There were rumors over the weekend that the long-running
dispute between CART's IndyCar series and the new Indy Racing
League, which has resulted in a competing race being scheduled
against the Indy 500, might be solved. But, as Robin Miller
reports in Indianapolis, "not only was there no deal, it sounds
like there was no chance." While neither party was available for
comment, IRL President Tony George, who also heads the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, reportedly asked to meet with Roger
Penske to try to find a way out. George is said to have offered
to expand Indy's starting lineup from 33 to 42 cars but keep the
25 guaranteed slots for IRL teams. CART is said to have rejected
the idea. Miller writes, "Why the sudden olive branch from
George? Maybe all the negative national press and angry paying
customers created some movement. Maybe it was a request from
Goodyear or Firestone, or a plea from Chrysler, Ford and General
Motors. Most likely, the IMS president calculated the caliber
and number of IRL cars will be woefully inadequate to carry the
month. And this simply was a last-ditch effort to avoid
disaster." Miller concludes the Indy 500 and CART's U.S. 500
"are on a collision course" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 2/24). CART
President Andrew Craig told AP: "Frankly, it's too late" (USA
TODAY, 2/26).
