Just as Open Wheel Racing Series considered its options and reacted by altering its offer to buy Championship Auto Racing Teams this week, all parties concerned are closely watching the proposed buyout and readying for the fallout source: sptimes.com Race teams apparently have remained sheepish in their willingness to commit to Open Wheel because of CART's succession of ominous revelations, including an announced loss of $84-million this year. CART paid subsidies in excess of $31-million to maintain 13 teams and a 19-car field in 2003, but the buyout group has said it doesn't plan to follow suit. That likely will hamper the series' ability to attract teams. Some of the financially stronger teams could opt to run in the competing Indy Racing League. That group includes Open Wheel's principles Paul Gentilozzi, Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe, whose teams fielded a total of four CART drivers last season. "The stronger teams like a Newman/Haas would go to the IRL," said Dennis McAlpine, a stock analyst who covers both CART and Dover Motorsports. "But there won't be room for everybody. That means somebody has to start something new." The only CART team reached by the Times - Herdez Competition - said its "focus is totally on CART," according to team manager Vince Kremer. "But we know what we would do if the CART series went away," he said. "You have to have backup plans, whether it's Plan B or Plan Z is the question."
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