Haas plans to move team to IRL

Champ Car team co-owner Carl Haas plans to take his multiple title-winning team to the rival IndyCar Series in 2009 if a merger between the two championships cannot be agreed before then

Haas, who owns Champ Car's most successful team Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing with Paul Newman an Mike Lanigan, told SpeedTV: "It hasn't happened yet but we've certainly considered going.

"It may not happen this year, but it's highly probably that we'll go for 2009 because there needs to be one series."

There have been several unsuccessful attempts to unify Champ Car and IRL in the 13 years since they split, but with only Paul Tracy, Graham Rahal and Oriol Servia confirmed so far for Champ Car this season, Indy boss Tony George is rumoured to have proposed a new deal to Champ Car bosses.

Team PKV co-owner and 1996 Champ Car champion Jimmy Vasser is eager for the two series to unite as soon as possible: "We've got to make a deal with Tony George," he said.

But Conquest Racing boss Eric Bachelart believes there are still issues that prevent a successful merger: "The problem I see is that the IRL and Tony [George] would want control and that's tough for the Champ Car guys," he said.