On, off, on, off, on, off... on?

Could it be ??????

While things have been pretty bad on the Champ Car front for quite a while (team, driver and management defections, cancelled races, a weak driver roster, poor TV package, etc.) there has been blood in the water for the past few weeks, ever since team owner Carl Haas said that this year would probably be his last in that series, in advance of a defection to the IRL for 2009.

With those words, he effectively ended the open wheel war. And with every passing day - now that the writing is on the wall - Champ Car's bargaining position grew weaker. For the first time in 13 years, time was working in favour of a merger.

This morning, the on again, off again talks are apparently on again... and within a signature of ending the madness in time to create a unified series for 2008. TSN references the Speed TV story here.

We've all been down this road before, but this time it seems different. Champ Car's owners are truly motivated to act sooner than later and possibly salvage something of their investment and pride, before their series further detiorates.