The merger could already be concluded with the IRL

According to American journalist Robin Miller, the negotiations that have been ongoing for two weeks between the IRL championship and Champ Car to find a unification agreement have finally concluded. Miller even stated yesterday on ‘SpeedTV’ that the merger would already be effective…

The teams of the Champcar Series reportedly stated at the same time that they had stopped all development work, awaiting the reunification of the two disciplines.

The director of the IRL, Tony George, has reportedly confirmed that 5 teams currently in Champcar have enrolled for the 2008 season in the IRL thanks to an entry pass of 1.2 million dollars.

No one has yet confirmed this information. More information is expected today, Wednesday, with an official announcement, but several clues could have predicted this merger:

Gerry Forsythe and Mike Lanigan (co-owner of Bourdais’s former team), had stated: « We are currently looking into joining a single series. »

For now, the Newman/Haas/Lanigan, PKV, and Forsythe teams are expected to enter the IRL championship with two cars each. Walker, Conquest, and Dale Coyne Racing should only have one car in 2008.

Minardi USA and Rocketsports have not revealed anything yet and might abandon the competition, while Pacific Coast Motorsports may move to the endurance championship in the ‘American Le Mans Series’.

More information in the coming days.