What the whole CART deal boils down to is that CART is in a rebuilding period. It took a big blow over the past 2 years with the deflections to the IRL. Chris Pook is really trying hard to make it the main feeder series to Formula 1, and I think that it is a very smart thing to do. What it amounts to is Honda and Toyota bailed this year to go to the IRL, and took their engine plans with them. The only real motor CART was left with was the Cosworth badged by Ford. It was too late to really attract automotive superpowers to the series for 2003 because it did not give them enough time to put together competitive engine programs. What it amounts to is he signed a 2 year deal with Ford to be the sole engine provider, mainly because it was his smartest option. After 2 years, in 2005, look to him to change motor rules and one of 2 things will happen that I have heard of. The first would be that he will allow 1 to 2 year old Formula 1 motors to run in CART. This makes it substantially easier for teams like Ferrari, BMW, Jaguar (Ford), and others to get involved, because they will not have to develop all new engines. The second thing that could happen would be that he reopens the series to multiple engine providers like it has been with engines in the same format they are now. I have heard rumors that some of the more high profile like Porsche and MG are interested in getting involved in CART because it still has the world coverage without the Formula 1 budget needed. A few things to ponder. Bernie Eclestone (Head honcho of F1), has had numerous meeting with Pook, and rumor is he is interested in buying 51% of CART. Another thing to ponder is that many Formula 1 teams, including Ferrari attended the Miami CART race after the USGP before heading to the Grand Prix of Japan. Another thing to remember is that in the 80's Ferrari was within an eye wink of putting a CART program together. They were fed up with F1 politics, and even built and badged a Ferrari CART car. There are a few pictures of it still floating around I will try and find. The final thing to look at is that CART just added Germany back on its schedule, and Brands Hatch in England, which is synonomys with producing F1 drivers and in my opinion is one of the highest profile road racing facilities in the world. Finally, Pook opted to run the Brands Indy course instead of the Brands GP course at the facility in England, because he says he respects Formula 1 and would never want to step on their toes. The kicker is that F1 has not run the Brands GP course in 20 years. He is adding these European facilities to attract the European Market (Manufacturers, sponsors, and F1) Well, most of you may not understand half of what I said, but that is your CART lesson for the week for those who do. This is all unbiased knowledge of mine because I am an equal fan of the IRL, Cart, and F1, just info I have heard so take it for what its worth. Also if you are interested, CART's ticker symbol is MPH.
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