Champ Car, IRL at a ‘standstill’

The latest merger discussions between Indy Racing League and the rival Champ Car World Series have apparently ended in yet another failure.

Or have they?

After information leaked Thursday that the rival open-wheel series were close to unification, with a snag over race dates the biggest hurdle, Champ Car co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven was irate.

“Unfortunately, leaks and media reports about a possible unification of Champ Car and the Indy Racing League have significantly hampered discussions,” Kalkhoven said in a statement Friday, adding that discussions are at a “standstill.”

The story originally was reported by SpeedTV.com.

If the latest deal were to go through, the IRL would absorb at least three of the 14 races on the Champ Car schedule -- in Long Beach; Edmonton, Canada; and Surfers Paradise, Australia.

The biggest hurdle before Kalkhoven’s statement appeared to be the head-to-head scheduling of the Long Beach race, Champ Car’s season opener April 20, and the IRL’s April 19 event at the Honda-owned Motegi track in Japan. Long Beach officials say they cannot change their date because of contracts with the Long Beach Convention Center, around which the street circuit is set up. Motegi officials have refused to move their date.

Numerous attempts to unite the groups over the years have failed.