C.