When I read anything about the merger between the IRL and Chump car, I get ticked because they keep saying that the new teams don't have any time to prepare for the upcoming season. Last I checked, everyone has 24 hours in a day! It's called "Time Management".:headbang If they're going to blame anyone, blame the jokers that ran Chump car!:loser: They took too much time coming up with this deal!! :checkered:

I only blame one person for all this mess. Roger Penske.

If it were not been for him and his ego, Champ Car wouldn't of went off and started their own
organization.

Then Penske comes back to IRL/Tony Geroge because he/his sponsors want tot run the Indy 500.


The funny thing is the Indy 500 use to be a stand alone event. I'm not sure it was associated
with any organization, USAC, IRL or Champcar.

So maybe Tony Geroge is the culprit for wanting to start his own Racing Leaque.

I know Tony's intent was good, but he couldn't do it alone.

It seems Tony has given the Champ cars guys a chance to be in one organization.

And with the failure of Champ Car, Bankrupt or whatever, Tony's game is the only one in
town.

I guess they got a new "Sheriff"....:rolling And if you know anything about Dictatorships,

they can be quite brutal.

Larry "O":applaud:

You shouldn't get "ticked" about things that you clearly don't understand...

Yes , everyone has 24 hours in a day , but the "CHAMP" Car teams have had only 30 days to prepare for the qualifying that you will see this evening and for their first event tomorrow evening.

The "agreement in principal" was not completed until February 22nd ; the formal announcement came on February 27th ... exactly 30 days ago today !

What has been said concerning the time to prepare , is to only bring attention to the truly amazing job that has taken place by the IRL , Dallara , Honda , various suppliers , sponsors and team owners and their employees ! Yes , there is only 24 hours in a day and all of these folks involved have needed every one of them , too !

Those in crossover from CCWS are not and have not complained ; if anything they are in awe of the welcome they have received and the truly unprecidented level of cooperation and assistance given by the IRL and existing IRL experienced teams. ( Each "new" team is partnered with an existing IRL team for help in this transition ). In short , everyone is thankful for the merger ; the timing is just an inconvenience that will be overcome!

What you are seeing tonight will be perhaps the most amazing feat that any series in all of motorsport has ever pulled-off !!

Consider that most of the 9 teams did not receive a chassis before March 8th , only 20 days ago !
The Dallara chassis comes as a tub ( to be painted ). The team then needs the engine from Honda , plus a gear box and now you are ready to assemble the suspension. It's all got to be plumbed for brakes , steering , electrical , cooling , paddle shift assy. and clutch. And , there's still more ...much more ! With that , you've got team members who are working on a Dallara for the first time , still awaiting spare parts , the backup car hasn't arrived yet and it is unclear when you'll see it !

Your engineer has no experience with this chassis and quickly realizes everything related to set-up on his former Panoz is not applicable here ; a total different animal , so to speak !

You've got a driver who has never sat in a Dallara and in most cases has never driven an oval !

In only 20 days you have assembled an IRL team , attended two tests , one at Sebring and one at Homestead , you are far from having it all figured out yet , but it's time ... to qualify ... in an hour ...

Better not wreck it ,as Graham did on Tuesday ... as few backup cars are available.

Those 9 teams are all "Champs" to pull this off !! I salute them ! :thumb

Paul Gray :greenflag: www.paulgray28.com

:Steer

IRL Qualifying for the season opener at Homestead-Miami can be viewed by Timing & Scoring at -

www.indycar.com , tonight at 6:30 pm EDT.

It will be extremely interesting to see how those 8 new teams will fare ...
( now 8 rather than 9 , as Graham Rahal was withdrawn from the event yesterday morning
and as a result of a practice crash on Tuesday )

While most are debating whether any of these new teams will get a top ten finish in the race ,
what about in qualifying ?

My prediction is one for qualifying .... two in the race / top ten.

Paul:Steer:thumb

What I'm kind of curious is to see how all those oval (IRL) racers fair when they go to a street race or
road course. It's seems that was the difference between the two series.

But in the end I guess the best teams and drivers will win on the Road Races whether they are
IRL or Champ consestants. Cream always rises to the top!:kookoo

Larry Otani

Well, Franck Perera was "best in class" ( of former CCWS drivers ) qualifying in 15th.
All 8 made it through qualifying OK considering their first oval and having only about 20 days to prepare for it ... from scratch !

Congradulations to Marty Roth for his best qualifying effort ever ... in tenth !!

New Roth team-mate Jay Howard ( from the IPS ) wrecked in qualifying , as did Dan Wheldon.

A good effort from Milka Duno with little seat time since last season !!

...and , "how 'bout that Vision team " !!!! ... Ed Carpenter - 2nd ; A.J.Foyt IV - 3rd !!!
Great job from Larry Curry and team !

Paul Gray :greenflag: www.paulgray28.com

*On a personal note : It's neat writing about these people as I know them all personally and everyone is so happy with IndyCar unified ! :thumb

:Steer "Hoping for a safe race tomorrow evening !" Paul

Hey pgray,What do you mean things I don't understand?? If my memory serves me right, the IRL tried giving the olive branch out a few years ago! Don't give me the "20 days" stuff! And don't blame Roger Penske. What about Carl Haas?? Paul Newman?? Why do you think the Andretti's came to the IRL? Maybe they were smart enough to see the sinking ship! How many times did the race at Michigan (supposedly to compete against Indy) happen?? Champ car was riding a dead horse and the owners weren't smart enough to take the blinders off! They have had PLENTY of time to get things ready.