The Future of Walker Racing?

[Indymarlin1]

Indycool deserves the credit for first posting this article from Crash.net, but I thought this portion of the article deserves it's own thread.

"Champ Car has informed all the teams and Franck's management, CJMotorsport, that it will not be passing along the prize money to Franck," Crash.net was told, "However, despite knowing this, three teams still made offers to Franck last week, including Walker, Conquest and Forsythe again.

"Walker seems to be unable to get Craig Gore's sponsorship(Aussie Vineyards) of the team next season, and Forsythe seems to be unable to commit immediately, so Conquest seems to have the clear advantage. Franck seems closest to finalising a deal with them,

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/cham...0/content.html

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal.

"For Craig (Gore, partner in Team Australia) and I, we are seriously considering the future," team owner Derrick Walker said in an e-mail Thursday. Walker isn't sure whether his team will field one car or two.

"It's fair to say 2008 is an important year for the series to regain momentum and (establish) a clear strategy where Champ Car is going for it to make business sense to remain in Champ Car."

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=708565

This is from an article from this past October. To date, no deal has been announced to extend a contract with Champcar to run in Australia.

The State Government(Queensland Australia) and IMG, which runs Indy, have a deal with the US-based Open Wheel Racing Series until 2008 but nothing is locked in beyond that date.

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/...oast-indy.html

Walker appears as if he drug his feet too long on accepting the IRL offer. Now, no Indycar offer is available. And now, he appears to have also lost the sponsorship of Aussie Vineyards.

Whether Champcar is around after 2008 or not, could the IRL still be in Australia in 2009?

Walker has stated that his teams goal was to race at Indy. This opportunity offered by the IRL seemed to be the perfect scenario for Walker Racing and Aussie Vineyards. So, why would walker not have immediately taken the offer?

[Spike]

Walker has stated that his teams goal was to race at Indy. This opportunity offered by the IRL seemed to be the perfect scenario for Walker Racing and Aussie Vineyards. So, why would walker not have immediately taken the offer?

Perhaps the offer was not clearly spelled out or perhaps it wasn't that great of an offer.

[Indymarlin1]

Correct me if I am wrong, but aren't Walker and Haas on record as having had discussions with the IRL on the offer. At what point those discussions took place, good question?

Hasn't it been rumored here at TF for sometime, that NHL has had 4 Dallaras on order?

And, don't you think that Tony could offer his own cars from his 2nd and 3rd teams, even at this late date? He didn't want to run them without sponsorship.

[crsfulk]

Perhaps the offer was not clearly spelled out or perhaps it wasn't that great of an offer.

If you're on a sinking ship, you had better jump on the lifeboat and not wait on a luxury yacht!!!!

[Spike]

That pearl of wisdom assumes, among other things, that the lifeboat is seaworthy.

[jetdoc]

Perhaps the offer was not clearly spelled out or perhaps it wasn't that great of an offer.

Or perhaps the offer was never given to the "Team Owners" as Walker and Coyne, Kieth Wiggins & Paul Stoddardt, & Tom Figge have stated. It was summarily refused out of hand by GF, KK & that idiot PG because THEY were holding out for $100M and a "Seat on the Board" that doesn't even exist. Eric Bachelart stated that the offer made to the teams was MORE THAN FAIR, however, HE had already secured enough Sponsorship Money to run the entire CCWS season, so it didn't really effect him. Now they've possibly cost Derrick Walker his Sponsorship due to the uncertainty. If I were Walker, I'd be pizzed.

[jetdoc]

Hasn't it been rumored here at TF for sometime, that NHL has had 4 Dallaras on order?

Yes it HAS been rumored that they ordered them. The status of this order, I'm not sure that anyone but NHL knows.

And, don't you think that Tony could offer his own cars from his 2nd and 3rd teams, even at this late date? He didn't want to run them without sponsorship.

The offer was for ONE "Brand New" Chassis and a "Used" chassis for the backup cars

[numrounofan]

That pearl of wisdom assumes, among other things, that the lifeboat is seaworthy.

well said, much better to hang on to that state room on the Titanic.....

