Full Throttle

Or more to the point, how long will the IndyCar ship stay afloat?

Tsn.ca reports that current IRL team owner Michael Andretti may very well be on his way back to Champ Car for the 2007 Champ Car World Series season. Back in 2003 Andretti made the switch from CART to the IRL with many other big name teams such as Penske, Ganassi and Rahal.

Now with Toyota out of the IRL picture, possible cut backs from Honda and a wonderful new chassis in Champ Car many former teams may have their eyes on returning in 07.

Legendary driver, Mario Andretti recently told Autosprint magazine there was numerous reasons why his son left CART for the IRL, mainly due to sponsorship commitments.

“There are many reasons why Michael has a team in (the IRL), due to the support he’s had from Honda up to now and to the importance of being present at the Indy 500 for his sponsors,” said Andretti.

Champ Car’s more diverse schedule of street, road and oval courses have Andretti thinking a return back to the series in which made him a racing star may be in the future.

Mario believes that once one top IRL team makes the jump back to Champ Car the rest will follow, just like they did when they jumped from Champ Car to the IRL back in 2002.

“I think as soon as one of the top teams - Penske, Ganassi, Andretti or Rahal - decide to move, the others will follow suit. Rahal and Ganassi could be the ones making the first move.”