Fernandez: The series I loved is gone.

Adrian Fernandez has pointed to a season launch that did not live up to promises and the lack of answers to vital questions as his reasons for quitting the OWRS-run Champ Car World Series and defecting to the rival Indy Racing League.

Writing in an open letter to fans on his team's official website, the Mexican claimed that he had taken a hard business decision in opting to take Fernandez Racing into the IRL on a full-time basis, and blamed the uncertainty still surrounding the hard-won future of Champ Car racing as the turning point.

"Fernandez Racing went to Long Beach [for the 2004 'season premiere'] for two reasons," he wrote, "The first was to support the series. Following the bankruptcy court proceedings in Indianapolis, Fern?ndez Racing was the first team to issue a press release saying that it would be back in Champ Cars for 2004. The only other team to do so was RuSport when they announced AJ Allmendinger.

"I personally have always been a strong supporter of CART. I was instrumental in bringing CART to Mexico which was a long-time dream of mine. In November of 2002, Fern?ndez Racing was again the first to commit to CART and issue a release saying that we would be competing in 2003 - this at a time when teams like Penske Racing, Andretti Green, Chip Ganassi and Mo Nunn Racing were leaving for the IRL. CART was a series that I loved, that helped take me where I am today.

"Our second reason for going to Long Beach was to find answers to questions that everyone had - a confirmed schedule of races, details regarding the television package for not only the US but Mexico, new sponsors that were going to be involved with the series, the numbers of confirmed cars and drivers, and an established business plan - answers that we as a team needed for our current and future sponsors, with only four weeks left before the start of the season.

"In summary, what we learned and didn't learn in Long Beach left Fernandez Racing with no choice but to join the IRL."

Fernandez highlighted the lack of information on offer to teams as the main reason for his concern - a predicament that ultimately led to him announcing his defection late last week.

"I was deeply concerned that only two of the three owners of OWRS were at Long Beach," he continued, "How could something else be more important than the launch of this new series and all the battles fought to get to this point? The message it sent did not sit comfortably.

"Not once, throughout the entire time I was there, did any one of the new ownership group or the new Champ Car president speak to me and answer the many questions regarding the series. Did we receive any calls the past few months asking how things were going with the team, were we going to try to run two cars, etc? Nothing.

"Then we found out about all the deals in the background - a recognisable race-winning driver [Patrick Carpentier] with a contract but no ride who was told this at the last possible moment; sanctioning body owners talking with funded drivers who were also negotiating with other race teams....

"There were a lot of other problems which became apparent at Long Beach, such as not having a 100 per cent confirmed schedule; no details of a television package in Mexico or internationally; twelve confirmed drivers, including myself; our series champion with no sponsor; and the lack of a rational business plan.

"All of these issues created serious doubts about the viability of the OWRS Champ Car Series in 2004 and beyond. All the promises and nothing was happening. We have too much invested in this team, our long-time sponsors, our fans, Mexico, on and on. Everybody would lose. We needed and expected to get solid facts in Long Beach and we were totally disappointed. My sponsors were already concerned about the turmoil in the Champ Car Series.

"If the series [were to] fold prior to the Long Beach race because we didn't make the car counts per the promoters agreements, or we make it through the Long Beach race and then the series folds, that's it - Fern?ndez Racing is done. And this impacts everything across the board - the losses to our sponsors, Mexico, our fans... we would be putting 40 employees, most of them with families, out on the street in a tough job market with the closing of Patrick Racing, American Team Spirit Johansson and Walker Racing.

"You may be thinking, why not just ride this out and if it ends then go to the IRL? It is not that easy. After a blow like that, it will be much more difficult to convince sponsors and team members that this is now the direction to go. Also, you have a major issue with engines and chassis that might or might not be available.

"I can't save Champ Car on my own... and I had to look at the facts that were presented by OWRS and decide if we wanted to take the risk and move forward based on empty promises and a 'trust us' mentality. Long Beach was not close to what I expected, and we made our decision then - after talking with our sponsors - to go to the IRL.

"I am not turning my back on Champ Car and the fans, [but] the series that I remember, know and love is bankrupt and already gone."