<I>Crash.net</I>'s Long Beach blog - Sunday.

Sunday AM: Garage sale?

With no future for the Champ Car series after this weekend's race, the teams continue to ponder what to do with their cars.

KV Racing Racing Technology co-owner Jimmy Vasser said he didn't know what would happen to the team's cars, but said that there had been talk of getting them all together and selling them to a racing school or some such, rather than sell them off piece-meal. Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing general manager Brian Lisles also said he didn't know what would happen to the cars, but admitted that the team might try and find some space in its workshop for them.

Alex Tagliani, meanwhile, has been touted as a possible middleman should anyone wish to off-load a DP01 or two. It has been a running joke all weekend that Tag will promote a garage sale for team owner Derrick Walker. The Canadian said that, unlike those drivers making the transition from the IndyCar Series, his adaptation to driving the Panoz had been a lot bigger.

"I went from home renovator to Champ Car driver - all Justin [Wilson] had to do was go between cars," he grinned at the qualifying press conference. Wilson shot back that Tagliani actually had three job descriptions - race car driver, home renovator and, now, car salesman.

Later, Walker confirmed that Tagliani was serious about trying to sell off the Walker cars. It's Tag's deal, not his, but Walker said that the Champ Cars would have gone from a $100,000 value to $25,000 by Sunday afternoon. He seriously thinks there is a great opportunity out there for some driver/owners to buy a historic car and engine, and reckoned that there were 100 Cosworth engines that are now obsolete.

On Saturday, fellow team owner Paul Gentilozzi said that he thought that there were people trying hard to form a series to run the Champ Cars.

"They're great race cars and can be run economically," he pointed out, "Who knows, there could be a series in Japan or Brazil..."

One of Gentilozzi's Rocketsports cars is already sold to 'a gentleman', and there will be a release coming out soon with the details. Gentilozzi plans on keeping some of his crew and is looking at going 'back to our roots' in sportscar racing, either Grand-Am or American Le Mans Series.

Walker, meanwhile, said that he would go to the IRL if he finds sponsorship.

"It's not a hobby with me, it's a business," the ex-pat Scot insisted, "I want to keep racing. I'm too young to retire!"

Sunday PM: IRL to sanction Atlantics?

Erstwhile Champ Car co-owners Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe continue to own the supporting Atlantic Series, but the championship continues to generate rumours about its future.

This weekend, the Atlantics are sanctioned by Champ Car which, of course, is also running at Long Beach. Although no official announcements have been made, however, the Atlantic teams say that they've been hearing that, going forward, the IRL will sanction the eleven-race 2008 series.

Kalkhoven also owns Cosworth Engineering, albeit separately from his ownership of the Champ Car World Series. Cosworth will continue to supply engine support to the Atlantic Series but, speaking with a Cosworth contractor, it is not known what the direction Cosworth will go, racing-wise, going forward into 2009. It is not anticipated that Cosworth will continue to have a presence in any major racing series - Atlantics is considered a support series - but will continue to supply 'hot set-up' after-market parts for street cars.

Kalkhoven and Forsythe also own the Grand Prix of Long Beach, again as a separate entity from Champ Car, so it is not in any way tied up in any court proceedings. The city of Long Beach has a contract with GPALB to put on the Grand Prix through 2015, with another five-year option at that point. American Le Mans Series and GPALB officials announced on Friday that they had signed a five-year contract for the sportscar series to run at Long Beach.

Sunday evening: 'AirTranica Won' takes flight

Travellers in Orlando, Pittsburgh and Atlanta will get a special glimpse of Danica Patrick after the weekend - or her picture at least.

AirTran Airways, an official sponsor of Danica's Andretti Green Racing team, unveiled a Boeing 717-200 aircraft featuring Danica's picture painted on the side - alongside the words 'AirTranica.' Dubbed 'AirTranica Won;, the plane debuts Monday with a morning flight between Orlando and Pittsburgh, followed by a flight to Atlanta.

"AirTran Airways would like to extend our congratulations to Danica Patrick on the occasion of her first IndyCar Series win by announcing that Monday 21 April 2008 will be known as 'AirTranica' Day," said president and CEO Bob Fornaro, "As a proud sponsor of Danica Patrick and the Andretti Green Racing team, we couldn't be more excited about Danica's triumph."

On the podium, with the IRL's new policy of having the top three drivers honoured post-race, petite Patrick took the top step with a large silver trophy which was taller and heavier than she is. By contrast, the two tall red-suited drivers flanking her on either side received tiny trophies, which they playfully received.

Prior to the podium ceremonies, Patrick hugged all of her crew, parents and husband, and received hugs and well-wishers from the entire field and half the paddock. It was a popular win.