Significant progress in merger talks

The newspaper writes that IRL founder Tony George and Champ Car owner Kevin Kalkhoven have now agreed in principle to share ownership of a unified series.

"We've agreed conceptually (to share ownership), yes," George told the newspaper. "Now we have to agree on how we would go about resolving differences that might come up.

"There are still a lot of things yet to be fully developed, and it's not going to get any better by talking about it in the media.

"But I think we'll be able to agree on how we'll develop this business as one entity as we go forward."

According to the newspaper report, the merger may take place in stages.

Options reportedly being considered include some shared IRL and Champ Car race dates in 2007 prior to a full unification the following season, or for IRL teams to use their existing equipment alongside the new Panoz DP01 Champ Car (which will be unveiled next month) initially.

Kalkhoven was less open than George, but reiterated that he wants to see a merger completed.

"You go into either paddock, and everybody wants to see it done," he told the newspaper. "The fact it hasn't been done in 10 years is indicative of how difficult it is."

The merger talks have now dominated the paddock for several months, and the lack of a firm announcement in that time prompted speculation that the deal might collapse. Kalkhoven denied this.

"In a normal business situation, you'd be doing this in private instead of under the public gaze," he said. "You'd announce you were talking when you were done (with the deal)."

The two series have been at odds since 1996, when Indianapolis Motor Speedway boss George formed the IRL as a rival to the then CART-owned Indycar (later renamed Champ Car) World Series.

During the tumultuous decade that followed, the IRL gradually gathered strength while CART eventually went bankrupt and had to be rescued by a consortium led by Kalkhoven.

Both series are now in a relatively weak position, with small fields and only one engine supplier apiece, hence the massive groundswell of support for a merged series.