You always hurt the one you love
The one you shouldn't hurt at all
You always take the sweetest rose
And crush it till the petals fall
You always break the kindest heart
With a hasty word you can't recall
So If I broke your heart last night
It's because I love you most of all
The Intrepid Curt Cavin is reporting that Tony George will be returning to Indianapolis today from a Formula One-related conference in Florida (start your own rumors with that one) while Kevin Kalkhoven is arriving from London after conferring with penguins. Or family members. Whatever.
It looks like the powers that be will be having a nice afternoon of sitting down in person and trying to seal the deal, which at this point seems to still be held up by the same issue that existed two weeks ago.
Still to be resolved is the April 19-20 weekend that currently shows an IRL race in Motegi, Japan, and a Champ Car race in Long Beach, Calif., the latter of which has a contract that must be executed.Wow. Asking Honda to cancel their showcase event in their homeland so that the IRL could feature a race in Long Beach sponsored by Toyota would require some serious bowling balls in Tony George’s pants, but both series have gone so far down this path together in recent weeks they can’t let a little thing like upsetting the sole engine manufacturer get in the way of the Almighty Unification.
Jim Michaelian, Long Beach Grand Prix president and chief executive officer, said Wednesday he is still awaiting unification notice and final details.
Michaelian said he is aware one option is to stage both races as planned. If that happens, Champ Car's teams and its cars would go to Long Beach and its participants would receive the same number of points as the IRL drivers receive for racing in Japan.
Another option would be for the IRL to cancel the Japan event even though tickets are already on sale.
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This re-marriage is looking as messy as the last divorce, but one way or another it really really really looks like it's going to get done.
You think having a one-year deal for the "Honda Indianapolis 500" would help smooth it over? Just a random thought.
Maybe the "Indianapolis 500 Presented By Honda", but I think the Hulman-George family has sworn off ever putting a sponsors name before the event name.
Fair enough. "Presented by Honda" works, too. If Motegi is promised a race again for 2009, Honda has a vested interest in making a sport they've so strongly backed succeed.
Also, with their F1 program struggling, despite massive funding, they need IndyCar to be a solid secondary effort.
The Intrepid Curt Cavin is reporting that Tony George will be returning to Indianapolis today from a Formula One-related conference in Florida (start your own rumors with that one)
I believe that Tony George will STUN THE RACING WORLD and announce tomorrow the formulation of the Indy Formula One Racing League (IFORL). The new league will be a lower priced series allowing for American drivers, chassis makers, and engine manufacturers to compete in Formula One. To entice existing Formula One teams to participate, there will be a 12/8 rule added for qualifications.
When reached for comment, George replied "Well, through patient application our formula worked for Indy Car racing, and now that we're all back on the same page, more or less, I decided to repay Bernie for the 2005 US Grand Prix. Besides, we have our own roadcourse right smack dab in the middle of the Speedway."
Sources could not confirm rumors of a George forming a new Indy Stock Car Racing League (ISCRL), however. Nor would George confirm Toyota or Honda being allowed within 100 miles of the new IFORL series.
Well, Jeff said I could start my own rumors.
To be fair, LB is presented by Toyota dealers, not the corporation itself.
That said, you're still about 14 really away from me being convinced it is a done deal. I'm kind of a pessimist, though.