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IRL CHAMP CAR MARRIAGE

Speculation has led to rumour has given way to report has given way to…. truth?  It appears that the Indy Racing League, which has as its flagship race the Indianapolis 500, will merge with Champ Car effective really, really soon.  In fact, a press conference could be held tomorrow.

Even Jerry Seinfeld didn’t like the overuse of the “Ovaltine” bit.  On the other hand, it had become gruesomely apparent that televesion wasn’t working with the Champ Car World Series.  It’s a little bit I-need-you-but-hate-you mixed with plenty of Baby-it-hurts-to-love-you and a lot of Can’t-live-with’em-can’t-live-without’em.  
Consider this: Patrick Carpentier, Juan Pablo Montoya, Sam Hornish Jr. are just some of the names who crossed over, at least temporarily, into NASCAR for the Daytona 500.  Champ and the IRL need to do more than just keep fans.  They need to keep drivers.
Daily Tracker
Oil Crisis Monitor
Updated: Sep 30, 2026 — 4:30 AM MT
Strait of Hormuz
213
Days
Day 213 — The Pentagon said the US troop withdrawal from Iraq is complete (via AP). UKMTO reported a vessel struck on Sep 28 (fire out, crew safe) and a crude tanker struck on Sep 30. The strait remains closed; straits.live counted 252 hulls holding position on Sep 29.
Day 213: US troops complete their withdrawal from Iraq; UKMTO reports new projectile strikes on ships in the strait.
Brent Crude
+40.3% since closure
$102.59
/bbl
Today: −$2.69 (−2.6%)
U.S. Gas Avg
+47.8% since closure
$4.43
/gal
Today: −$0.02
WTI Crude
+29.5% since closure
$89.38
/bbl
Today: −$3.22 (−3.5%)
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EIA weekly petroleum report, 10:30 ET — week ending Sep 25
Today
Sep 30
USMCA Tariffs
25% IEEPA + 232 duties
IN EFFECT
182
Day
2026 SAAR Forecast
16.1–16.8M
▼ 16.4M
prev. forecast
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