Little Al's team ?

[marcus]

during the telecast of Chicagoland the commentators mentioned that Al unser jnr is interested in starting a team perhaps for next year.

I havent heard a thing about this at all and was wondering if anyone else had ?

also is it a good idea for him to do this ?

would he be any good as a team owner ?

I had my doubts over Michael Andretti as a team owner and thankfully he proved me wrong , so if this indeed does happen I hope little Al will be successful at it

[Kicking-back]

It would be a good addition to the grid.

Maybe he'll take over and expand Patrick racing?

U-E's getting on a bit and this could be a good solution.

[BootsOntheSide]

Good thinking KB - this might've been the plan from the word go, although I hope his departure didn't sour things between them.

As to whether he'd succeed, who knows? AJ hasn't but Michael did, when theoretically Michael lacks the discipline and management skill to make it work - maybe he's the figurehead and Kim Green the brains in that operation?

[Kicking-back]

I think Michael Andretti is much more of an astute manager than many people would expect.

[Snrub]

I wonder if the motivation is primarly to give just Al a ride...

I was surprised at the Andretti thing too.

[macdaddy]

Great speculation, Kicking-back. For Al to team up with Patrick is certainly not inconceivable. In fact, this was even rumoured during last Silly Season. I'd really like to see that happen.

[Down F0rce]

And Little Al already has a position within the team, rather vagley called an "advisor". He is the spotter for the #20 machine, but I'm not sure of any other duties he does.

[Kicking-back]

Even if Al does have a team next year, he's probably astute enough not to rush his son into things too early.

[SevenGrain]

Originally posted by BootsOntheSide
AJ hasn't but Michael did, when theoretically Michael lacks the discipline and management skill to make it work - maybe he's the figurehead and Kim Green the brains in that operation?

I can't imagine why you think this. Andretti is a shrewd businessman. He holds a business degree and owns several rather successful businesses other than his race team. Mario never liked the business side of racing, but Michael relished it. This is why Mario drove 14 years longer than Michael, he never had the desire to become a team owner. Michael spend a lot of time during his driving years learning the business side of racing.

[climb]

Typical if a former superstars sets up a new team for a son of him; I just hope he'll be able to get the right connections, particularly about the engine provider.

[BootsOntheSide]

Interesting stuff Seven, I may well have been wrong in that case. Then again, George W Bush has a US business degree, so they may not be worth the paper they're written on

[marcus]

so has anyone heard any more news on Little Al's alledged team ?

[GP Racer]

Nothing at all marcus.

This is just one of the many questions still sitting out there during the silly season that need to be answered. Actually its been pretty quiet throughout the IRL for the last few weeks. Not much news to report lately...

[macdaddy]

Things have changed on the engine front since this thread was originally introduced. Especially where Patrick Racing is concerned.