Contract: R&D team
- More cuts at Ganassi? With 71 employees already in the unemployment line, Chip Ganassi Racing is looking to cut another 30 jobs from its stock-car operations, several current employees said Saturday. The team shut down the #40 Dodge earlier this week after it wasn't able to find a sponsor for driver Dario Franchitti. With that came layoffs, some of them surprising. Several team sources confirmed that department heads often weren't included in the decision-making process. Some employees who were laid off had been with SABCO Racing long before Ganassi bought the team from Felix Sabates in 2001. While the #40 Dodge was missing from Saturday night's Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway, most of that team still had a job. The cuts last week affected the #41 and #42 teams more than the 40. Most of the mechanics from Reed Sorenson's and Juan Pablo Montoya's team received their pink slips, replaced by members of the defunct team. Franchitti, the reigning IndyCar Series champion, has struggled to make the transition to stock cars. Ganassi has offered him a ride in the Nationwide Series for the rest of the season, but the Scot has yet to make a decision. Those left behind now are bracing for more cuts. Many of those who lost their jobs last week apparently didn't take the news well. In fact, the team had 12 police officers on hand to keep order.(Florida Times Union)(7-6-2008) Comment here
- Graves Steps Down as Ganassi Team Manager: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) announced today that Andy Graves has resigned his position as team manager and will be reassigned to a different position within the company. "Andy Graves has been a passionate and valued member of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates for the past seven years," said Team Owner
Chip Ganassi. "I have an extremely high regard for him both professionally and personally and look forward to his continued
contributions here at Chip Ganassi Racing."
"It has been a privilege to work with Chip, Felix and the whole team over the last seven seasons," said Graves. "These years with the team have been a part of my life that I will never forget and for that I am truly grateful. I am now just looking forward to the next chapter of my career here at Chip Ganassi Racing." Graves was in his sixth season as team manager for CGRFS. He joined CGRFS in 2000 as one of its first employees and was promptly named team manager for the Indianapolis 500 team that would go on to capture the
2000 Indianapolis 500 crown. Graves was also instrumental in the transition from SABCO to CGRFS. On an interim basis the duties of team manager will be absorbed by the current management staff that is in place.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(4-18-2006)
- Pruett still has NASCAR plans: Scott Pruett said Thursday that even though he is not racing in the Busch Series race Sunday in Mexico City, he plans on running both the Nextel Cup and Busch events in August at Watkins Glen International. Pruett is still running at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, where the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series is racing Saturday. Pruett drives full time on that circuit for Chip Ganassi Racing. Pruett said he had planned to run in the Telcel-Motorola Mexico 200 [Busch Race] , but the sponsorship didn't materialize. Pruett's plans for the June race in Sonoma are up in the air because the Grand American cars are competing at Mid-Ohio that same weekend.(SceneDaily.com)(3-4-2006)
- Stremme to attempt Homestead: David Stremme will attempt to qualify for his fourth NEXTEL Cup Series start this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the #39 Commit Dodge from the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates stable. It will be the second race this season for Stremme in the Commit car after its Charlotte debut. Previously in Cup competition this season, the South Bend, Ind. native drove the #39 Navy Dodge for CGRFS at Chicagoland Speedway and Richmond International Raceway (September race), and most recently piloted the #39 Commit car at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Lee McCall will serve as Stremme's crew chief this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. McCall joined Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates at the beginning of the 2001 season to lead the #40 team. McCall has amassed five wins as a crew chief at CGRFS, four with Sterling Marlin and one with Jamie McMurray.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(11-17-2005)
- Sorenson in the #09 at Homestead: Reed Sorenson is going to get a badly needed Nextel Cup start next week at Homestead thanks to an old friend who has helped his career in the past. Sorenson will drive the #09 Dodge for James Finch, the same car owner who provided the Busch car that Sorenson drove in his second start in that series last year, at Memphis, and recorded his first top-10 finish. Sorenson is set to move to the Cup circuit next year, but unlike most rookies who run the NASCAR maximum of seven races the year before, he has just one start, at Atlanta. Finch said he's glad to help Sorenson advance his career by offering the car to drive at Homestead-Miami Speedway.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(11-11-2005)
