Tracy stays with Forsythe

Houston:

Paul Tracy has announced a five-year contract extension with Forsythe Racing, 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). He has also raced stock cars on NASCAR's second-tier Busch Series and in the US 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 is flirted with the idea of moving to stock-car racing full-time, but said he has always preferred open-wheel, road-course racing. "I have 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," he said. The merger Tracy, in his 16th season on the Champ Car series, was also swayed to stay because he is optimistic that the circuit will soon merge with the rival IRL. "I don't really know if the unification is going to happen," the Canadian said. "If it happens, I think it will be great and I would like to be a part of the landscape," he said. 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 month-long commitment that would be much easier for Champ Car racers to make if the two leagues would merge. (AP)