Champ Car Super V8 merger in works?
“The relationship has worked well on the Gold Coast up until now and only has one year left on our current agreement. At this stage we have no plans and nor have we discussed the future to be involved in Indy beyond the event next October.
“I am disappointed that these type of speculative comments would come up when at no stage have I been asked for my opinion. V8 Supercars Australia has an outstanding success record with events both in Australia and internationally and our primary market remains Australia.
“Next year we will introduce a new street race in New Zealand which on advance sales has almost sold out six months before the event begins in Hamilton. The board of V8 Supercars Australia takes its' responsibility to the championship in a serious manner and does not conduct speculative concepts via the press."
10/21/07 Champ Car series vice-president David Higdon said Sunday it was premature to start talking about a deal between his US-based Open Wheel Racing Series and the Australian-based V8s, which would mean double billing at some events in 2009.
The double bill works perfectly at the Lexmark Indy and it is understood V8s supremo Tony Cochrane met Champ Car boss Kevin Kalkhoven last week to work out a possible strategy, although nothing concrete had been settled.
Under the proposal being discussed, the Champ Cars and V8s would have equal billing at street circuit races. Mr. Higdon said Champ Car already co-existed with other classes at some races in the US.
"This is a great recipe here," said Mr. Higdon.
"We're looking at any scenario that will help Champ Car and help promote motorsports in the US.
"We're constantly in conversations with key people (but) just because you have something that's wildly successful here, that doesn't mean you can do it elsewhere.
"Obviously this is a top-tier event and it's the model for the rest of the series. I think there are good opportunities for both organizations to have co-sanctioned events but it's early days."
Team Australia boss Craig Gore said at the weekend that speculation of a takeover by V8 organizers was 'crap'.
But he did support the concept of the V8s joining Champ Car in parts of Europe and the US to run as a double act.
Mr. Cochrane has been trying for some time to extend the reach of V8s, kicking off races in the Middle East and China. Goldcoast.com.au
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Tony Cochrane |
10/21/07 Rumor here in Australia suggests that plans are being drawn up for V8 Supercars and Champ Cars to form a shock merger and duplicate the annual Gold Coast Indy event worldwide. This may explain why we spotted Tony Cochrane in Assen last month (See related rumor).
The Indy 300 festival would be used as a blueprint for how two series can develop a relationship and be driven into key international markets.
There is speculation that V8 Supercars chairman Tony Cochrane is being courted by Champ Car to usher in a bold new era.
The exclusive development could be up and running by 2009 and see V8 Supercars and Champ Cars run together in Long Beach, South Africa, Asia and elsewhere around the world.