Rahal sues Scott Sharp and Patron

[mountainstar]

I guess all those rumors about sharp shopping around for another ride were true:

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/indycar/41828/

"We find it deeply unfortunate that Scott Sharp Sports and Scott personally have taken this course of action, given that they are contractually committed with Rahal Letterman Racing through 2008,” said team co-owner Bobby Rahal. “We have learned that Scott is interested in racing somewhere else. If that is his direction in the future, so be it, but not in violation of his 2008 commitments. Their attempted legal maneuver to break the contract early is totally without merit. As such, Rahal Letterman Racing will vigorously and aggressively pursue our claims against Sharp and Patrón and the remedies to which we are entitled, as well as defend our team against their unfounded allegations. We had hoped to avoid the ramifications of legal proceedings, but with the allegations against us becoming public record, it is important that we act quickly and decisively to obtain judicial intervention to protect our reputation and goodwill in the industry, as well as to prevent any interference with our relations with our sponsors and other business partners.”

[Davhut]

Rahal gets two thumbs up for fast, decisive action. More power and a judgment to him.

[climb]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

I guess all those rumors about sharp shopping around for another ride were true:

....”

Maybe this will open up an IRL window for Graham Rahal?

[D.R.T.]

so does this mean

a) Sharp wanting his own team
b) Sharp moving to another IRL team
c) Sharp to ALMS
d) Sharp to Nascar, why not everyone else is.

[ThePenguin]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

so does this mean

a) Sharp wanting his own team
b) Sharp moving to another IRL team
c) Sharp to ALMS
d) Sharp to Nascar, why not everyone else is.

I hope that he stays in the IRL with another team or making one of his own, or moving to the ALMS. NASCAR is the last place I want to see him.

[Leighton Irwin]

e. Sharp to court

[mountainstar]

There were a lot of rumors earlier about him going to the ALMS. I doubt he'll go to nascar, but you never know.

Apparently Sharp sued Rahal a month or two ago and this is a countersuit.

[D.R.T.]

Not a healthy situation.

Even if the court settles in RLR favour, after these proceedings it would be unlikely they would still wish to work with each other.

Would that make the Ethanol car a single RLR entry.

[JohnSSC]

I was gratified to see the speed at which this upbeat piece was posted. Kudos!

Seriously, I wonder what Sharp was trying to accomplish other than to spend a lot of quality time with his attorneys?

I think I will also select option "e" as Leighton suggests!

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

I was gratified to see the speed at which this upbeat piece was posted. Kudos!

Seriously, I wonder what Sharp was trying to accomplish other than to spend a lot of quality time with his attorneys?

I think I will also select option "e" as Leighton suggests!

Thanks John! Just trying to keep up with indycool!

I do wonder what this is all about and what Sharp is up to. It's not likely any other team in the irl that can take him would be any more competitive. Unless it ties in with rumors sharp tried to buy out Rahal and since that didn't go ahead is trying to start his own game.

Maybe he'll look at champcar since he was apparently at a test.

[climb]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

...

Maybe he'll look at champcar since he was apparently at a test.

AHA! That's where you wanted to get then!

But you never know, the whole story could turn out as "shattered dreams" for you ms

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by climb

AHA! That's where you wanted to get then!

But you never know, the whole story could turn out as "shattered dreams" for you ms

Anything is possible when you have $8 million in your pocket.

Unlikely though he would come to champcar as he would probably get his clock cleaned.

I think he is probably going to ALMS or setting up his own team. That would be my guess.

[JohnSSC]

Yes, I am sure the thought of possibly facing Negrao has Scott shaking in his driving shoes...

I think that Scott has been somewhat underrated as a driver and at times he just has not been with as good as a team as he needs. I don't think he would threaten for the Championship if he were in CC but he would not be an embarrassment.

Just a thought - and it is just that - but Scott has long been rumored to be looking at starting his own team once he hangs up the helmet. Could the kerfluffle with Rahal be related to that rather than to Scott taking the sponsorship elsewhere as a driver? I think MS has a point about his going to an owner's role.

