DENVER -- Carl Russo is in his first year as a team owner in the Toyota Atlantic series and also a partner in the group trying to buy/save Championship Auto Racing Teams. But he's been around the motorsports game a long time and he's got some levelheaded ideas and a check list for open wheel racing.

This self-made multimillionaire from the high tech world wants to:

a) Take his 21-year-old star A.J. Allmendinger up to Champ Cars in 2004.

b) Help get CART back on its feet financially.

c) Compete in the Indianapolis 500.

d) See open wheel racing back under one roof.

If there is to be anything resembling a future for open wheel, Russo figures to be a player. He's got the money, passion, smarts and, more importantly, open-mindedness it's going to take to repair all the damage from the IRL/CART war.

"I would have no problem with Tony George running open wheel racing, provided he keeps it diversified with street circuits and road courses," declared Russo, who along with Gerald Forsythe, Paul Gentilozzi and Kevin Kalkhoven comprise Open Wheel Racing Series (the group that's made bid to buy CART).

"I don't have anything against Tony and I want to run the Indy 500 some day. Just like I'm sure a lot of those guys in the IRL would like to run Long Beach, Montreal and Mexico City. And I think we're all aware that one series is the only thing that makes sense."

The 47-year-old Californian recently met with IRL officials at Kentucky and would like to see some sort of merger if his group is successful at buying CART, taking it private and restoring its viability.

"There are two ways to get back to a single series," he continued. "One is to let CART die and the other is to build it back up, then sit down and figure a way to bring it back together.

"It's not going to happen overnight but that's the approach Kevin, Paul, Gerry and myself are taking."

Russo, who had distinguished career racing go-karts, dabbled at driving in Atlantics before starting RuSport Racing this season and his desire is to continue Allmendinger's ascension to the top of American open wheel racing -- not run it.

"None of us wanted to own a series but we had to do something because it didn't look like anybody else was going to put in an offer a and it was obvious CART was going to vanish before the end of 2004," he continued.

"There are still a lot of issues and negotiating but we're hopeful this sale can go through."

Sources say the Open Wheel Racing Series offer of $.50 a share has been countered by CART and will be presented to the perspective new owners Thursday. If Champ Car can be rescued, and that will include Russo & Company putting in $100 million, it might be in position down the road to instigate a merger.

"If you talk to everybody in this paddock and everybody in the IRL paddock, they all want to be in one series," said Russo. "So do the sponsors and, obviously, it would be much more beneficial for television.

"If we all agree this is the right thing to do then let's get it done. Keep our best shows and the IRL's best venues and you've got something so much more powerful than what we've both got today.

"My opinion is that we need each other."

A new A.J. rules

	Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger was named after A.J. Foyt and, although he's never met the Indy-car legend, it won't be long until Foyt is quite familiar with this 21-year-old virtuoso.

Allmendinger clinched the Toyota Atlantic championship here Sunday with another dominating drive and his seventh victory in 11 starts in 2003.

"It's unbelievable how everything has come together and I'm just thrilled to be associated with this RuSport Team," said the native of Los Gatos, Calif. from Victory Lane. "Carl Russo and Jeremy Dale put together a super group of people and that just made my job easy.

"Three years ago I just hoped I could drive one of these cars and I never dreamed I'd be standing here."

Allmendinger's ascension has been nothing short of phenomenal. He drove a shifter kart for CART star Paul Tracy in 2001, captured the Barber Dodge Pro Series in 2002 and earned the Atlantic title this year as a rookie.

"That kid is a very special talent," said Russo, the co-owner of RuSport who raced karts, sports cars and Atlantics before becoming a car owner. "He's been able to do some amazing things and it's just thrilling to watch him behind the wheel.

"With the state of open wheel right now, nobody is sure what's going to happen but we want to take A.J. to Champ Car or the IRL next year."

Allmendinger is only sure of two things.

"I want to keep moving up and I want to be with RuSport."

Yellow Brick Road?

	John

The first gig in the marriage of motorsports with music will have Elton John at the Trans Am/CART doubleheader next month in Miami.

Paul Gentilozzi, the former Trans-Am champion who is now principal of the sedan series in addition to fielding a Champ Car for Alex Tagliani, has struck a deal with Jamie Rose's MotoRock LLC in hopes of bringing some new, young fans to races.

MotoRock, which signed on as title sponsor for Trans Am and also is part of Gentilozzi's group that is bidding to buy CART, is the creation of Rose. He intends to use his connections in the music industry to bring such stars as John to the race fans.

Their first venture together will be next month's doubleheader at the Grand Prix Americas in Miami where Trans Am and CART races will be sandwiched around a concert by John.

"Our idea is to blend cars, stars and guitars," said Rose, who became friends with Gentilozzi and hooked on Trans Am and Champ Car last April while attending his first Long Beach Grand Prix. "It's still about racing first but we want to bring a new brand, a new energy and a new audience to these two exciting series."

Gentilozzi said the idea of melding motors and music should appeal to the 16-24 crowd.

"Young people gravitate to high rev tuner market and there's no greater -- expression of that than CART and Trans Am. Jamie saw 60,000 people fenced in at Long Beach and wondered what else could be done.

"You can't just give him a band, you need experts and Jamie knows everybody in the music business."

Rose feels like his model will work at road courses as well as street circuits, while Gentilozzi hopes this triumvirate plays several weekends in 2004.

"Everyone we've talked to, in racing and in music, thinks it's a phenomenal idea and we feel the concept should sell itself," said Gentilozzi. "I've been turning money into noise for 30 years and now we're going to make a different noise."

Vasser contemplating

	Vasser

If things don't get better, Jimmy Vasser may not be a Champ Car driver after this season.

The 1996 CART champion isn't making any threats or demands or speeches, he just isn't going to spend another year running midfield with old equipment.

"If the right situation doesn't come along and I'm not able to be up front, I'd just as soon sit out," replied the 38-year-old veteran when asked about a report he was contemplating retirement following 2003. "I mean, I'm not making any big statements or anything like that but there's no use being out there unless you can be competitive."

Driving for the first-year American Spirit Johansson Racing operation, Vasser and rookie teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay are saddled with two-year-old Reynard chassis that lack the overall downforce of the Lolas.

Other than a fourth at Long Beach and his charge from 14th to fourth at Mid-Ohio before spinning, Vasser's 13th season in CART has been plagued by mechanical failures and new team teething problems.

He had a good run at Daytona in a Busch car last spring and eventually wants to gravitate south after his open wheel days are over. Which could be sooner than later, depending on what transpires in the next few months.

Robin Miller covers open wheel racing for ESPN and ESPN.com.