- Ganassi staying at three cars? UPDATE 3: now hearing that Ganassi is going to remain at three teams with one of the four Cup sponsors they have may change their sponosrship around and appear on more of the Ganassi cars [#40,#41,#42 and #30?]. WIth...McMurray moving to Roush Racing and Kurt Busch to Penske Racing.(11-6-2005)
UPDATE: hearing Mears to the #42, with Texaco staying as the primary sponsor and Home 123 as a major assocciate and being hte primary in a few races as they were this year on the #42. Expect an announcement early this week and could be as soon as Monday.(11-6-2005)
UPDATE 2: There is speculation that if Ganassi can't get a top-name driver for the McMurray-Texaco ride, he is willing to promote Casey Mears.(Winston Salem Journal)(11-7-2005)
UPDATE 3: been told the deal is done, Ganassi stays a 3-car team, #40-David Stremm, #41-Reed Sorenson and #42-Casey Mears with Texaco. Home 123 will be sub sponsor for all three.(11-7-2005)
- #30 for Mears in 2006: Casey Mears says he'd love to have the #42 next season if Jamie McMurray leaves, but that's simply "not an option." Owners points for each car number determine provisionals, and Mears' #41 will be given to 2006 rookie Reed Sorenson next season to enable him to make each race. So where does that leave Mears? He'll have to rely on his qualifying prowess--and hope he doesn't run into mechanical issues. Mears was initially expected to drive the #39 next season but now says he'll be in the #30; Richard Childress plans to give up the number [used #30 a few years, switched to #07 for 2005](Sporting News)(10-24-2005)
- Kenseth loses spotter after 2005 UPDATE: As #17-Matt Kenseth's spotter for the last six years, Mike Calinoff [stockcarcity.com] has experienced the highs and lows of NASCAR's top series. Certainly, Saturday night was the latest of milestones since he guided Matt to rookie-of-the-year honors in 2000. He was the "eyes in the sky" for the #17 Dewalt Ford when Matt delivered Jack Roush's long-awaited first title. But he's also witnessed the frustrations of maintaining a championship caliber team over the long haul. When the cars roll out at Daytona next February, Calinoff's unmistakable bass will be booming over #40-David Stremme's radio channel. In addition to his spotting duties, Calinoff will also oversee the day-to-day business aspects for the Ganassi Racing up-and-comer. There's an opportunity for growth with Ganassi, whereas the Roush spotter's gig didn't offer for the chance for advancement. And like any new relationship, Stremme's deal will be loaded with firsts -- first pole, first win and if Calinoff is lucky, a first title.(Sporting News)(9-1-2005)
UPDATE: Sunday's Subway 500 at the Martinsville Speedway marked the final race of Mike Calinoff's six-year term as Matt Kenseth's spotter. The two mutually agreed that an early separation would afford Kenseth the time to audition a new spotter, and allow Calinoff the opportunity to begin handling the management chores for Rookie David Stremme. For the remainder of the season Calinoff, who was featured this weekend on NBC's Today Show, will serve as spotter for Reed Sorensen's Nextel Cup debut races in Atlanta and Texas, as well as Stremme's entry in Homestead and his remaining Busch Series events.(PR)(10-24-2005)
- Stremme gets sposnor to run 2 more races: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announced that partner GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Consumer Healthcare will increase its support of the team by sponsoring David Stremme in two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races in 2005. GSK's product, Commit stop smoking lozenges, will adorn Stremme's #39 Dodge at Lowe's Motor
Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. Stremme will debut the #39 Commit Dodge at Lowe's Motor Speedway on October 15 in the UAW Quality 400 just five miles from the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates NASCAR headquarters. The 1.5-mile oval will
be the sight of Stremme's third career NEXTEL Cup race. For more info see the Web site Quit2WinRacing.com, which has information about quitting smoking as well as racing news and behind the scenes interviews.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(10-7-2005)
- Sorenson Cup debut at Atlanta: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announced today that NASCAR Busch Series driver Reed Sorenson will make his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series debut during the Oct. 31 race weekend at his home track of Atlanta Motor Speedway. Discount Tire Co., the primary sponsor of Sorenson's #41 Dodge in the Busch Series, will increase its support of the 19-year-old driver by serving as the sponsor on his #39 Dodge Charger. In addition, Sorenson will attempt to qualify for the NEXTEL Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway in the #39 Discount Tire Dodge in November. The paint scheme that Sorenson will be running in Atlanta and Texas is also a sneak peek at what his #41 Discount Tire Dodge will look like for the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series season. Discount Tire Company made its foray into racing in 2004 with its sponsorship of a CGRFS entry in the NASCAR Busch Series. After running eight races in 2004, Discount Tire expanded its sponsorship to a full season this year. Discount Tire will continue its support of Sorenson in the Busch Series in 2006.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates)(9-13-2005)
