CART team boss to fight engine decision

Forsythe, who is the largest shareholder among CART's team owners, says he believes the Champ Car sanctioning body's move to switch to a 3.5-litre normally aspirated eingine is not legally binding. Forsythe was the only team owner to vote against the move to an IRL-like 3.5 litre engine. Morris Nunn abstained from voting.

CART is run by two boards. One is the franchise board, which comprises all the team owners, and it was this group that voted last week to change CART's engine rules in 2003. The other group is the board of directors which comprises team owners Forysthe, Chip Ganassi, Barry Green. Carl Haas, Pat Patrick, Bobby Rahal, Derrick Walker and four outside directors.

"I question whether the franchise board can make a decision that affects the future of CART," Forysthe said in Houston. "I believe the board of the directors is the only group who can make a decision like that. I don't consider what they did valid. We're consulting legal counsel to take a look at this matter.

"The franchise board is mandated to determine rules, regulations and venues. It's not their mandate to make long-term decisions that affect CART and this is certainly a decision of that type. That decision, or whatever they want to call it, is not going to hold up."

Forsythe said he believes CART must pursue it's own path, entirely separate from the IRL. "We don't need to be associated with the IRL," Forsythe said. "We're a separate series that is very different technically and as far as venues and so forth that has so much to offer the race fan. And you and I know that the merger of the two series will never happen.

"We are a very different product from the IRL and must maintain that difference. I have absolutely no doubts about that."