For those of you wondering...

KC · 30 Oct 2001, 22:14 (Ref:167651)

The silly season so far looks like...

Arciero Blair Racing
Lola-Ford (likely)
Alex Barron (signed)

Dale Coyne Racing
Lola-Ford (likely)
Martin Basso (signed)

Fernandez Racing
Lola-Honda (confirmed)
Adrian Fernandez (signed)
Shinji Nakano (signed)

Herdez Bettenhausen
Lola-Ford (likely)
Mario Dominguez (likely)

Marlboro Team Penske
Penske-Reynard-Honda (confirmed)
Gil de Ferran (signed)
Helio Castroneves (signed)

Mo Nunn Racing
Reynard Honda (confirmed)
Tony Kanaan (under contract, but apparently sought by Ganassi)

Newman/Haas Racing
Lola-Toyota (confirmed)
Cristiano da Matta (likely)
Christian Fittipaldi (likely, unless he makes move to Busch Grand National series)

PacWest Racing Group
Reynard-Toyota (confirmed)
Scott Dixon (likely, but is also being sought by Ganassi)
Dan Wheldon (under consideration)

Patrick Racing
Reynard-Toyota (confirmed)
Roberto Moreno (unknown)
Townsend Bell (unknown, but succesfully tested)
Oriol Servia (possible if Patrick decides to campaign three cars)

Player's/Forsythe Racing
Reynard-Ford (confirmed)
Patrick Capentier (signed)
Alex Tagliani (signed)

Sigma Autosport
Lola-Ford (likely)
Oriol Servia (likely to stay, but rumors abound that Tom Weiringa and Servia have fallen out)
Max Papis (possible as Papis not favored at Rahal)
Roberto Moreno (also in picture awaiting outcome of Patrick’s decision)

Target Chip Ganassi Racing
Lola-Toyota (chassis unconfirmed, engine confirmed)
Kenny Brack (signed)
Tony Kanaan (Ganassi high on Brazilian, but will be costly to buy out of Mo Nunn racing)
Bruno Junquiera (awaiting disposition on Tony Kanaan)
Memo Gidley(likely to be the odd man out)

Team KOOL Green
Reynard-Honda (confirmed)
Paul Tracy (signed)
Dario Franchitti (signed)

Team Motorola
Reynard-Honda (confirmed)
Michael Andretti (signed)

Team PRG(all rides on ability of Andreas Leberle to secure finances to race)
Luiz Garcia Jr (likely)
Michael Krumm (likely)

Team Rahal
Lola-Ford (confirmed)
Jimmy Vasser (signed)
Buddy Rice (possible if team does not sign veteran talent)
Kasey Kahne (possible if team does not sign veteran talent. Kahne may be better fit in possible Rahal IRL project)

Walker Racing
Reynard-Toyota (confirmed)
Tora Takagi (signed)

Forsythe Championship Racing
Reynard-Ford (confirmed)
Bryan Herta (likely)
Hoover Orsi (may already be signed if Forsythe can expand to two car team)

I hope that Junqueira and Gidley can both get a ride in CART. Both have performed well enough to warrant consideration. Gidley lies 15th in points and Junqueira lies 17th. Junqueira has a win at Nazareth and Gidley has numerous podiums in only 10 starts this year.

Buddy Rice has waited as long as anyone to get a solid chance to race in CART, but lack of sponsorship has held him back. He seems most likely to be Vasser's teammate at Rahal and it will make a good fit. Vasser is one of the most experienced and can win at any track and will make a great mentor for Rice. Kahne comes highly rated from the US open wheel oval racing ranks where he holds numerous titles. His skills obviously are slanted to oval racing and he will need seasoning for the long road and street racing segment of the schedule. Bobby Rahal is keen to keep Kahne from becoming another young talent lost to NASCAR and may become the focus of a rumored IRL project. To his credit, Kahne finished in the top 10 in his very first Formula 2000 race on a road course this season and ran three Toyota Atlantic races with a 7th place his best finish. He is also highly rated by the Ford Performance Group after his test with Rahal's champ car team.

The whole silly season will fall into place quickly if Ganassi and Nunn can reach an agreement for the services of Tony Kanaan. If no deal can be made, expect Ganassi to make a hard run at Rookie of the Year Scott Dixon.

