Paul Tracy's "problems resolved"

So says his mom, here.

If you heard a giant sigh of relief over the weekend, it might have been coming from GP of Toronto boss Charlie Johnstone when he caught wind of Paul Tracy's mother's comment on the Champ Car Fanatics message board that PT's "problems" regarding his contract with Gerry Forsythe have been "resolved."

Already dealing with the loss of event title sponsor Steelback, the Toronto Champ Car event didn't need the trouble of promoting a race without hometown boy Paul Tracy.

It now appears they won't have to.

UPDATE (12:30): TSN has the story here, with quotes from respected journalist Gordon Kirby. PT is staying put, but Neil Micklewright is off his car... at Tracy's request.

T.O. Sun reports Paul Tracy has "put out feelers" to race in the Indy Racing League

Although he couldn't confirm it at the source, the Toronto Sun's Dean McNulty had this to say about Paul Tracy's contractual situation with his Champ Car team:

"Tracy signed a five-year deal with Forsythe in 2007 to keep him from jumping to NASCAR but with only one win in the past two seasons the team is now asking for a renegotiation of that contract for less money.
And those close to the 38-year-old Tracy say he is both hurt and angry. Angry enough, apparently, to put out feelers for a job in the rival Indy Racing League..."

I'd been hearing talk that PT was heading to the ALMS. And Paul's mom posted on a message forum a while back hinting that he's willing to race anywhere (including the IRL).

This story raises several issues:

1) If Tracy isn't in Champ Car in 2008, can the currently unsponsored GP of Toronto Champ Car event survive without local / Canadian content in its headline series?

2) Is Paul Tracy "hurt and angry" enough to 'join the dark side'?

(h/t RBA)

UPDATE (4:50 p.m.): TSN story has a story about PT's future in Champ Car here... including a comment from the Panther Racing IRL team, saying they'd be interested in Tracy, adding, "The biggest question would be [if Tracy went to the IRL]: How quickly could the Indy Racing League organize an event in Canada?"