IRL AND CHAMP CAR AGREE TO MERGER

UNITED: Late last week officials from the Indy Racing League and Champ Car World Series reached an agreement to merge the Champ Car Series into the IRL effective immediately. It will be a difficult transition, with Champ Car teams making the change to IRL cars in time for the season opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway. A press conference to discuss the many details of the arrangement is scheduled during testing at Homestead-Miami Speedway later this week. The deal marks the end of a 13-year split which divided open-wheel racing and its fans.

NAMING RIGHTS: Auto Club of Southern California has purchased the naming rights to California Speedway, with the two-mile superspeedway now known as Auto Club Speedway of Southern California.

MONDAY MOVES: Carl Edwards won the rain-delayed NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and Tony Stewart claimed the Nationwide Series event as both races were held Monday at Auto Club Speedway of Southern California.

NEW TV: After many years on Speed, the Hooters Pro Cup Series will see all of its events televised on Versus this year.

AWARD WINNER: 14-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force was selected as this year’s winner of the annual Justice Brothers-Shav Glick Award.

FOR SALE: The cars and other assets of the International Race of Champions are scheduled to be sold March 7–8 in an auction at IROC headquarters in Tinton Falls, New Jersey.

SIGNED: Ryan Hunter-Reay will drive the Team Ethanol Indy car for Rahal Letterman Racing in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series. Hunter-Reay ran a partial season for the team last year.

POWER RANKINGS: Donny Schatz clung to his lead in the National Speed Sport News Power Rankings.

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