Cairo, NY -- Maintaining a very low profile since the beginning of the end of the Champ Car World Series may have enabled former OWRS partner and CART/Champ Car team owner Gerald Forsythe to regain his composure, study future options and regroup his forces. 

Many of those who choose to ignore the MINO (Mergified In Name Only) series have praised Forsythe and are encouraged by Forsythe Racing's boycott of f-inheritor.

The much-ballyhooed Going-Green racing series slated for debut in 2010 that will utilize pre-owned Champ Car chassis written about here and elsewhere is now rumored to be powered by some eco-friendly version of the CCWS' Cosworth turbo engine, if not the identical power plant. 

Should that turn out to be true, one or both of Cosworth's principal owners (Gerald Forsythe and Kevin Kalkhoven) will be connected to the new series, if only as its engine supply liason. However, it is also reasonable to believe that, if Cosworth engines are to be utilized, the start-up costs for the new series are being borne or loaned by backers like Forsythe.

Gerald Forsythe's Indeck electric power generator company, a long-time out-of-pocket sponsor of Forsythe Racing Champ Cars, could conceivably play some technical role in the Alternative Energy Recycled Champ Car Series. Perhaps hybridizing the methanol-burning Cosworth engines is a technology that Indeck is working on or has developed? 

Don't forget, Forsythe still owns racing venues in Mexico, acquired to help soften his huge CART stockholder losses, where there is not only a Champ Car fan base for several well-know competent drivers but a cheap-and-plentiful petroleum products industry that may be ready to market alternative fuels through participation in green racing.

But many non-converts harbor negative feelings about Gerald Forsythe resulting from his apparent breach of Paul Tracy's Champ Car driving contract. Of course, it is unnecessary to explain loyal Champ Car fans' hatred for Kevin Kalkhoven in light of his complete sell-out to the Speedway inheritor.

In a freshly filed lawsuit, Tracy's advocates will attempt to recoup over $2.25 million of unpaid salary and bonuses. They claim that the popular veteran driver's contract provided for him to be compensated in the event that the Champ Car World Series collapsed -- either with a ride in another series or, in the absence of a job, with a cash buy-out of his contract in an amount stipulated.

Therefore, it is not much of a stretch for many fans to believe that Forsythe sat out the inaugural mergifrickated IRL season, at least in part, to avoid paying Paul Tracy's seven-figure, historically un-sponsored annual salary. 

Right now, a jury of Champ Car stalwarts would be about as likely to side with Gerald Forsythe as with OJ Simpson or Helio Castro-Neves should he fail to settle the contractual dispute with one of their all-time faves.

Launching a new series in these precarious economic times -- especially if it includes one or more of the twice-failed Champ Car investors -- is a very iffy proposition.  As much as fans crave an alternative for our beloved speed sport they are wary that petroleum may be replaced with snake oil.

CART and CCWS' biggest weakness was the failure to strive for PR and marketing excellence commensurate with the excellence of its brand and product.  A word to the wise, in that regard, should be sufficient.

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© Copyright Ed Donath

October 5, 2008

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