Orientation meeting for Champ Car today at Indy
All nine of the Champ Car World Series teams were on hand for an introductory meeting with Indy Racing League officials Those nine teams accounted for 16 car-and-driver combinations last season. If most join the IRL, the league record of 31 cars for a race other than the Indianapolis 500 could be approached. There were 31 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 1997.
"That's absolutely a good sign," said Brian Barnhart, the IRL's president of competition. "This was just an information meeting, but the interest is clearly high."
Three Champ Car teams — Conquest Racing, Walker Racing and Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing — submitted paperwork Monday to receive cars from the IRL while others are expected to soon. Indy Star
02/25/08 The IRL and Champ Car will hold an orientation meeting today at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, after which the IRL "will know which former Champ Car World Series teams are serious about joining the IndyCar Series." Officials from six Champ Car teams accounting for 10 drivers are expected to attend. If "all participate, the IRL will have 26 cars." Expect an announcement on Wednesday when the IRL will hold a press conference.