Ganassi to Leave Open Wheel Racing

DNQ · 17 Jun 2003, 11:46 (Ref:634061)

OK the source is pretty dodgy and it's probably not true, but well, who knows...

Quote:

Ganassi Closing Down IRL team? Dixon to NASCAR? AutoRacing1.com is reporting that the IRL series will be loosing one of its top teams at the end of the season. Target Chip Ganassi Racing will be closing its Indianapolis offices at the end of the IRL season. No CART team, no IRL team. They are currently looking at offers on the property and equipment. They are looking to take Scott Dixon with them to NASCAR land. There is a very small chance, that if they win the championship, they would continue on for one more season. There are some at Ganassi, that are looking for funding to buy the operation, and continue on in open wheel racing, CART or the IRL.(AutoRacing1.com need subscription to read)(6-17-2003)

From http://jayski.thatsracin.com/

racer69 · 17 Jun 2003, 12:53 (Ref:634171)

Wouldn't suprise me actually in some ways if Ganassi did get out of open-wheel racing. Not just bad for the IRL if it's true, bad for open-wheel racing as a whole.

I'd say Target are gone definatly.

Would the money Ganassi are getting this year from Toyota be transferred over to backing a Ganassi entry in Craftsman Truck racing next year? Also Ganassi goes where the money is, if Target goes and Toyota transfers backing to NASCAR for Ganassi's team, then i'd say he'll probably go.

Then again, Toyota have a minimum number of cars to supply in the Indycar Series for 3 years, so why would they ditch a top team? Also, what happened to Coors? Wasn't there talk they had left Hemelgarn for Ganassi. Maybe they could replace Target?

What about Dixon and Schekter. Where would Toyota place Dixon (he's still contracted to them next year isn't he?), i really can't see him heading to NASCAR. Where would Scheckter go.

More questions than answers. Presumebly everyone involved would have known the score prior to the season starting, so why would Ganassi have made the move?

Or is this just the start of the silly season........

BootsOntheSide · 17 Jun 2003, 14:29 (Ref:634353)

This'd wipe the smile off Tony George's weasly little face. And prove what open-wheel fans fear - the split is causing both series to lose ground behind NASCAR.

Ganassi already runs 3 cars in NASCAR, and could've won the title last eyar had Sterling Marlin not been injured late season. Toyota are plannign to mvoe up to Busch Series for 2004, and Winston Cup in 2006. A Ganassi Busch series team, featuring Dixon and an experienced NASCAR racer would be ideal to help them develop. Ganassi have been loyal to Toyota's dollars above their racing integrity and will to win fro several years now, so the rumour holds credit. Also leads me to suspect that Toyota will leave the IRL after 2005.

gttouring · 17 Jun 2003, 15:03 (Ref:634396)

But who would Ganassi field in teh now named I heard on speed channel last night "NASCAR Nextel Cup Series"
no more winston.
Ganassi isn't likely to go to trucks, so dixon if he is contracted to toyota goes NASCAR would he go there?
and schekter is not going tin tops never.
this is a mess and OPENWHEEL is getting creemed by these thing. UGH

Jay · 17 Jun 2003, 18:28 (Ref:634649)

I'd be surprised if Dixon ever went to Tin-tops even more than Schekter...

I have no idea about any of this, but Ganassi always was more of a Nascar person.

rush1 · 17 Jun 2003, 18:33 (Ref:634659)

Well the IRL has lived without Ganassi before, and will carry on without him. Hopefully its just a rumor. It could hinge on finding another major sponsor. If taget wants to concentrate on NASCAR it might become a problem.

The problem is CART. How many CART teams have the financial ability to compete in the IRL? I can think of 2 teams with the resources to join the IRL but I have not watched a CART race this year so I really don't know. Fernandez, another Rahal entry, maybe a Haas entry?

Even with CART gone it might be a couple of real lean years for open wheel racing...

tanalised · 17 Jun 2003, 19:22 (Ref:634734)

I think Dixon stated that he enjoys watching some NASCAR on TV but it isn'y a place for "fureigners"

racer69 · 18 Jun 2003, 07:24 (Ref:635227)

Dixon was also exploring opportunities of racing V8 Touring Cars in Australia this year, so it could happen.

Boots - Aren't Toyota joining the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2004, not the Busch Series?

I'd be surprised if Ganassi left, he's been a open-wheel driver then team owner since the early 80s, but it wouldn't be the end of the world.

BootsOntheSide · 18 Jun 2003, 14:23 (Ref:635566)

Right you are racer69.

The last 3 years have been lean years for open-wheel racing, and both CART and the IRL ahve to take some blame for that. The market isn't strong enough to support 2 championships competing with each other. We need one series with affordable cars, about 50/50 between oval and road-street, only about 4 non-US/Canada races, lots of American drivers but also international stars such as De Ferran, Kanaan and Tracy, plus some up'n'coming European guys

**gomick** · 19 Jun 2003, 10:21 (Ref:636418)

if scott dixon wins irl title in 2003 - he will be a toyota f1 driver in 2004

replacing olivier panis.....

will anyone drink to that

Testure · 19 Jun 2003, 11:07 (Ref:636466)

Toyota F1 have made some questionable decisions over the last couple of years, but moving a driver from a 100% oval series to F1 would take the biscuit. If Dixon wants into F1 (maybe he does, maybe not), he'd surely have to spend a season in a road-racing based series. Don't hold your breath; there's too many other talented drivers about for Toyota to take that risk.

What are Scheckter and Dixon's contracts like? When do they run out? If Ganassi and Target leave and the team was bought out by the current employees, maybe they'd still be contracted to drive for next year.

climb · 19 Jun 2003, 12:31 (Ref:636541)

According to source italiaracing.net, Ganassi have denied rumours that they could quit IRL; the discussion shloud be over, then

camcartfan · 21 Jun 2003, 23:56 (Ref:638797)

Quote:

Originally posted by rush1
Even with CART gone it might be a couple of real lean years for open wheel racing...

CART's not going anywhere rush1. Fuggettaboutit!

DNQ · 23 Jun 2003, 10:11 (Ref:639915)

Quote:

Originally posted by rush1
Even with CART gone it might be a couple of real lean years for open wheel racing...

Snrub · 26 Jun 2003, 02:53 (Ref:643314)

Ganassi can be a uniting force for IRL and CART. We can all hate him together.

Poor Dixon, hope he can get out of that contract. I really don't think an IRL championship will do much for his F1 chances. I'm not trying to take a shot at IRL, I just don't think it will.

bcobbus · 26 Jun 2003, 09:12 (Ref:643478)

NASCAR is where all the money is at, and that is where he is heading. He has what, two or three cars there now? I think he would like to be in the same category as say Rousch, with up to four or five cars running...

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