Champ Car, IRL hit roadblock

The latest merger discussions between Indy Racing League and the rival Champ Car World Series have apparently ended in yet another failure.

Or have they?

After information leaked Thursday that the rival open-wheel series were close to unification, with a snag over race dates the biggest hurdle, Champ Car co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven was irate.

"Unfortunately, leaks and media reports about a possible unification of Champ Car and the Indy Racing League have significantly hampered discussions," Kalkhoven said in a statement Friday. "Over the past three years, we have fielded and offered several proposals regarding unification of the two premier U.S.-based open-wheel racing series, but we have been unable to reach an acceptable solution. Discussions currently are at a standstill, and we therefore are proceeding with plans to continue as Champ Car."

The story originally was reported by speedtv.com.

IRL founder Tony George has offered Champ Car teams free Dallara chassis and Honda engines, along with the $1.2 million in incentives it is paying each of its own teams to race in the IndyCar Series in 2008, IRL spokesman John Griffin said Friday.

All of the IRL entries race Dallaras with normally aspirated Honda engines, while Champ Car teams race Panoz DP-01 chassis with turbocharged Cosworth engines.

If the latest deal were to go through, the IRL also would absorb at least three of the 14 races on the Champ Car schedule -- Long Beach, Calif.; Edmonton, Alberta; and Surfers Paradise, Australia.