- Mears to run #30? hearing the car number for the fourth Ganassi Racing team will be the #30 Home 123 Dodge for driver Casey Mears.(9-13-2005)
- Stremme to run at Richmond: David Stremme will attempt to make his second NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start this weekend in the #39 Navy "Accelerate Your Life" Dodge out of the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates stable. Stremme currently pilots the #14 Navy Dodge in the NASCAR Busch Series, and sits seventh in the championship points standings.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates)(9-7-2005)
- Ernie Elliott Re-Ups with Ganassi: Ernie Elliott, the engine-building expert from Dawsonville, GA who provides the power for several NASCAR teams including the Chip Ganassi-owned operation, won't be retiring to his Montana ranch anytime soon. He recently signed a multiyear extension with Ganassi, his principal customer. Although Elliott, the older brother of Bill Elliott, has been building racing engines on the Cup circuit since the early 1970s, he said he still relishes the competitive nature of his job. "I wish we were running better, but Chip and his people will get that worked out," he said. "Our Busch cars are running good, but there have been too many Cup races since we've won." Ganassi's last Cup victory was in 2002 at Lowe's Motor Speedway, but Reed Sorenson has driven a Ganassi car to two victories on the Busch Series this season.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(8-19-2005)
- Scott Pruett to driver #39 Coors Light Dodge at Watkins Glen: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announced today that road-racing veteran driver Scott Pruett will compete in the Sirius at the Glen race at Watkins Glen International this weekend. Pruett will pilot a second Coors Light Dodge entry for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race for the race team on the road course. "I am excited to be pulling double duty at the Glen this weekend," Pruett said. "This will be my first time in a Coors Light car. I always have fun racing the road courses and I am glad Chip gives me the chance to run them twice a year in a Cup car." Pruett is currently running the GrandAm Rolex Series for CompUSA Chip Ganassi Racing with Max Papis. Currently, Pruett and Papis are leading the GrandAm Series points standings. The CompUSA Chip Ganassi Racing team has had five poles this season and been to victory lane three out of seven times. Pruett has one NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series start for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates under his belt during the 2004 season, posting a third-place finish at Infineon Raceway back in June.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(8-10-2004)
- Pruett to run triple at Watkins Glen: Pulling triple-duty in next weekend's race at Watkins Glen is Scott Pruett, who, if he qualifies for each, will drive Chip Ganassi Racing cars in Friday's Rolex Series race; Saturday's Busch Series race and Sunday's Nextel Cup race. If that isn't enough, in September Pruett is scheduled to test a CGR IndyCar at Watkins Glen for a race there later in the month.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(8-7-2005)
- Ganassi Announcement on Friday UPDATE 2: Chip Ganassi will be on hand for a special announcement at Watkins Glen International regarding sponsor activities and plans for the 2006 season on Friday, August 12, 2005 at the Watkins Glen International Victory Lane.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates)
Hopefully this will help clear up some of the Silly Season rumors, such as does Casey Mears stay in the #41 Target Dodge? move to a 4th team, #39? go back to Busch so Reed Sorenson can move up to the #41? does Jamie McMurray get out of his contract? if so, then who goes in the #42 Texaco Dodge? Mears? Sorenson? someone else? So far the only thing we know for sure is David Stremme in the #40 Lonestar/Coor Light Dodge in 2006...supposedly #41 crew chief, Jimmy Elledge will be his crew chief.(8-10-2005)
UPDATE: been told that Ganassi will expand to a full four car team in 2006, with Casey Mears moving to the Home 123 Dodge, possibly #39, with Ganassi Busch Series driver, Reed Sorenson going to the #41 Target Dodge and also running the #41 Discount Tires Dodge on the Busch Series. The fate of the #42 Texaco Havoline team is unknown, but at present Jamie McMurray is expect to drive the car unless he can get out of his contract for 2006 and move to the #6 Roush Racing Ford, the team he signed to drive for in 2007.(8-11-2005)
UPDATE 2: Home123 Corporation, a subsidiary of New Century Financial Corporation , together with Chip Ganassi Racing
with Felix Sabates (CGRFS), today announced plans to expand their partnership to sponsor a fourth NEXTEL Cup Series entry in 2006 with current CGRFS driver Casey Mears taking the helm. Mears and his Home123 Team will take to the track in 2006 in an all-out pursuit to win races and build awareness of one of America's premier providers of home mortgage loans.
