Reaction to merger breakdown

Former Champ Car drivers Tony Kanaan Helio Castroneves were disappointed by the statement, while others saw it as business as usual. Some even saw it as insignificant. IRL president Tony George, however, refused to comment on the issue.

"Who's getting hurt? Me, you and the teams," said Kanaan, the current IndyCar Series points leader. "For one of us to live, it looks like one of us is going to have to die," Kanaan said. "How long can we survive when both of us keep fighting like this? In the end, everybody is getting hurt."

IRL spokesman Fred Nation said "the statement speaks for itself," but did not comment further. The two-paragraph statement said "the time is not right for further discussion of unification" and "no more meetings are planned."

The statement referred to meetings between IRL team owner and US motorsport prime mover Roger Penske and the three leaders of CCWS - Kevin Kalkhoven, Gerald Forsythe and Paul Gentilozzi - regarding the possibility of a merger or some other resolution to the split between open-wheel sanctioning bodies, now in its ninth year.

Drivers also expressed confusion about the secret meetings, ensuing optimism and subsequent slamming of the door. Some said the statement offered more questions than answers.

"I know Tony tried," Kanaan said. "I can't speak for the CART guys, because I don't know what they did. There definitely are things going on that I will probably never understand. Everybody has their own issues. It's a bad situation."

Penske was not at Nashville for Friday's qualifying for the Firestone Indy 200, but team officials said he was expected to arrive Saturday afternoon. The race is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT. The statement indicated that George, who recently said he had not been involved in the discussions between Penske and the three Champ Car principals, had met with Penske regarding the situation.

"While both parties agree that one open-wheel series is the optimal situation, it is the belief of all involved that the time is not right for further discussion of unification," the statement said. "Both parties appreciate the efforts of Mr. Penske, and both parties believe that each has a better understanding of where common ground exists."

As the split has dragged on, NASCAR is seen as the key beneficiary benefactor. Except for a handful of notable events, crowds at IRL and CCWS races are a fraction of what NASCAR draws.

"There's only space for two series - NASCAR and one open-wheel series," said Castroneves. "Hopefully one day we're going to get there and everybody will be happy. Nobody is benefiting or gaining from this. All we can do is embrace the world and try to do our best. One day, all the politics will be put aside. That will be a good day."

Others encouraged George to stand his ground in the ongoing battle. "I don't see what the IRL would stand to gain (by a merger)," said Alex Barron, who raced in CART for four years before switching sides in 2001. "In a lot of ways, the IRL is the elite series. To have a joint venture right now, with the way the ownership is in both series, I don't see the IRL moving forward with that. I think they're a lot better off the way they are."