Team commitments

macdaddy · 2 Sep 2002, 15:48 (Ref:371356)

Forsythe:
"I want to confirm today: Two cars, reasonably sure a third car, and speculation on a fourth car."

Walker:
"As far as Walker Racing is concerned, it my intention to be back next year, certainly with a one-, and hopefully with a two-car team."

Haas:
"We are going to have 18 cars, and I'm going to be there with you again, and I hope for a long time."

Fernandez Racing:
"Tecate, Quaker State and Telmex, they will be back next year in CART, with Adrian Fernandez. Regarding our second car where we've got real strong negotiations going on, we are expecting that that's a strong possibility for next year."

Team Rahal:
"Bobby is quite clear on his love of road racing and the various circuits CART participates on. And as long as we can have circuits that allow the drivers to showcase their skills, I think that's the way to go in the future."

Pat Patrick:
"Patrick Racing is planning to be here next year with one car, which is pretty much funded, and we are working diligently on a second car."

...No news from Ganassi.

Jordi · 2 Sep 2002, 17:10 (Ref:371395)

Well. The better-case-scenario is Forsythe 4, Walker 2, Haas 2, Fernandez 2, Rahal 2, Patrick 2, Herdez 1, Nunn 1...
That makes 16, without counting Ganassi, Green, Gugelmin, St. George...

So much for a "dead" championship...

Derek P · 2 Sep 2002, 20:06 (Ref:371559)

I know that Chip Ganassi wasn't at that press conference, but I recall that he told Chris Pook (back at Portland??) that he would definitely be in Cart next year- and why not?? Target etc can sponsor cars in both series and they are a global company so they will benefit from the worldwide exposure that cart gets. Of course things nay have changed since Portland but I'd be suprised if he's not there next year

Liz · 2 Sep 2002, 20:58 (Ref:371588)

Pook said not to read anything into who was or was not there. I think Chip is waiting til he has something to announce -- after all, word is that Bruno is virtually signed with NH and Brack is on his way somewhere else, so maybe he's going to wait until he has drivers for all his cars before he announces.

I saw the stuff in the Rocky Mountain News that he referred to and I have the feeling this press conference was called at the last minute to refute what they wrote, which was very negative stuff. (That's why he "jumped all over" them and reported that Saturday's stuff was "more balanced").

Don't forget Team St. George, when you are counting cars. That's one and very possibly 2 cars for next year.

Crash Test · 2 Sep 2002, 21:47 (Ref:371629)

Quote:

Originally posted by Jordi
Well. The better-case-scenario is Forsythe 4, Walker 2, Haas 2, Fernandez 2, Rahal 2, Patrick 2, Herdez 1, Nunn 1...
That makes 16, without counting Ganassi, Green, Gugelmin, St. George...

So much for a "dead" championship...

But on the other hand, Forsythe 2, Walker 1, Haas 2, Fernandez 1, Rahal 2, Patrick 1, Herdez 1, Nunn 1... that's 11. How many new sponsors are there out there that aren't currently tiping in that excessively fat cheque books. I hope all of those guys can pull off their expansion plans, but it seems like there will have to be a bucket load of sponsors proposals going around out there....

f1manoz · 2 Sep 2002, 23:33 (Ref:371693)

I think the car line-ups from the one we know are there will be:

Forsythe 2, Walker 2, Haas 2, Fernandez 2, Rahal 2, Patrick 1, Herdez 2, Nunn 1. Ganassi will probably run two cars again, Team St. George will run 1, Green/Gugelmin (if they do return) will run 1 or 2, while Sigma, if they return, will also run 1. Then you can add certain teams rising from Toyota Atlantics and the field will be big enough.

Liz · 2 Sep 2002, 23:41 (Ref:371694)

I think Team St. George bought Sigma, didn't they?

Perhaps the new funding formula will make it easier for these guys to run extra cars. I hope it will.

Lee Janotta · 3 Sep 2002, 01:29 (Ref:371746)

St. George bought Sigma's Lola, not the team itself, which only exists on paper at this point, but the team _could_ be largely re-assembled.

Don't forget the possibility of Red Bull coming to CART... That'll probably be a two, maybe a three car effort, and Sigma would certainly be the operation I'd hire if I was them. I still hope they can get Mario to head up the team.

Worst-case scenario, CART'll have to subsidize a handful of Atlantic/ALMS teams to bring them into CART, as well as paying Rahal and Newmann-Haas to run 3rd cars. In which case, it could mean some very cool drivers who would otherwise be rideless getting a chance to compete. Hey, maybe they'll offer Moreno a chance to come back?

Lee Janotta · 3 Sep 2002, 01:39 (Ref:371753)

St. George bought Sigma's Lola, not the team itself, which only exists on paper at this point, but the team _could_ be largely re-assembled at this point.

Don't forget the possibility of Red Bull coming to CART... That'll probably be a two, maybe a three car effort, and Sigma would certainly be the operation I'd hire if I was them. Heheh, maybe they can get Mario to head up the team.

