MARCH 18, 2004

Rahal jumps

The Champ Car series received another major hit with the news that former three-time CART champion and one-time series chief executive Bobby Rahal is pulling his team out to switch to the Indy Racing League. The decision comes a few days after Adrian Fernandez announced a similar move.

Rahal, a former Jaguar Racing F1 boss, said that the decision was dictated by business logic.

But Rahal's driver Michel Jourdain will be staying in Champ Cars with his sponsor Gigante.

"I agonized over this, because I've given a lot of blood, sweat and tears to CART," said Rahal. "It was not an easy decision, but at the same time I can't run a business on just my personal feelings."