After thirteen years in Champ Cars, Forsythe Championship Racing has been forced to withdraw from top-level open-wheel motorsports. The unfortunate development comes as an indirect result of the series' merger with the Indy Racing League, which Jerry Forsythe, co-owner of the Champ Car World Series, helped broker. Due to a more open formula in the IndyCar Series, Champ Car teams are facing a dramatically increased budget in order to compete with the established IRL teams. Forsythe has had difficulty finding sponsorship since anti-tobacco legislation forced out long-time partner Player's.
Although Forsythe hopes to find sponsorship in time for the 2009 season, the team won't compete in the IndyCar Series this season beyond the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Such famous drivers as Patrick Carpentier, Tony Kanaan, Greg Moore, Al Unser Jr. and Jacques Villeneuve all drove for Forsythe, whose withdrawal from racing leaves former champion Paul Tracy without a ride as the two series embark upon their first reunited season. Tracy, with whom Forsythe won its only title in 2003, was signed to a long-term contract and is now forced to search for a new team in the IndyCar Series.
[Source: Autosport, Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty]
Sign in to post
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Continue