[paul-collins]

Of course, Scott is on the older side of the competitive driver career, but a former multiple Trans Am champion (when Trans Am meant something, as opposed to when Paul Gentilozzi won his championships) wouldn't get his clock cleaned in a straight up fight. I think you have to give him a bit more respect than that, mountainstar.

... unless you say that about the entire CC paddock when comparing them to Sebastien ...

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by paul-collins

Of course, Scott is on the older side of the competitive driver career, but a former multiple Trans Am champion (when Trans Am meant something, as opposed to when Paul Gentilozzi won his championships) wouldn't get his clock cleaned in a straight up fight. I think you have to give him a bit more respect than that, mountainstar.

... unless you say that about the entire CC paddock when comparing them to Sebastien ...

Oh yeah, I remember that season when he won Trans AM quite well as that was right about the time I was first getting interested in the sport. There is no question he has road racing skills, but he hasn't done much with them for 15 years so I think it would take some time to get up to speed.

In any case I doubt champcar is his first option.

Sad that Trans Am isn't with us anymore.

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Considering how everyone has been talking about Scott Sharp setting up his own team, you'd guess that that would be what he's trying to do now. I can't imagine him going to NASCAR or Champ Car, and throwing togeather an ALMS team with that little sportscar experience? For me the most realistic option seems to be running a car for himself in IRL and jumping in for a few of the longer ALMS races.

[stradlin21]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Magnusson

Considering how everyone has been talking about Scott Sharp setting up his own team, you'd guess that that would be what he's trying to do now. I can't imagine him going to NASCAR or Champ Car, and throwing togeather an ALMS team with that little sportscar experience? For me the most realistic option seems to be running a car for himself in IRL and jumping in for a few of the longer ALMS races.

A good friend of mine who works for an IRL team said that Scott wanted to set up a team but after looking into the operation decided against it

I can see him going to ALMS with Patron and Bobby getting a nice pay off

It's interesting though that this story of a potential "lost" car gets so much attention but the Roth team expansion is largely ingored.

I think Rahal will remain as a two car team with Hunter Reay in the #17 and someone else in the #8

That is only my opinion, I may be wrong but that's where I think we are at

And off slightly, according to my friend, the situation regarding Milka Duno and her 2008 participation should be cleared up shortly after christmas

Citgo are apparently keen to keep their name on the car for 2008 but whether or not Milka will be in the car is another thing and the Citgo deal could depend on her being the driver

[Jimmy Magnusson]

stradlin, legal battles are far more exciting than good news, surely you know that I would guess that it is a pretty good chance of Rahal running two cars as usual next year, though the quality of the seat may depend on the court case and if a paying driver is needed.

[D.R.T.]

Does seem most likely Jimmy.

However you cant blame RLR for wanting to keep their second car. I believe it was written that Sharp is arguing RLR have broken contract by not delivering certain parts of their deal. So it should be interesting.

[mountainstar]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/printe...ck=1&cset=true

Here is a new article that sheds more light on it. Sounds like ALMS was the destination.

[D.R.T.]

The line "sharp will not drive for RLR in 2008, thats for sure" kind of sums up the situation.

[JohnSSC]

I reckon once you have sued the boss and had the boss counter-sue you, it kind of poisons the well...

[D.R.T.]

Absolutely but writing it off so early limits the options.

Could be costly for Sharp and Patron if they are forced to compensate RLR and then pursue an ALMS program

[mountainstar]

You wonder how much Patron really wants to be mixed up in all this.

Sounds like it puts the Rahal team in jeopardy of only running one car.

[paul-collins]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

You wonder how much Patron really wants to be mixed up in all this.

Sounds to me like they were instigators, rather than bystanders:

The team alleged that it was Sharp, "induced and/or instructed" by Patron, who tried to cancel their driver and sponsorship agreements for 2008.

The allegations are exactly what you'd expect from a countersuit.