IRL Considering Series Name Change As Season Gets Underway
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IRL's George Considering Name Change
For Open-Wheel Racing Series |
The IndyCar Series season debuts Saturday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway, marking the first event following the unification of IRL and Champ Car World Series, and IRL Founder Tony George said that in order to "be more inclusive ... a name change for the series is being considered," according to Curt Cavin of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. George: "Maybe we could get back to 'Indy Car World Series.'" However, Cavin notes "no change is expected until" the IRL secures a title sponsor for the series. George said that he "would like the series champion to receive the Vanderbilt Cup, America's first auto racing trophy," which since '96 had gone to the winner of the Champ Car World Series (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 3/28). Around 26 cars are set to race in Saturday's event, which is the "most for a season opener since 2001" (L.A. TIMES, 3/28).
TIME FOR A COMEBACK? In Milwaukee, Dave Kallmann writes if open-wheel racing is "to make a comeback, to regain any sort of serious foothold on the American sports scene, it starts now." However, the weekend will "demonstrate just how far the blended series has to go. ... Oval-track experience is minimal among the newcomers, and so was testing. There probably will be huge disparities in the race pace from the front of the grid to the back" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 3/28). In Detroit, Mike Brudenell writes, "Don't expect an overnight hit." The "fight to win back fans and convert new ones to open-wheel racing has only just begun" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 3/28).
THE STARTING GRID: THE DAILY presents a timeline of milestone events in open-wheel racing, from the creation of the IRL, to the series' unification agreement with the Champ Car World Series (THE DAILY).
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