Team owner says he needs sponsorship to move as talk of bankruptcy hits CCWS
By Curt Cavin
curt.cavin@indystar.com
February 13, 2008
There might still be two major open-wheel racing series in the U.S., but Champ Car World Series team owner Derrick Walker said Tuesday he is focused on one, and it's not Champ Car.
Walker insisted all of his team's manpower is concentrated on developing an Indy Racing League program for 2008. If he can secure sponsorship, his cars will be running in Tony George's series.
"I'm not there yet (with sponsorship), but I'm cautiously optimistic," he said.
Walker waited with most of the motor sports community for news that Champ Car is being absorbed by the IRL. But George, the IRL's founder who returned Tuesday from a key business trip to Japan, said he didn't have "anything to say at this point."
Champ Car executive vice president David Higdon told The Associated Press the series plans to continue with its 2008 season as planned.
George and IRL presidents Brian Barnhart and Terry Angstadt went to Japan to meet with Honda about moving the April 19 race at its Twin Ring Motegi circuit to another date to accommodate Champ Car's marquee event, the Long Beach (Calif.) Grand Prix, which is set for April 20.
If Champ Car folds, the IRL is expected to add the Long Beach race and a few others to its schedule this season.
Walker said he isn't giving up on Champ Car amid rumors the series is headed for bankruptcy and closure. His team has its cars ready for duty if and when they're called. Long Beach is the series' first race.
But Walker said a lack of confidence in Champ Car's management -- plus money owed by his program's sponsor -- led him to keep his cars away from last week's series test at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway. Participating would have cost $150,000, he said.
"If I'm going to spend that kind of money, I want to be damn sure there's going to be a series, and I'm not," he said.
Walker said Champ Car's owners stopped attending races early last year, and there wasn't a plan in place to match rising costs. The combination led him to consider the IRL, which he left following the 2001 season.
If Champ Car collapses, Walker's team will be one of nine Champ Car teams representing 15 cars the IRL will try to bring into its fold. Walker believes only one team is certain to join the IRL: Newman Haas Lanigan, which fields cars for Justin Wilson and Graham Rahal.
Everyone else, Walker said, will have a tough decision.
"It's going to be very difficult to make the switch -- financially, technically and time-wise," he said. "Maybe half (of the teams) have the resources to do it and could be there, but the rest of us are going to struggle.
"Some may want to give the effort but some may not, and they'll just give up (and disband)."