What happened to the drivers Im familiar with, like Al Unser Jr., the Andrettis, and Rick Mears?
Some of these drivers have for their own reasons (and reasons having to do to committments to their teams) chosen not to compete in the IRL. As of 1998, the IRL has no rules whatsoever to hinder participation of CART teams in any way. Of course, they would have to buy IRL-legal cars and engines, and put together an engine program. (Top CART teams in their series never touch their leased engines. The IRL prohibits engine leasing and requires teams to maintain their own engines.) Michael Andretti and Al Unser Jr. are CART drivers, and they and their team owners have chosen to remain loyal to CART and not participate in IRL events. There are both practical and emotional reasons for their doing so. Also, through 1997 there was an official barrier in the form of the IRL’s 25 and 8 rule, which reserved starting spots in the Indy 500 for the IRL regulars. However, this rule is no longer in force as of 1998. As for the other drivers mentioned above, plus a few more that you might occasionally
