By Steve Ballard, Indystar.com
May 11, 2006
Shooting down Internet rumors to the contrary, Indy Racing League founder Tony George said no announcement of an accord between the IRL and Champ Car World Series is imminent.
George said he continues to talk with his Champ Car counterpart, Kevin Kalkhoven, but busy schedules this month for both have limited their opportunities.
"I'm anxious to continue the dialogue, but there's nothing I can offer at this point," George said. "There's a lot of unanswered questions. I tried to caution everyone a few months ago not to get their hopes too high."
Encouraged by the merger talks, Champ Car veteran Paul Tracy has decided to forgo a jump to NASCAR and will announce today in Houston a five-year extension of his contract at Forsythe Racing.
Although he still believes he was wrongly declared the runner-up in a controversial finish to the 2002 Indy 500, Tracy said by phone from Houston that he would welcome a return if a merger happens.
"If they get back together and all the best drivers in the world are there again, that's something that definitely would interest me," Tracy said. "I still feel like I won that race, even if I don't have the trophy. But I'd like to come back and get another shot at winning there.