Champ Car boss denies IRL merger

However, he has admitted that he has had several talks with IRL founder Tony George on the subject.

The latest round of merger talks between the two series came when US weekly magazine AutoWeek reported that Kalkhoven and George had been skiing together, and were now in regular communication.

The pair had previously met up in public at the Race of Champions at the Stade de France last December.

Kalkhoven told autosport.com: "As everyone knows, Tony George and I have talked on a number of occasions in the past and we will continue to do so, and if that arouses speculation then so be it. But the fact is yes we have talked, and no, there is no deal.

"Yes, we have been skiing together, and we have had interesting dialogue, but I repeat, there is no deal."

The logistical problems such a merger would cause are numerous, not least with any circuits that have a multi-year deal with either series.

Kalkhoven has said in the past that his ideal calendar would be '18 or 19 races'. Champ Car has 15 races on its 2006 calendar, and IndyCar 14, and the only circuit common to both is Milwaukee. Engine regulations between the two series are also currently incompatible, with IndyCars running normally aspirated 3-litre V8 Hondas, and Champ Car using 2.65-litre turbocharged V8s built by Cosworth.

In answer to questioning regarding such matters, Kalkhoven added: "If a merger was ever to happen, all agreements would be honoured, but really this is all just speculation."

Honda has long expressed a desire to compete with other engine manufacturers rather than supply a whole grid, as it is doing for the first time this year in IRL. As recently as last September, Honda USA VP Robert Clarke flew to the Las Vegas Champ Car round to speak to Kalkhoven and Champ Car vice president of operations Tony Cotman regarding a return to the series it departed at the end of 2002.

The talks came to nothing however, and were followed by Honda's declaration to supply IndyCar with its V8 until the end of the 2009 season, apparently leaving relationships between the two series in a state of impasse once more.

Nonetheless, the unification of the two series is likely to be mutually beneficial, with Champ Car likely to field 18 cars this year and IRL struggling to raise 16, suggesting a merger needs to happen sooner rather than later.

While Kalkhoven refused to talk in specific terms, he acknowledged why the media around the globe has been excited by hearing of the latest round of talks.

He added: "Yes it's everyone's dream, but media speculation does not help. If you care about open-wheel racing in North America, and believe it has a future, please go away and leave us alone."