[Jimmy Hendricks]

Walker has stated that his teams goal was to race at Indy.

No, it was more like Craig Gore really wanted to be at Indy.

Gore wanted to enter a car there last year, but Walker talked him out of it.


I wonder if we will see a Aussie Vineyards car at Indy this year.

[Fueler]

There is still a viable and reasonable opportunity for Walker, NHL, and some other teams to make the move, even at this late date. There are chassis available, both in team inventories (including Vision) and from Dallara. Honda can certainly provide limited numbers of additional engine leases.

If you are a ChampCar team, with minimal financial backing or sponsorship, what difference does it make where your assistance comes from, KK or TG?

Swap cars and engines, keep the rest of your organization intact, take the TG deal, and now have a possible sponsor package with increased television values, increased B2B values, increased (real) overall onsite attendance, and the Indy 500, and all of a sudden, you start to find out that it can work even better economically. Add to that the fact that ChampCar hasn't paid some of the monies owing from 2007 yet, and a reasonable businessman has to consider the options.

There is a lot going on behind the scenes right now at both the team and the league levels.

[Spike]

well said, much better to hang on to that state room on the Titanic.....

Is that a ticket for the RMS Lusitania in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?

[Z28]

How can that seem so reasonable, logical and sensible when I read it but at the same time seem so unlikely. I think the second sentence of your signature rings true, CCWS team owners must have a different frame of reference.

[Jim Wilke]

There is still a viable and reasonable opportunity for Walker, NHL, and some other teams to make the move, even at this late date. There are chassis available, both in team inventories (including Vision) and from Dallara. Honda can certainly provide limited numbers of additional engine leases.

If you are a ChampCar team, with minimal financial backing or sponsorship, what difference does it make where your assistance comes from, KK or TG?

Here's what EVERYBODY knows for a fact: The IRL will race at Indy next year and years to come. CC? May not be around next week.

[owfan19]

Something that has not been brought up are the Indy One offs. Why not PDM and Chastain team up with a Walker type team to be able to run he full season?


Imagine what 100 million dollars could do to your own series.

[Gomer Simpson]

Imagine what 100 million dollars could do to your own series.

[Indymarlin1]

No, it was more like Craig Gore really wanted to be at Indy.

Gore wanted to enter a car there last year, but Walker talked him out of it.


I wonder if we will see a Aussie Vineyards car at Indy this year.

I am only stating what Walker said. I believe this was in his interview on the Autosport radio show.

I starting to believe Wilke is correct. If neither Champcar or the IRL is going to be in Australia after 2008, I believe Gore is out of AOW racing completely.

[owfan19]

Maybe its not the owners we should be luring with the 100 million. Teams, both CC and ICS.

[Gomer Simpson]

With what 100 million?

[owfan19]

With what 100 million?

The number that has been tossed around. Its ambigous, the point is if anything was to be given to CC, it should be given to the teams, because in reality they are the only thing that adds value to Champ Car.

[Gomer Simpson]

I'm pretty sure IMS doesn't have plans of spending $100M on anything, be it IC teams, CC teams, races or shutting down CC.

$100 mil was a number supposedly Forsythe asked for, but there isn't a chance in hades he'll see even 1/10'th of it.

[aowzone]

I'm pretty sure IMS doesn't have plans of spending $100M on anything, be it IC teams, CC teams, races or shutting down CC.

$100 mil was a number supposedly Forsythe asked for, but there isn't a chance in hades he'll see even 1/10'th of it.

100 mil over 10 years according to Millers most recent article

[Jimmy Hendricks]

100 mil over 10 years according to Millers most recent article

Maybe Ole' Man Forsythe thought he was talking to Steinbrenner about a contract with the Yankees.

If he can throw left-handed, they could use him in the bullpen.

[aowzone]

Maybe Ole' Man Forsythe thought he was talking to Steinbrenner about a contract with the Yankees.