Crash Test · 31 Oct 2001, 02:34 (Ref:167767)

Dixon is now signed up at Pac West- but what is a contract worth these days?

I'd put a ? next to Marlboro too...

I hope Michel Jourdain keeps his drive, that was a well earned 7th place on the weekend...

SevenGrain · 31 Oct 2001, 05:34 (Ref:167781)

Jourdain is as good as done at Herdez. A 'well earned seventh place' will not help, a win or podium might have. Jourdain has been with this team long enough that one podium (Michigan) and 20th in the points is unacceptable. Look for Mario Dominguez in that ride.

From what I understand, Chip has told already Junquiera that he will not be retained in 2002. If Kanaan stays at Mo Nunn, Gidley may very well be the benefactor.

Of course the hottest rumor (and it is only a rumor at this time) being floated in the Gold Coast paddock has Penske splitting his team like Mo Nunn running Castroneves in the IRL and DeFerran in CART. I don't know how much stock to put in this one. While I am certain that Penske will field an IRL team in at least a few events with Marlboro, I can't see taking a driver who excells on road courses and sticking him in an all-oval series. (Although Helio will probably beat the pants off of most of the guys in the IRL) Roger, of course , won't make an announcement on 2002 until after Fontana.

I also spoke with Mo Gugelmin this weekend and he indicated that he would be back with Pac West. Although that may not be up to him...

Knottsfreak · 31 Oct 2001, 07:07 (Ref:167789)

Penske is in, but will most likely have another sponsor for CART since Marlboro is interested in getting into IRL with Penske. It was pointed out on RPM2night on ESPN.

Speedworx · 31 Oct 2001, 20:05 (Ref:168037)

Marlboro to IRL (They want to run in Indy 500), Mobil 1 will come from NASCAR to Penske's CART team.

SevenGrain · 31 Oct 2001, 20:53 (Ref:168063)

It has also been suggested that Miller Brewing (a subsidiary company of Phillip Morris) will move to Penske's CART team. This, of course, leaves Rahal in a bind.

mac · 1 Nov 2001, 22:52 (Ref:168540)

I'd love to see Servia in a better ride at Patrick, but I can't see Pat expanding to a third car. He's been pretty flat out running two this year, and I've heard that if sponsor's leave or can't be found, Moreno is out.

Speedworx · 2 Nov 2001, 20:39 (Ref:168946)

SevenGrain: Penske is more likely to close his NASCAR team and have Mobil 1 as the CART sponsor.

SevenGrain · 3 Nov 2001, 08:10 (Ref:169209)

It's really up to Mobil where they want to spend their marketing dollars...

SevenGrain · 3 Nov 2001, 08:13 (Ref:169211)

Kanaan announced today that he will drive the Pioneer entry for Mo Nunn in '02 ending the rampant speculation that he will drive for Chip Ganassi.

Ian-S · 4 Nov 2001, 16:59 (Ref:169723)

I thought Scott Dixon's contract had been sold/given/released** to Toyota? So naturally he will go where Toyota want him to.

**delete as per your views on payment for engine supply.

Mosst · 4 Nov 2001, 17:26 (Ref:169753)

I understand that Justin Wilson, International F3000 champion, is going to Fontana to talk to teams about a seat next year. I am not very knowledgable about CART, but from the silly season list it doesn't look like there are many seats available. Any comments?

KC · 5 Nov 2001, 20:43 (Ref:170392)

Latest on the driver front, Tony Kanaan has decided to remain with Mo Nunn Racing after the teams elected to exercise an option on the driver. So he will remian there and the second seat is still up for grabs at Ganassi. Will Ganassi make a hard run at Dixon?

Ian-S · 5 Nov 2001, 22:23 (Ref:170474)

Quote:

Originally posted by KC
Will Ganassi make a hard run at Dixon?

Well, it's widely reported that Pac West had to hand over Dixons contract for payment of the engines, and who supplies Ganassi's engines?

Well, time will tell.

paulzinho · 6 Nov 2001, 01:46 (Ref:170579)

I'd like to see Mo back for another year, i'd get to go to Rockingham too!!

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