OPEN-WHEEL SERIES CLOSER TO MERGER?(Competition)(Tony George and Kevin Kalkhoven to share ownership of open-wheel racing)(Gateway International Raceway in Madison)(Graham Rahal won at the Car Atlantic Championship races )

Indy Racing League boss Tony George and Champ Car chief Kevin Kalkhoven have agreed to share ownership of open-wheel racing, provided they can find a respected third party to resolve differences that arise.

Such a compromise is the surest sign yet the sport's leaders are coming together for the first time since 1996, when George started the IRL as an alternative to CART, Champ Car's predecessor.

A deal is not yet in place, the two leaders emphasized at their respective events last weekend, but they said they are committed to ending the painful split.

"We've agreed conceptually [to share ownership], yes,'' George said at Richmond. "Now we have to agree on how we would go about resolving differences that might come up. It may or may not involve [a single] individual.''

George does not know when that decision will be made, but he continues to talk regularly with Kalkhoven. Their talks began in December with a chance meeting at the Race of Champions event in Paris; they last met in person the week following the Indianapolis 500.

Both men understand what is at stake. Open-wheel racing has lost considerable ground to NASCAR in the past decade, with virtually every aspect of the business suffering.

Most likely Kalkhoven said, a merger happens one piece at a time rather than all at once.