Feb. 19 newsstand: It's imminent

Unification is imminent ...

This broke late last night with this piece by Robin Miller on Speed.
Says TG: “While it is true that I continue to believe we at the threshold of something long-overdue, we have not yet stepped across it."
The details:
*-CC teams were told to expect delivery of their new Dallaras within a few days.
*-A presser could be tomorrow if KK returns from England by then.
*-Expect a minimum of 8 new cars on the grid: 2 from NHL (Rahal/Wilson), 2 from PKV, 2 from Forsythe, 1 each from Walker and Conquest -- both former IRL teams. Dale Coyne could put 1 car in the field, as could one of Minardi USA's partners. Rocketsports & Pacific Coast Motorsports are likely to look elsewhere -- PCM to ALMS.
*-LB, Edmonton and Australia would be the 3 races to carry over.

It was updated with this piece from Curt Cavin in the Indy Star
It heavily quotes Paul Gentilozzi saying not to expect too many cars from the CC series. His Rocketsports team won't be one making the transition.

Says PG: “I don’t know of a Champ Car team that is a go. (One owner) told me he’d run Indy, but he will not run the season.”
Details
*-CC owners have an agreement to vote on.
*-Brian Barnhart has been asked to find cars for CC teams. Ten Dallaras are owned by Vision Racing.
*-The IRL is arranging a second Homestead test for the CC teams that can't make next week's event.

But the Indianapolis Business Journal says the CC teams are trying to get ready to test next week.
*-This story says Mexico City is the third race -- along with LB and Australia -- that the IRL expects to incorporate into its schedule.

Other reports:
ESPN.com says the announcement is coming Thursday.
Melbourne (Australia) Herald-Sun. Quotes Will Power as saying "Whichever way you look at it, (the late start) is unfair for Champ Car drivers and teams but it must be done. It is better for everyone to merge."
Apparently, somebody is going to have to notify Laguna Seca that their date is off

Penske eyes Indy
Now that he's won Daytona, Roger Penske wants to do the Daytona-Indy double