Champ Car's Tracy extends contract with Forsythe Racing

HOUSTON -- Paul Tracy announced a five-year contract extension with Forsythe Racing on Thursday, renewing his commitment to the Champ Car World Series.

Tracy, 37, is the circuit's active leader in starts (237), victories (30) and podium finishes (69), but he's also raced on the NASCAR Busch Series and the Grand Am circuit in recent months.

Tracy, who won the 2003 points title in his first year with Forsythe, will race this week in the Champ Car Grand Prix of Houston. He's flirted with the idea of moving to NASCAR full-time, but said he's always preferred open-wheel, road-course racing.

"I've kind of gone through a thing at this point in my career of deciding what I want to do, what direction did I want to go," Tracy said. "I was going to try stock cars, racing Grand Am cars, doing some endurance racing, but this is still what I love to do."

Tracy, in his 16th season on the Champ Car series, was also swayed to stay because he's optimistic that the circuit will soon merge with the rival IRL.

"I don't really know if the unification is going to happen or not," said Tracy. "But I'm hearing the same things that you guys do. If it happens, I think it will be great. If that happens, I'd like to be a part of the landscape."

A merger would also give Tracy a straighter path back to the Indianapolis 500, the IRL's signature event.

In 2002, Tracy finished a disputed second to Helio Castroneves, claiming he passed Castroneves on lap 199 before a yellow caution light appeared. But Castroneves' victory stood despite appeals from Tracy and then-team owner Barry Green.

Tracy said the Indy 500 requires a monthlong commitment that would be much easier for Champ Car racers to make if the two leagues would merge.

"The way our championship is right now, it's not possible to do it being separated," he said.