Champ Car Reunification might cost Road America
If reunification between Champ Car and the Indy Racing League happens, his track in Elkhart Lake probably will lose its 2008 race, but as of Wednesday he was not convinced that would happen.
Bruggenthies has no more insight, he said, than anyone else not directly involved in the negotiations.
"If I was Long Beach, I'd be taking Tums," Bruggenthies said Wednesday, referring to the California venue scheduled to hold the Champ Car World Series opener April 20.
"But right now I'm telling everyone on our staff, it's situation normal. The news is screwed up, but certainly if Champ Car were not to come to Road America this year we would certainly try to get whatever open-wheel series was out there, going forward."
Officials from the two series are said to have been close to an agreement for more than a week and have acknowledged in recent days that talks continue.
For them to strike a deal would end a 12-year rift during which interest in Indy-style racing in America declined significantly.
"This whole thing is crazy," Bruggenthies said. "It's going to have to sort out really quick. . . . I'm thinking the end of this week. Because people need to put things together, continue business or start business."
Road America's Champ Car race is scheduled for Aug. 10 as part of a doubleheader weekend with the American Le Mans Series. The Milwaukee Mile in West Allis has an IndyCar Series event scheduled for June 1, one week after the Indianapolis 500. JSOnline.com