IRL news and notes

[stradlin21]

1. Speedtv.com have announced that Foyt Racing has confirmed Darren Manning for 2008. This was of course widely expected but it's always nice when 100% confirmation happens, especially in AOWR. Foyt are expected to run a 2nd car for the 500.

2. Speedtv also reports that Adam Andretti will run full time in the pro series next reason for a new team (i forget their name) It's another Andretti name in US racing, Adam is the nephew of Mario

3. Curt Cavin reports that upon communication with Bobby Rahal he has given no indication with him that he will be stepping down his Indycar operation. As it stands Rahal still plans to be a 2 car team and as went mostly unoticed by the obvious, Ethanol, RHR and RHL were all at a preseason test at Infineon.

[climb]

Originally Posted by stradlin21

1. Speedtv.com have announced that Foyt Racing has confirmed Darren Manning for 2008. This was of course widely expected but it's always nice when 100% confirmation happens, especially in AOWR. Foyt are expected to run a 2nd car for the 500.

2. Speedtv also reports that Adam Andretti will run full time in the pro series next reason for a new team (i forget their name) It's another Andretti name in US racing, Adam is the nephew of Mario

3. Curt Cavin reports that upon communication with Bobby Rahal he has given no indication with him that he will be stepping down his Indycar operation. As it stands Rahal still plans to be a 2 car team and as went mostly unoticed by the obvious, Ethanol, RHR and RHL were all at a preseason test at Infineon.

The first two points have been officially published on IRL website thenb they are for sure

About Rahal, that's good news actually, after the recent turmoil about the Scott Sharp affair

[nycuk]

Originally Posted by stradlin21

1. Speedtv.com have announced that Foyt Racing has confirmed Darren Manning for 2008. This was of course widely expected but it's always nice when 100% confirmation happens, especially in AOWR. Foyt are expected to run a 2nd car for the 500

Any idea who? Little Al again perhaps?

[Tim Northcutt]

Here is the link to Curt Cavin's interview with Rahal.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl.../1052/SPORTS01

Another interesting item in the "Etc." section of this week's "Pit Pass" is the anticipated return of Dave Mann (D.B. Mann Motorsports) as an owner in OW in the Indycar Series after a very long hiatus. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he ran cars for Gary Bettenhausen and John Paul Jr.

IIRC, his only IRL forays were with Billy Roe and maybe Dave Drinan in the late 1990s, but I don't recall them being under the auspices of Mann Motorsports.

[stradlin21]

Originally Posted by Tim Northcutt

Here is the link to Curt Cavin's interview with Rahal.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl.../1052/SPORTS01

Another interesting item in the "Etc." section of this week's "Pit Pass" is the anticipated return of Dave Mann (D.B. Mann Motorsports) as an owner in OW in the Indycar Series after a very long hiatus. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he ran cars for Gary Bettenhausen and John Paul Jr.

IIRC, his only IRL forays were with Billy Roe and maybe Dave Drinan in the late 1990s, but I don't recall them being under the auspices of Mann Motorsports.

Other teams i've heard about are Kingdom Racing and another team which had something to do with Jason Priestley who I believe is a big name celeb in the states, not heard of him myself

upon research I found web sites for both but not much happening on them so I didn't post anything about them

But the team you mention seems to be more promising if it's on Indystar

could be an interesting few months up to Homestead, should hear something from Beck and Fisher soon

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by stradlin21

3. Curt Cavin reports that upon communication with Bobby Rahal he has given no indication with him that he will be stepping down his Indycar operation. As it stands Rahal still plans to be a 2 car team and as went mostly unoticed by the obvious, Ethanol, RHR and RHL were all at a preseason test at Infineon.

However it is believed that Ethanol requires a 2 car team for their sponsorship to be valid.

So does this mean

(1) pay driver, oh sorry in this series its called "driver with sponsorship'
(2) Technical partnership with another single car team, say panther.
(3) Ethanol to Panther and RLR gone

[stradlin21]

Your getting desperate now DRT

1. Where does it say Ethanol require a two car team?
2. Panther are close (check their website) to annoucing a 2nd car, PJ Chesson is looking highley likley for this with Munther having the Pro Series seat
3. There is no indication that RLR are going away, as much as you would like it

Try again mate!

[JohnSSC]

Yeah, I am a bit confused as to where the "two car" requirement for Ethanol is coming from. I did not see it in the Cavin piece - is there a link to another article?

[stradlin21]

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

Yeah, I am a bit confused as to where the "two car" requirement for Ethanol is coming from. I did not see it in the Cavin piece - is there a link to another article?