Flatspot · 3 Sep 2002, 02:30 (Ref:371768)

No doubt in my mind that CART will have 18 cars minimum in 2003. Just came home from Denver and had some interesting discussions there. In a paddock chat Ganassi still says he's running in CART + other series for 2003, no surprise that's what he told me at Laguna Seca. At the hotel, Doricott said he'd love to run in CART but there's a little problem of being $6.5MM short to run just one car and CART hadn't offered that kind of subsidy nor had any sponsor stepped up. (Off the subject but he also said Townsend Bell was in Belgium this week testing in F1). I said that I thought it would cost substantially less than that with the other incentives, e.g. engine program, and he said that they needed it all to be competative and they wouldn't run a non-competative effort. In an after dinner chat Saturday night the folks from Sigma (very pleasant people) just said that they were happy the Atlantics were over for the year so they could take a month of vacation, forget racing for a moment, come back and start testing in October but they didn't see CART as a 2003 option for them (bummer). I hope Red Bull and/or the like make some decisions soon so the teams themselves know who they are.

Liz · 3 Sep 2002, 02:35 (Ref:371769)

I heard Mr. Bell was being given a try in a Minardi. Judging by what the highlights reel showed on Sunday night, he should fit right in there.

Thanks for the update; that is hopeful information except for Dorricott.

BobbyB · 3 Sep 2002, 04:19 (Ref:371795)

Liz,
Why can't you get off this trashing of Townsend Bell? You are obsessed with it, and I'm sick of it.

tanalised · 3 Sep 2002, 07:34 (Ref:371849)

she's just pulling your tits BobbyB

StuiE · 3 Sep 2002, 10:31 (Ref:371985)

Just Chill BB

Things are looking up big time for CART - from the same conference:

"In addition, Pook said that there would be at least five new teams in the 2003 series: "Absolutely there will be some new teams, two from North America and two from Europe. There will be teams coming from other series in this country, moving up the ladder, and I believe you will see the return of a past team." "

That's intriguing

"Other notes:

- Pook announced that CART would be back in Texas and in "the Orient" in 2004. "

From: http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=104922

Liz · 3 Sep 2002, 11:00 (Ref:372010)

Look at all the ribbing PT gets for his magnetic attraction to other cars, walls, and what have you. This is not "trashing" PT, it is pointing out what has become a signature of his driving style.

It's unfortunate that Mr. Bell has chosen him for a role model, but you'll notice that PT is one of the more popular drivers even though he is a bit of a wild man. They're not mutually exclusive. [Crash, do you have stats for Mr. Bell's half season?]

=========

The news is good for Champ Cars with 140,000 announced for Denver this past weekend and all the good news about next season. This should inspire the Invisibles to come over the wall to tell us it proves CART is dead.

macdaddy · 3 Sep 2002, 15:23 (Ref:372178)

No commitment yet from Mo Nunn, either.

Liz · 3 Sep 2002, 16:21 (Ref:372210)

No sponsors commitment yet is what I heard, re Nunn -- or anyway not enough to announce anything.

BobbyB · 3 Sep 2002, 16:29 (Ref:372223)

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by tanalised
she's just pulling your tits BobbyB

I didn't know I had any of those to pull...

paulzinho · 3 Sep 2002, 16:36 (Ref:372231)

Whats this about Gugelmin?!

Didn't know he had any plans to come back, can anyone fill me in?

macdaddy · 3 Sep 2002, 16:39 (Ref:372235)

I think it was just a rumour concerning Big Mo's purchase of PacWest's assets. But that's exactly what it is - a rumour.

paulzinho · 3 Sep 2002, 16:42 (Ref:372239)

To be frank I'd be surpised, AFAIK he returned to Brasil with his family having sold his house in Miami, i'd be surpised if its true though anythings possible!

Jordi · 3 Sep 2002, 17:51 (Ref:372293)

That was a rumour, yes... I didn't count Gugelmin in my car count

macdaddy · 5 Sep 2002, 19:27 (Ref:374006)

Eighteen cars this year.

Fernandez(2), Herdez, Nunn, NHaas(2), Forsythe(2), Ganassi(3), Green(3), Rahal(2), Patrick and Walker.

So far, my optimistic count for next year is 19. That's not counting Ganassi(3), Michael Andretti(3), Nunn, or a second Fernandez car. It is, however, hoping that Barry Green is planning on fielding a team.

Fernandez, Herdez(2), N/Haas(2), N/Haas/Mario, Forsythe(3), St.George(2), BarryGreen(2), Rahal(2), Patrick(2) and Walker(2).

Even if Barry Green doesn't get involved, the car count should be okay. There are still rumours of IRL, F3000, or Atlantic teams coming over.

Goodbye, Chip. Don't let the door hit ya. You and Roger go sit over there with all your friends.

macdaddy · 6 Sep 2002, 20:36 (Ref:374872)

When JV signs with Forsythe, it'll be 20 cars.
Then this website makes me think 21...
http://www.teammorello.com/

Liz · 7 Sep 2002, 00:20 (Ref:374973)

Jos Verstappen is going to be driving in Champ Cars?

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