Matos to IPS?

[JohnSSC]

Mods - I couldn't get the link to work - could you insert Team Owner's post (in "IRL News & Notes") regarding Matos signing up for a season of IPS? Since he won Atlantic last season, it was presumed he would be in a CC ride for 2008. Since this impacts both series' it might not be a bad idea to have a thread here where we can discuss the CC side of it.

Thanks

[D.R.T.]

So does this mean the $2 million prize will revert to Perrera? Some stories have Rafa's manager initially trying to (thinking he could) take the money to ALMS or Grand AM, untill a tap on the shoulder came along.

An odd move in my opinion unless the offer from AGR-IPS was a really good one which would be a surprise.

[climb]

I'm not informed about the prize rules: who pays the prize?
Atlantic? Champ car?

Aren't Atlantic anc CC two separate entities?

[mountainstar]

Atlantic was one of the things bought 10 years ago with the CART IPO money.

The whole intention of the prize was to assist you moving up to champcar much like the old Barber Saab/Dodge series with the $100,000 career advancement prize.

The $2 million was never a $2 mil check to run off to the bahamas with or fund an irl ride with.

Atlantic website:

"PRIZE MONEY:
In addition to a share of the $500,000 year-end points fund, the 2007 Atlantic champion will be awarded a unique $2 million bonus designed to help them compete in the 2008 Champ Car World Series. This marks the second consecutive season for the champion’s Champ Car bonus award. Total prize and bonus money for the 2007 Champ Car Atlantic Championship is over $3.7 million, making it among the richest open-wheel development series in North America."

[JohnSSC]

I am not getting the impression that was the case here, mountainstar.

The devil is always in the details. I guess the "unique $2 million bonus" was more unique than we would have thought. Based on what Team Owner related, the actual cash was 20% ot the $2 mill, with the "balance" materializing after the holder of the "Unique Bonus" finds $3.2 million in additional funding.

You can keep the prize, or trade it in for what is behind Door # 2...

[D.R.T.]

Apparently not.

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

The devil is always in the details. I guess the "unique $2 million bonus" was more unique than we would have thought. Based on what Team Owner related, the actual cash was 20% ot the $2 mill, with the "balance" materializing after the holder of the "Unique Bonus" finds $3.2 million in additional funding.

The money was always to help put towards a CC ride as opposed to an open cash prize.

Also Matos' management also thought they had the money to take with them to another category.

[cptkablamo]

I keep seeing things like this (direct from the CCA website)

Featuring an all-new competition package, an infusion of new teams and driving talent and an unprecedented championship bonus designed to ensure that the cream of the Atlantic crop would earn an opportunity in Champ Car, the series flourished as one of the top circuits in all of racing last season.

Now why would you create something to encourage people to CCWS without putting some kind of conditions on it???

[madman16]

The impression i got from the whole thing was that the driver could keep a percentage of the 2 mil (10-20% or something) and the rest was to help fund a CC drive. I can't see the head honchos at CC to allow someone to walk off with just 2 mil let alone the IRL

[JohnSSC]

No question the prize was intended to keep someone in CC. I am not thinking that this was a no strings award.

My point is that the prize was never described as being linked to the driver coming up with almost double that amount in sponsorship in order to get the rest of the money and the ride.

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

No question the prize was intended to keep someone in CC. I am not thinking that this was a no strings award.

My point is that the prize was never described as being linked to the driver coming up with almost double that amount in sponsorship in order to get the rest of the money and the ride.

The $2 million isn't enough (it seems) to buy a CC ride, so naturally the driver has to bring additional funds. CC has stopped subsidizing rides.

[paul-collins]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Magnusson

The $2 million isn't enough (it seems) to buy a CC ride, so naturally the driver has to bring additional funds. CC has stopped subsidizing rides.

According to CC's prime rumour-monger (AR1), not so much:

Our sources in the Atlantic series are saying that the rumors about Matos going to Andretti Green Racing (AGR) in the IRL's IPS series are correct. Apparently the situation inside Champ Car is such that many of the teams are getting multi-million dollar subsidies in the form of free tires and engine leases from Champ Car. But if they take Matos with his $2 million, they do not get these subsidies... thus, taking less cash from a paying driver like Dan Clarke, added to their subsidies, results in an overall higher dollar figure.

Champ Car wants Matos to drive for Rocketsports, which is a back-of-the-field team, and this one-year deal includes no salary, no travel expenses and all prize money goes to the team. On the other hand, AGR is offering him a 3-year deal, decent salary, test days in the IRL car and the chance to move up in a commercially-viable team that operates in both the IRL and ALMS. You really can't blame Raphael.

[stradlin21]

Originally Posted by paul-collins

According to CC's prime rumour-monger (AR1), not so much:

I think we all knew that KK was pretty much funding most of the grid

that just confirms what I thought was true

that report does not make champ car look good at all

it is a very sad state of affairs

[coyote9999]

OK I must add my tidbit. I don't believe you have must push or credibility in your statement as must of the CC naysayers here don't like Mark C and find AR1 to be not credible. So now the fact finding make AR1 more credible? I just don't buy it.

[stradlin21]

Originally Posted by paul-collins

According to CC's prime rumour-monger (AR1), not so much:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Magnusson
The $2 million isn't enough (it seems) to buy a CC ride, so naturally the driver has to bring additional funds. CC has stopped subsidizing rides.

According to CC's prime rumour-monger (AR1), not so much:

Quote:
Our sources in the Atlantic series are saying that the rumors about Matos going to Andretti Green Racing (AGR) in the IRL's IPS series are correct. Apparently the situation inside Champ Car is such that many of the teams are getting multi-million dollar subsidies in the form of free tires and engine leases from Champ Car. But if they take Matos with his $2 million, they do not get these subsidies... thus, taking less cash from a paying driver like Dan Clarke, added to their subsidies, results in an overall higher dollar figure.

Champ Car wants Matos to drive for Rocketsports, which is a back-of-the-field team, and this one-year deal includes no salary, no travel expenses and all prize money goes to the team. On the other hand, AGR is offering him a 3-year deal, decent salary, test days in the IRL car and the chance to move up in a commercially-viable team that operates in both the IRL and ALMS. You really can't blame Raphael.

interesting stuff mountain

[racer69]

A pretty laughable state of affairs if that AR1 article is somewhere close to the mark