Written by: Robin Miller
Date: 02/28/2008 - 01:48 PM
Location: Indianapolis, Ind.
The winningest active driver in Champ Car found out Thursday morning he no longer had a team but Paul Tracy says he’s still got the fire to run open wheel cars.
“I want to be part of this new league, I want to run at Indianapolis again and I want to stay in open wheel racing,” said Tracy, who learned by a phone call that Gerry Forsythe was shutting down his team and would not be competing in the unified Indy Racing League.
“This is the first time in my career I’ve not known what I’m doing and it’s pretty late in the deal to just find this out.
“But I’m hoping I can still find something competitive.”
The 39-year-old Canadian, easily the most recognizable and accomplished driver in Champ Car the past seven years, was in the second of a five-year contract with Forsythe, whom he joined in 2003 and captured the CART championship.
“I got a call from Neil (Micklewright, president of Forsythe Racing) this morning and he said, ‘I’ve got some bad news for you,’” related Tracy from his home in Las Vegas.
“Neil said he’d been trying to get a hold of my manager but he was having a colonoscopy today. That’s ironic ‘cause that’s what I feel like I got.”
Late last year, Tracy had received an email that Forsythe wanted to re-negotiate his contract or terminate it but during a face-to-face meeting in December, the subject was never broached.
But, as unification got closer, Tracy heard rumblings that Forsythe might not join fellow Champ Car co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven in the IRL.
“I kept thinking this might happen and I don’t think it’s posturing on Gerry’s part,” said Tracy, who owns 31 career victories—all in CART or Champ Car—and ran second in the disputed 2002 Indy 500.
“He asked everybody to stay on board through Long Beach but I don’t know how many guys will be willing to do that. I’d like to take my engineers and a couple guys to a good IRL team because I think we can do a good job.”
Forsythe, who has spent an estimated $250 million on Champ Car racing during this decade, reportedly asked IRL founder Tony George for money to remain in play and was told the IRL would be happy to help with a sponsorship search.
George had made inquiries into Tracy’s availability back in January and it’s believed he still may be interested in one of North American motorsports’ most colorful characters.
After 13 seasons in Champ Car, Forsythe will continue to operate its two-car Atlantic team for David Garza and James Hinchcliffe this season because it’s funded by the drivers.