INDIANAPOLIS -- A deal that would merge the Indy Racing League with the Champ Car series appears to be near, with only some minor details left to be worked out.

The two leagues have been talking merger for several months, 6Sports' Dave Furst reported.

IRL founder Tony George had a standing offer with framework to bring the two series together as soon as this year.

Champ Car owners Gerry Forsythe and Kevin Kalkhoven have been mulling the deal.

If the deal comes to fruition, the combined series would operate under Indy Car rules.

Speed TV reported that George would offer chassis and engines to the Champ teams. In turn, some of the more important Champ Car events would be dissolved into the IRL schedule.

The sticking point is a race date shared by both IRL in Japan and Champ Car in California.

The original open-wheel racing split came about 12 years ago. Neither series has profited since, but the IRL series has prospered the most, Furst reported.