If he can throw left-handed, they could use him in the bullpen.

hell, i cant blame him for trying to make some money back...it must be pretty awful wasting millions on something that continues to sink

[Jimmy Hendricks]

hell, i cant blame him for trying to make some money back...it must be pretty awful wasting millions on something that continues to sink

If he can squeeze 100 million bucks out of TG, maybe I could give Tony a call and ask for some money, for all those crappy weather days I have suffered through at his track in the past 15 years.

Think he would give me 200 grand for the trouble??? Its probably not anymore proposertous as Forsythe's demands.

[Grinder-Tank]

Derick Walker is either very stupid, or in a hardcore case of denial. 2006 and then 2007 where to be those "turnaround" years for Champ. Now it's 2008 and it's too late, far too late to be viewed as a legitimate sport. This mostly due to the recent chain of events that have clearly exposed the core of open wheel poison,,,,,GF.

Any sponsor who has a lick of sense would not go near ChampCar at this point. So tell us Derick how 2008 will be a turn around year?

Walker will show up to Seabring with his hand out and limp along until he's done with the sport. I give him till this summer.

[vegasduo]

Derick Walker is either very stupid, or in a hardcore case of denial. 2006 and then 2007 where to be those "turnaround" years for Champ. Now it's 2008 and it's too late, far too late to be viewed as a legitimate sport. This mostly due to the recent chain of events that have clearly exposed the core of open wheel poison,,,,,GF.

Any sponsor who has a lick of sense would not go near ChampCar at this point. So tell us Derick how 2008 will be a turn around year?

Walker will show up to Seabring with his hand out and limp along until he's done with the sport. I give him till this summer.

Last year was to be the "break out" year for CC.

CC introduced the DP1 to much fan fare. It was fully expected to increase their starting grid to a max of 24 cars. The DP1 would make for equality of the field, produce great racing and increased attendance at their events. The new Atlantic car seemed responsible for boosting the ranks there and the same was predicted for CC with the DP1.

CC announced new events for China, Europe, Canada and the U.S. After those embarrassing event cancellations they also announced that no new events would be placed on their schedule unless those were solid and set to go.

CC announced their new TV time buy with ABC/ESPN as a move to stabilize where their events would be telecast. That should increase the ratings.

All that did sound like it was going to be the "break out year" for CC.


Unfortunately the hype didn't meet reality.

The DP1 reduced the CC starting grid to a record low.

Embarrassing event cancellations continued as before.

TV ratings hit record lows with some 0.0's.


CC had lots going for it last year but fell on a flat note. This coming CC season doesn't even have the optimism going for it.

[Jimmy Hendricks]

I am only stating what Walker said. I believe this was in his interview on the Autosport radio show.

No, Walker said in that interview last spring, that it was Gore who wanted to be at Indy last year, but Walker talked him out of it.

[Z28]

Something that has not been brought up are the Indy One offs. Why not PDM and Chastain team up with a Walker type team to be able to run he full season?


Imagine what 100 million dollars could do to your own series.

First, people need to quit fixating on that $100 million figure. If that's what Forsythe tossed out there it doesn't mean there was any desire for Tony George to see that number and giveit to him or just decide to spend it because it came up.

As to the other idea, like everything else in this stupid merger/buyout/absorbtion whatever you call it that seems to have come and gone it makes sense but no one does it.

Walker would seem like a candidate to pair with a normally one off Indy team to run one car full time, with the TEAM money and then run an extra car or two for the 500. Then he would have a foot in the door to come full time.

NHL would seem like the ideal candidate for this. Say they paired with Sarah Fisher to run the full season, it's been posted here that NHL has four Dallaras so maybe they run a second car. NH tried to hire Buddy Lazier for a US 500 once why not hire him for that ride and get on the good side of many ICS fans. That's two full season TEAM funding then NHL brings their CCWS drivers to Indy as added cars for those TEAM dollars. NHL gets their team some experience with ICS equipment and rules, lends a hand to a popular ICS driver who it seems has some sponsorship money but not enough or enough engineering help. I don't know the CC schedule but if the road street races don't conflict maybe Graham Rahal drives them for Sarah, running better and getting experience in those cars for the future.

But like I said it hasn't been tried yet probably never will.