I do seem to remember that Ethanol first came into the series with Hemelgarn, a one car team

Then it switched to Dana's car at RLR, Rice and Patrick did not carry Ethanol sponsorship on that team

So where the "two car" thing comes from is beyond me, just fantasy I believe

[mountainstar]

Apparently ethanol want a 2 car team as they don't feel the team will be competitive otherwise.

[JohnSSC]

I guess the follow-up question then is: Do they want both cars in Ethanol livery or do they just want "their" car to be part of a two car team?

Makes sense that the multi-car operations tend to do better...

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

I guess the follow-up question then is: Do they want both cars in Ethanol livery or do they just want "their" car to be part of a two car team?

Makes sense that the multi-car operations tend to do better...

They just want their car to be part of a 2 car team. Looks like Rahal has to find another $5 million from someone and it doesn't look like there are many people around with that money to go open wheel racing.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

I guess the follow-up question then is: Do they want both cars in Ethanol livery or do they just want "their" car to be part of a two car team?

Speed Tv and Robin Miller is the source of the 2 car issue.

And its Ethanol wanting their "1" car to be part of a two car team, not a two car Ethanol team. Strikingly similar to the CDW situation.

[stradlin21]

Any sources on that....

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by stradlin21

Any sources on that....

Yup there is an article floating around about it, but I can't remember were I read it.

[JohnSSC]

Similar, to what the situation with CDW was, as in past tense. looks like CDW is going golfing...don't have a link, but there have been a number of mentions of this on various boards and in some of the articles I have seen.

Thanks for the clarification on the livery status...

[fazzaz]

John,

I'll give you one unpublished source: A good friend of mine, who once covered the PGA, was discussing golf with a marketing guy from CDW, and was told, "Looks like we'll be there next year." The conversation went on to all the reasons for dissatisfaction with their sponsorship in 2007, and the attractive demographics for professional golf. Strong impression given -- but not explicitly stated -- that they were done wth CC.

As I know who was involved, this conversation is totally reliable to me. As I won't mention names -- I'm quoting a friend without his specific permission -- others will disregard this as no names, no link, no sources, no credibility, my agenda, whatever.

Justin Wilson has proved to be a good driver in North America, and we can hope that he gets the well-paying seat he deserves, wherever that may be, and whether or not he brings any sponsor with him.

Fz.

[stradlin21]

Interesting info Fazzaz

and agreed, be great to see Justin in a good seat

He's from Yorkshire like me and i've followed his progress with interest for years

NHL beckons..

[luke]

Justin won't go to the IRL. his brother is making his way to CC Atlantics and Justin can get a top ride in CC next year and dominate. Where as if he was to go to the IRL which is mainly ovals he isn't going to find a top ride and not lay down a serious threat especially as he won't know the circuits. JW will be in CC in 2008.

[stradlin21]

Did anyone say he was going to the IRL luke?

Last time I checked NHL were a champ car team....

[luke]

Oh they are still CC are they? So those rumors that Haas had bought Dallaras and heading to the IRL are now false as they sounded now?

[stradlin21]

Erm, not excatly mate

The strong rumour (fact) that Haas bought IRL equipment won't be seen until 2009, as everyone has said

NHL are a champ car team right now (fact) and will be in 2008 (we all expect)

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by stradlin21

Erm, not excatly mate

The strong rumour (fact) that Haas bought IRL equipment won't be seen until 2009, as everyone has said

NHL are a champ car team right now (fact) and will be in 2008 (we all expect)

Seems awfully silly that Haas bought equipment now for 2009. You seem to state it as fact. What is your source? A team spokesperson already dismissed that rumor weeks ago.

[rush1]

as long as Haas and co. make money (or at least break even) I am betting they will stay in champcar.

The future of champ car is with Kevin Kalkhoven who successfully challenged serious charges of fraud and insider trading, but probably spent millions on legal help. I doubt he has thought much of his series in the past few months.

I heard from someone on one of the top IRL teams (I know, rumors) that Kalkhoven had lost interest in champ car.

I guess we shall learn in the coming weeks.

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by rush1

Kevin Kalkhoven who successfully challenged serious charges of fraud and insider trading,

LET'S GET ONE THING STRAIGHT!

Mr. Kalkoven was never charged by any criminal court on any charges of either fraud or insider trading! He was a defendant in a CIVIL trial filed by a pension fund in Connecticut.

Using the same warped thinking on the part of some regarding civil cases I ask since Mr. Rahal has been sued by Mr. Sharp and vice versa, HOW MUCH JAIL TIME ARE THEY FACING!