Home123 Corporation, the official mortgage company of NASCAR, joined forces with CGRFS prior to the 2005 season as a major associate on both the #42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge driven by Jamie McMurray in the NEXTEL Cup Series and the #41 Discount Tire Dodge piloted by Reed Sorenson in the Busch Series. In addition to Home123's NASCAR involvement, New Century Mortgage Corporation, also a subsidiary of New Century Financial Corporation, is the primary sponsor on Chip Ganassi Racing's #02 Rolex GrandAm Series team with drivers Cort Wagner and Stefan Johansson. Casey Mears has been driving for CGRFS since joining the NEXTEL Cup Series ranks in 2003. To date he has amassed two pole positions, two top-five finishes and 13 top-10 finishes in 93 starts. Prior to moving up to NASCAR's elite division, Mears cut his racing teeth competing in the NASCAR Busch Series, CART, IRL, Indy Lights Series and USAC Triple Crown, along with many other forms of motorsports. To find out more about Home123 or New Century, please visit www.Home123.com
AND UPDATE 2 1/2: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) announced today its complete 2006 driver line up for
its NASCAR NEXTEL Cup programs. The multi-car team will expand its Concord-based racing stable to four NEXTEL Cup Series teams in 2006 with drivers Casey Mears, Reed Sorenson, Jamie McMurray and David Stremme piloting the Dodge Chargers.
"I'm extremely excited about our 2006 driver line-up," said team owner Chip Ganassi. "We began working toward this goal in 2002 when Felix and I signed David, and it continued with the addition of Reed, Jamie and Casey in 2003. This is a testament to Lorin Ranier and our driver development program as well as our unparalleled sponsor services team and the investments we've made over the past few years to achieve our goal of a four-car operation. It is my belief that these four drivers will help us accomplish our mission of winning races and adding value to our sponsor partners."
4th Team: Mears will continue his driving duties with CGRFS in 2006, but will pilot the Home123 Dodge Charger for a full season with backing from one of America's largest providers of home mortgage loans, New Century Mortgage subsidiary Home123. Mears is set to begin his fourth year with CGRFS next season after serving as driver of the No. 41 Target Dodge since 2003.
#41: Having already notched victories at Nashville and Gateway, and establishing himself a championship contender in his first full season of NASCAR Busch Series racing for CGRFS in the #41 Discount Tire Dodge, Sorenson's reward will come in the form of a full-time NEXTEL Cup Series ride in 2006 behind the wheel of the #41 Target Dodge. The 19-year-old rookie will remain the driver of the Discount Tire Busch machine next season, and will benefit significantly from running a full slate of Busch and Cup Series races in 2006.
#40 ream: As previously announced, Stremme will be piloting the #40 Coors Light and #40 Lonestar Steakhouse & Saloon Dodges for 2006 in the NEXTEL Cup Series for CGRFS. Stremme, the 2003 NASCAR Busch Series Rookie of the Year, will be making a run at the NEXTEL Cup Rookie of the Year honors alongside Sorenson. And if last weekend's Busch Series performances at Indianapolis Raceway Park were any indication of things to come, the two will have plenty for the competition as they stand third (Sorenson) and eighth (Stremme) in the championship standings.
