IRL to buy time on ESPN in 2007

UPDATE This rumor is downgraded to 'false' today. IRL spokesperson Fred Nation told AutoRacing1.com, "There is no change in our contract with ABC/ESPN and it will continue to be the same rights paying arrangement it has always been and the contract continues through the end of the 2009 season."

06/21/06 Rumor has it that due to low TV ratings the IRL will have to buy time on ESPN starting in 2007. All other racing series are time-buys except NASCAR. The IRL camp criticized Champ Car in recent years because their TV has been a time buy for a long time. Now the IRL joins the boat…..meanwhile the Champ Car/IRL split goes on……