February 22, 2008: when Champ Car and IndyCar merged

This merger has been in the news for some time. Tony George, owner of the Indy Racing League, was calling out competitors Kelvin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe. Several times, George had tried to merge the two competitors, without success because of the question of control of this new league.

But the difficulties in managing the Champ Car in previous seasons forced the Champ Car leaders to accept George's conditions. The IRL then absorbed its younger brother, which led to an association being necessary for the survival of both bodies, at a time when audiences were very low compared to their great rival, the NASCAR.

To bring the new competition up to par with NASCAR, then the market leader in motorsport in the United States, anything goes. This gives rise to extraordinary brawls through advertisements, declarations or even low blows.

The IRL leaders are trying to discredit the big competitor by any means possible. L'indicar tries to get up to date, sees the arrival of new drivers, new technologies: all the cars have a Dallara chassis and a Honda engine.

But it is especially on the broadcasting side that Indy Car wants to align itself with its rival with a change of broadcaster. ABC and Versus will now have the rights to the series, for a successful contract. ABC and Versus are banking on a real TV show, a pre-race show, a debrief, replays and even HD! All the conditions are in place to revive the flame of the “American formula”.

Tony George's bet worked, since the IRL experienced a huge resurgence in popularity the following three seasons, the Indy Car “was back in the game! »