|
Jun.25.2002 Efforts stopped for 2003 IRL Chassis, Concentrating on 2004
|
|
|
|
|
We at Dome Co.,Ltd. had been negotiating with IRL(Indy Racing League)
over the use of a Dome chassis in the championship. However it is regret
that we have to inform you that we have been given official notice that
they will not allow use of a Dome chassis for the 2003 season.
IRL were to choose 3 chassis makers out of the companies that applied by
April this year. Those 3 companies will be given exclusive rights to
sell their chassis to teams for 3 years up until the year 2005. Dome had
also applied by the aforementioned date, and continued negotiations with
IRL. Places had been taken by Dallara and G-Force so it only left one
position that all the chassis makers were fighting for. The IRL had made
it a requirement that the chassis maker have the facilities to provide
chassis to a third of the teams, while Dome requested that we be allowed
to expand as demand for the chassis grew. So there was a large gap
between the two sides to begin with.
At this point nearly everyone had expected Lola to win the contract but
there were some points working against them as well and that is the
reason the IRL had continued talks with the two other companies battling
for the contract.
At the end Lola gave up and the contract went to a company called MK.
However at this point the IRL were starting to say that they weren't
particularly bent on only allowing 3 companies to enter chassis into the
race. Talks had actually continued after the IRL had issued the press
release about the choice of chassis makers.
On top of everything, during negotiations, they had started to mention
that they may not keep to the 3 year schedule and allow more chassis
makers to enter before the time is up. Therefore instead of rushing
everything along to be in time for the 2003 season, we decided that it
would be better to concentrate on the 2004 season. Negotiations then
ended on the note that we will not be allowed to provide chassis for the
2003 season but they will consider us for the 2004 season.
The reason we are interested in entering the American market is because
it has a lot of potential for us and we are extremely eager to see if we
can conquer the Indy Championship.
We will continue talks with the IRL and we hope to make the debut of our
chassis in the 2004 season a reality.
|
|
|
|
|
|