Things don't look quite so good this morning (22 Feb, 09:30 EST, 14:30 GMT).
This just went up moments ago on The Detroit Free Press website.
"We're closer than we've ever been," Champ Car spokesman David Higdon told the Associated Press on Thursday.
However, a joint statement issued late Thursday by the IRL and Champ Car suggested that more time will be needed for an agreement.
"The ongoing talks between the Indy Racing League and Champ Car World Series will continue into at least Friday in regards to the unification of open-wheel racing," the statement read. "Any confirmation of unification will be made once an agreement is in place. There are no plans for a news conference at this time. Much progress has been made toward unifying the sport."
This was up this morning on the IRL's website, IndyCar.com:
Unification talks continue
The ongoing talks between the Indy Racing League and Champ Car World Series will continue into at least (Feb. 22) in regards to the unification of open-wheel racing.
Any confirmation of unification will be made once an agreement is in place. There are no plans for a news conference at this time. Much progress has been made toward unifying the sport.
Nothing at all about it on the Champ Car or IMS sites.
More as it comes in.
Cos
22 Feb, 13:00 EST, 18:00 GMT
From The Indianapolis Star:
Another round of meetings is scheduled for today, according to IRL spokesman Fred Nation.
IRL founder Tony George and Champ Car co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven discussed unification of the sport during dinner at the Eagle's Nest, a restaurant atop the Downtown Hyatt Regency hotel, but they did not complete a deal.
Nation said there is no cause for concern even though a news conference planned for this morning at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was put on hold.
"Absolutely not," he said. "They made a heck of a lot of progress, but they're not over the hump yet."
The IRL is seeking full rights to Indy-style racing, including its history and trademarks. All future races will be held under the IndyCar Series banner, and Champ Car's owners are not permitted to operate a rival series based in the U.S.
From The Cleveland Plain Dealer:
Mike Lanigan, the promoter of the Cleveland and Houston Champ Car races said Thursday he is "in a fog" like everyone else.
"I've talked to [Kevin] Kalkhoven, once, and Gerald Forsythe, once," Lanigan said of two CCWS owners. "The only thing they've told me is they are in discussions. No one has told me Cleveland and Houston are out, or that they are in, quite frankly."
Lanigan said he is for unification between the two open-wheel series, but it always has been with the understanding Cleveland, in particular, would be part of the deal. Last fall, Mi-Jack and the city of Cleveland signed a five-year race agreement through 2012.
"We have a huge amount of money invested in Cleveland and Houston," Lanigan said. "But the light at the end of the tunnel for us was always unification. That would bring Houston and Cleveland closer to profitability. I always thought Cleveland was near the top of their radar screen. And maybe that will happen. But I don't know anything right now."
Another sticking point is the schedule conflict between IRL's Honda 300 race at Mid Ohio Sports Car Course, and Champ Car's Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton, both set for July 20. Reportedly, Edmonton has been offered July 27 or August 3. The Mid Ohio race has series engine supplier Honda as title sponsor, and is a short distance from Honda's major US facilities in Marysville, Ohio.
The Mid Ohio race is credited with the possible demise of the Cleveland race. It is only about 70 miles away and one month later than Cleveland.