American Championship Car Racing

This article provides a general outline of the major American Open-Wheel motor racing championship, for specific information on the current Champ Car World Series and the Indy Racing League see Champcar and IRL.

Indianapolis 500 and 'The Split'

From its inception in 1911, to creation of the Indy Racing League in 1996, the Indianapolis 500 was a round of the National Championship. The exceptions are the 1981 and 1982 races, which were removed from the CART championship for political reasons by the USAC. However, when the race still attracted all of the regular teams despite its lack of championship status USAC relented and allowed CART to run at Indianapolis.

Related Topics:
Indy Racing League - Indianapolis 500 - USAC

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Winning the Indianapolis 500 has always had at least an equal profile with the winning the National Championship, although direct comparisons are difficult as many of the National Champions also won the Indy 500. 1993 is a good example of a year when the winners of each title received the same amount of attention. That year former Formula One champion Emerson Fittipaldi won the 500 but the current F1 champion Nigel Mansell won the National Championship, becoming the only driver to win both titles consecutively.

Related Topics:
Formula One - Emerson Fittipaldi - Nigel Mansell

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The creation of the IRL in 1996 with the Indianapolis 500 as its centrepiece race removed the race from the existing National Championship.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This of course was a hugely controversial move in racing circles, with opinions at the time ranging from praise to ridicule - in 2004 the US Sports Illustrated magazine named the IRL's formation as one of the 'Ten Dumbest Moments in Sports'. http://www.offcamber.net/forums/showthread.php?t=5848&page=1

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This assessment was based on the notable decline in the number of television viewers, car entries and estimated grandstand ticket sales (the Speedway does not officially announce sales figures), since the impasse began in 1996. http://www.speedtv.com/commentary/12932/

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Today most commentators seem to agree that both the Champ Car World Series and the Indy Racing League hold an equal claim to the legacy of the National Championship and that a merger is the only logical move.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

http://www.speedtv.com/commentary/6527/

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Further details of the 'Split' can be found here http://web.archive.org/web/19991008234913/speednet.starnews.com/speednet/irl/split.html. and under Indy Racing League and Champcar

Related Topics:
Indy Racing League - Champcar

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~