The future of the Toronto Grand Prix is uncertain today following reports that Champ Car and the Indy Racing League are about to end their long-standing feud and merge into a single series.
The original report on speedtv.com did not list Toronto among the three Champ Car races that would be retained in a new combined series. The three were Long Beach, Calif., Edmonton and Surfers Paradise, Australia.
Charlie Johnstone, president and CEO of the Toronto Grand Prix, said his information was that Toronto would be included along with the other three Champ Car venues.
The 2008 Toronto event is currently scheduled for July 6.
The Toronto race has been on the Champ Car schedule since 1986 and has annually produced one of the series' highest attendance totals, even after Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George broke away in 1996 to form the IRL. Race-day attendance was generally in excess of 70,000 and the three-day total topped 160,000.
Molson Brewery, the original rights holder and title sponsor, pulled out in 2006 and was replaced by Steelback Brewery last year. Steelback recently declared bankruptcy, leaving the race without its main sponsor.
That has left Champ Car co-owners Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerry Forsythe, who have suffered heavy loses since taking over the series in 2004, with more financial woes.
Johnstone dismissed suggestions that the lack of a sponsor could cost Toronto its race.
"Conversations (with a new sponsor) have been ongoing," he said. "It's going very well. We expect to sign a letter of intent very shortly."
Kalkhoven, contacted yesterday at his California home, was irate that news of the discussions with George had leaked into the media.
He described the speedtv.com report as "half-truths" and said such speculation could result in a cancellation of discussions.
"The likelihood of anything taking place for 2008, as a result of these leaks, is very low," Kalkhoven said.
One major snag in the merger talks is a conflict in the dates of Champ Car's season-opening Long Beach Grand Prix on April 20 and the IRL's April 19 event at the Honda-owned Motegi track in Japan.
Long Beach officials say they cannot change their date because of contracts with the Long Beach Convention Center, around which the circuit is set up. Motegi officials have refused to move their date.
"As long as Honda won't move Motegi, there won't be a merger," Kalkhoven told The Associated Press yesterday. "It's certainly a major hurdle, but not the only one.
"I believe there are significant advantages in doing (the merger), but I believe there are also significant advantages in not doing it. At this moment in time, there are no discussions until they move Motegi."
IRL spokesman John Griffin was more optimistic.
"This thing is moving forward, but there's still some work to be done. I don't know how long it's going to take," he told the AP. "We are looking to add some teams and some races. (Retired Honda racing boss) Robert Clarke and Tony (George) are going to head to Japan (today) to talk to the Japanese about coming off their date."
Griffin declined to say if Toronto was on the list of events envisioned by the IRL in the merger talks.
"I think the list that's out there right now is, for the most part, speculation," he said.
The IRL has 16 events on its 2008 schedule, while Champ Car has 14 with Toronto, Edmonton and Mont Tremblant, Que., the three Canadian sites.
Toronto-born Champ Car driver Paul Tracy said he'd welcome a merger even though Champ Car drivers would be at a disadvantage because they'd have to switch to the IRL's Dallara/Honda cars.
"But if that's the price to make this one series, I guess that's life," he said.
