BY TEAM FORD RACING CORRESPONDENT

Surfers Paradise, Australia — CART president/CEO Chris Pook attempted to quell talk he was in discussions with Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone for the latter to acquire a majority share of Championship Auto Racing Teams. Pook framed the conversations as just chats among friends who both happen to run racing bodies.

Don’t close the book on this just yet, however. Team Ford Racing has learned from a most reliable source that CART has opened its ledgers and contracts to Ecclestone for a thorough examination. That would not have occurred if the possibility of a Bernie takeover did not exist.

Stay tuned.