Overheard in Long Beach – 4
04/19/08 Paul Gentilozzi tells us that his Rocketsports team has no immediate plans to field a car in the Indy Racing League in the near future…………We do hear that Forsythe Racing is taking a hard look at the IRL and ALMS. Word is they are talking to Porsche about running their cars in the ALMS LMP2 class, although they have not ruled out a possible go and LMP1……..We hear Forsythe is preparing some IRL cars for Sam Schmidt Racing to run in this year's Indy 500, which is giving them some experience with the Dallara should they decide to have a go at the IRL in 2009…….Regarding our rumor from yesterday about why Cosworth was not part of the merger deal with the IRL, we hear that Kalkhoven and company did try to include Cosworth to do some of the IRL rebuilds but this source also said that Roger Penske would have none of it. If true how is it that a 1) team owner is an engine supplier (this is certainly a conflict of interest)? and 2) a team owner who actually also happens to be a supplier, has this much influence over the IRL? We thought Tony George wanted to be sole owner and leader (i.e. dictator) so he can call all the shots a la the France family (NASCAR) and Bernie Ecclestone (F1). It seems as though Penske is calling all the shots and Tony is his yes-man. This type of team owner influence of the series is what ruined CART so the IRL would be wise to avoid a repeat scenario.