#42 team: As the team's leading contender for 2005's edition of "The Chase for the NEXTEL Cup," McMurray (11th) will again pilot the #42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge in his fourth year of tenure at CGRFS. The former NEXTEL Cup Series race winner will return to the familiar black and red Dodge Charger with the Texaco/Havoline sponsorship he's enjoyed every season at CGRFS since joining the squad in 2003.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(8-12-2005)
- Pruett to run triple at Watkins Glen: Pulling triple-duty in next weekend's race at Watkins Glen is Scott Pruett, who, if he qualifies for each, will drive Chip Ganassi Racing cars in Friday's Rolex Series race; Saturday's Busch Series race and Sunday's Nextel Cup race. If that isn't enough, in September Pruett is scheduled to test a CGR IndyCar at Watkins Glen for a race there later in the month.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(8-7-2005)
- Stremme and Sorenson test Cup car at Gateway UPDATE: Both David Stremme and Reed Sorenson tested the #39 Ganassi Dodge Cup car at Gateway International Raceway outside St. Louis on Tuesday. Stremme in the morning, Sorenson in the afternoon. Not much was said. Sorenson said he didn't know what was going to happen next year, whether he would be in Busch or Cup. He also said he wasn't sure if he would drive a Cup car this season. He said being at Gateway killed two birds with one stone: He was getting seat time in a Cup car and he was getting some laps at Gateway, a track he's never run before.(590 The Fan, KFNS/Brandon W. Mudd)(7-22-2005)
UPDATE: Tyler Epp, Ganassi team manager, addressed the team's future plans for Busch Series driver Reed Sorenson, whom some have speculated was already signed to drive the #41 Target Dodge in 2006. Epp discounted the notion, and said unequivocally that Sorenson would once again drive the Ganassi Busch Series car next season. "Reed Sorenson will be in the No. 41 [Busch Series] Dodge in 2006," Epp said. "[The Cup speculation] are all rumors. Certainly we're really happy with his development. He's developed really quickly. If we have an opportunity to put him in a Cup car that we think is beneficial that's not going to push him too much and still allow him to run the full Busch schedule, certainly that's something we'll look at at that point. But we don't have that capability right now."(NASCAR.com)(7-23-2005)
- Stremme to Debut at Chicago with the Navy Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates in an alliance with FitzBradshaw Racing announced today that David Stremme will make his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series debut in the Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on July 10th, 2005, with the United States Navy serving as primary sponsor on the #39 Dodge Charger. The United States Navy will also serve as the primary sponsor for Stremme in the NEXTEL Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway on September 10th. This announcement comes on the heels of the announcement that Stremme will compete for the 2006 Rookie of the Year honors in the NEXTEL Cup Series behind the wheel of the #40 Coors Light and #40 Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon Dodges.
The upcoming NEXTEL Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway will mark the first foray into NEXTEL Cup Racing for the United States Navy [actually they were on the #18 car in the 1991 Daytona 500 and on the #4 car in the 2000 Coca Cola 600 - images on my 2000 Paint Schemes Page]. Stremme is currently eighth in the NASCAR Busch Series point standings, driving the #14 Navy "Accelerate Your Life" Dodge. He has posted four top-five and eight top-10 finishes in 2005, to date.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates)(7-1-2005)
- Pruett at Infineon Raceway: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) and Chevron Corporation announced today that defending Grand Am Rolex Series Champion Scott Pruett will pilot a second Texaco/Havoline "Shine On" Dodge in the 110-lap Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway on June 26. Pruett, a native of nearby Sacramento, Calif., will be
driving the #39 Dodge, which will be the fourth entry by CGRFS, with a paint scheme complementing teammate Jamie McMurray's #42 Texaco/Havoline "Shine On" Dodge. Pruett has 35 career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series starts dating back to 2000, four of which have come at the 1.99-mile Infineon Raceway. He recorded his best finish of third at the track one year ago in the #39 Dodge, crossing the finish line directly behind CGRFS teammate McMurray. Pruett is currently tied for first place in the Grand Am Rolex Series standings with co-pilot Luis Diaz driving for the no. 01 CompUSA team based out of Chip Ganassi Racing's Indianapolis stable. Together, the duo have already amassed two victories and three poles this season, along with four podiums and five top-five finishes in just six starts.
