An update on nothing

After growing accustomed to a constant flood of unification updates from everyone’s favorite “unnamed sources” the spigot seems to have been turned off all of a sudden. Maybe it’s the clam before the storm or maybe it’s the calm after the storm, but either way there isn’t much.

But here's what there is for sake of discussion.

In his Q&A Curt Cavin refuted the “Kevin Kalkhoven has cleaned out his office” report earlier posted here, and today he has an interesting quote from a previously silent IRL owner, who ponders the obvious.

"I want to see where we fit into this when it's all worked out," (Dennis Reinbold) said. "Obviously, the Champ Car teams will get some assistance to run. We'll see if that applies to any of us (already in the IRL)."

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How about similar sentiment from another IRL team owner, Mr AJ Foyt?

Regarding the negotiations between the Indy Racing League and Champ Car, Foyt said, "I don't really know as you hear this today and that tomorrow. I haven't talked with Brian (Barnhart) or Tony (George) about it, so I really don't know. I don't know whether the merger would make much of a difference, although we might pick up a couple more races somewhere. I do know it would be better to have one circuit than two; that would be a plus.

"The top names and owners are there (IRL) now and the only ones you would pick up would be Newman-Haas. I don't know of any American drivers other than Graham Rahal over there, plus Paul Tracy, who is a Canadian driver. Other than car count I don't know where you would gain."

Reportedly, the IRL stands ready to offer incentives to Champ Car teams to make the change. "I would throw a fit and pack up my bags if that was true," Foyt said. "And others may do the same."

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You do not want Foyt angry with you. Just as Arie Luyendyk.

Meanwhile Robin’s latest update expressed frustration, so much so he just vomited out a bunch of unverifiable stuff.

In the past 24 hours I’ve heard:
• Gerry Forsythe has decided to keep Champ Car going without Kevin Kalkhoven.
• Forsythe is buying all of Derrick Walker’s equipment because he’s going to have to field at least six cars to make sure there’s a dozen on the grid.
• Kalkhoven and Craig Gore, the co-owner of Team Australia who still owes Derrick Walker a fortune from 2007, are going to run a team in the Indy Racing League.
• Kalkhoven owns the majority rights to Long Beach so he’ll still cut a deal with George to have the IRL there in April and Motegi will be postponed until 2009.
• Champ Car will show up at Long Beach for the season opener, then disband and join Tony George’s series at Indianapolis.
• The four Champ Car owners will have a conference call on Friday to decide their fate.
• They’ve already decided to file for bankruptcy but, for some reason, they’re dragging their feet.

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OK, then. One thing that keeps being mentioned in a “unified” schedule is the CCWS event in Edmonton, although a report from the Calgary Sun indicates that event – like so many other Champ Car races – is bleeding like a stuck pig. Except cash instead of blood, of course. Sorry if the metaphors seems off lately.