The special paint schemes that McMurray and Pruett will be running are a part of the "Shine On" series of cars. The designs pay tribute to the iconic status of the star, which has led the way on the hood of a Texaco/Havoline car in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series for over 18 years. The Star logo being showcased on the Infineon cars was introduced in 1936 and was used until 1963. McMurray has already competed with "Shine On" cars at Texas and Charlotte, and he'll also be running one at Talladega in October.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates)(6-20-2005)
- Mears back with Ganassi in 2006 more: during an interview on Speed Channel's NASCAR This Morning, Casey Mears, driver of the #41 Target Dodge for Chip Ganassi Racing, says he has been told that Chip Ganassi 'has plans for Mears', but Mears has not been told what those plans are.(NASCAR This Morning)(6-19-2005)
AND Is #41-Casey Mears the next driver headed out of the Ganassi stable? "We were hoping for a little more performance," Ganassi said of Mears' season before the race. "That's not to say that he's not going to be here next year. I talked to Casey the other day and I said, 'Hey, I've got a plan and you're in it.' That's what's going on right now. Is it nailed, nailed, nailed? No."(Detroit Free Press)(6-20-2005)
- Marlin and Ganassi, Sorenson to a 4th team, Mears to stay: As a result, at a press conference later today Chip Ganassi will start reshaping the future of the team by formally announcing long-rumored changes that will yield Marlin's #40 Dodge to driver David Stremme. "It wasn't an easy decision, I'll tell you that," Ganassi said. "I'm sure if you were to ask Rick Hendrick if Tim Richmond or Geoff Bodine contributed to his team's overall success, he'd answer 'yes.' Sterling's done that for us, too, and that's why I'm not just cutting him loose, even though at the end of this contract I didn't owe him anything." Engineered by Ganassi, Marlin will get a substantial, six-figure, three-year personal services contract -- the money coming in equal parts from Ganassi and Coors. According to Ganassi, the changes won't stop with the #40 Dodge -- though such aren't scheduled to be formally announced today. Reed Sorenson, also recent grist in the rumor mill, will be moving up to Cup, too -- but not at the expense of Casey Mears, as many have predicted. Though all the parts have yet to fall perfectly into place, Ganassi is working toward fielding a four-car Nextel Cup effort in 2006. There's even a fairly substantial chance of Ganassi's Rolex Series effort growing from two to three DP cars in 2006.(Daytona Beach News Jourmal)(6-19-2005)
- Mears waiting on Ganassi about 2006 contract: #41-Casey Mears is waiting to see if car owner Chip Ganassi wants to pick up the option on his contract for the 2006 season. Mears says “right now all indications are we’re going to run next year [with Ganassi]. All the feedback that I get is they’re happy with what I’m doing and happy with the improvements that we’ve got. I don’t think about that stuff a whole lot, I just want to go out and do the best job I can and if the team I’m with doesn’t want me at the end of the year I’ll do something else…if they do want me then great because I’m happy here."(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show/Sporting News)(4-22-2005)
- Kovalainen wins ROC, Johnson and Mears lose early: Heikki Kovalainen of Finland beat world rally champion Sebastien Loeb of France to win the Race of Champions on Saturday. Kovalainen downed Loeb 2-0 in a best-of-three legs final at Stade de France after overcoming seven-time Formula One Champion Michael Schumacher in an elimination heat. The Race of Champions, a yearly event since 1988, featured 16 pilots from various motor racing disciplines, including NASCAR, Champ Car and Indy 500 specialists. The Stade de France, home of the French soccer and rugby teams, was covered by a .6-mile asphalt figure-eight track with a crossover bridge. Kovalainen, 23, selected a Peugeot 307 rally car to take on Loeb in his familiar Citroen Xsara. The Finn is the youngest driver to win the ROC trophy. Some 60,000 fans, hoping to see their countryman force a deciding leg, jeered the time penalty handed to Loeb. In the elimination rounds, competitors were split into two groups of eight -- called the Rally Group and the Racing Group. After quarterfinals and semifinals, the winner of each group met head-to-head for a place in the overall final to decide the Champion of Champions. One key driver who was slated to run in the event -- four-time NASCAR Cup champion Jeff Gordon -- didn't race because of a flu that also kept him from much of NASCAR's year-end celebrations in New York City this week. Casey Mears, who raced in Gordon's place, lost in a heat to Jean Alesi, who then fell to Kovalainen. The other American driver on hand, Jimmie Johnson, also lost early.(ESPN/AP)
UPDATE: Casey Mears became the choice over Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman and Kasey Kahne mostly because he had a passport and experience in this event last year (then in the Canary Islands). Johnson and Mears left Friday night after NASCAR's season-ending awards ceremony in New York, landing at 2 p.m. They changed clothes in the car and got five practice laps. Johnson struck a course barrier to draw a 10-second penalty in each of his two races; Mears split matches with Coulthard in the team events and lost to Alesi in the individual. Gordon's absence was felt more by the competitors than the fans. Schumacher said the opportunity to race the four-time NASCAR champion led him to race outside of F-1 for the first time in four years.(Indianapolis Star)(12-5-2004)
