Rumors Heighten
With Mid-Season Intensity
By Jeff Tessin©1996 Jeff Tessin
Special To SpeedCenterPerhaps the preceding months' CART-IRL rhetoric cascade has prompted an increased atmosphere of rumor and political innuendo amid current PPG IndyCar World Series paddock conversation.
Well, at least it offers healthy rumor in which to gouge our newly-sharpened, politically-hungry teeth (ala the Indy Racing League).
Fire up the rumor-mill barbeque, let's torch credibility.
Leading the post-Toronto charge through continued Silly Season confusion is Roger Penske's unenviable feud between drivers Paul Tracy and Al Unser Jr., and perhaps Tracy's pink slip status upon the Laguna Seca checkered flag. The Marlboro Family rumble centers upon Detroit, where its drivers' artistic concrete tango escalated to a heated bump-and-grind, mid-'80s slam dance of Matsushita magnitude, with Unser making an uncharacteristically-Gordon maneuver to pressure test Belle Isle's retaining tire barriers; then following the race, executing his best Michael Andretti impression to Unkee Roger about 'dat mean ol' Paul Tracy forcing him out.
Sorry Al, I would imagine one driver making room for another late in a crucial race a bit more responsible than diving beneath your teammate expecting positions to be exchanged like the Albuquerque Swap-o-rama--just doesn't work that way.
So now, potentially with Tracy given the gold-studded Roger Penske Italian leather loafer out the door, whom will Captain Roger chose fit for Penske guidance?
Popular rumor says Gil de Ferran, as Pennzoil may rescind primary sponsorship from Hall Racing to the Patrick operation or the IRL and leave de Ferran in PPG Cup employment oblivion, however--based upon the adamant Indy Car preference de Ferran displays--in my opinion he'll remain with Hall next season: this Brazilian isn't going anywhere soon.
Greg Moore, meanwhile, may. Penske, ever the aficionado for emergent young talent (ask Dale Coyne), may extract Moore from his present Forsythe home to provide the young Canadian a place upon the sport's Marlboro Team Penske pinnacle and a viable tool through which to exploit his immense potential, perhaps creating the increased fame and scrutiny earlier Northern protege Jacques Villeneuve failed to receive within the less-publicized 1994-95 Team Green organization of his championship birth.
Or, if you live dangerously, outer-fringe (and I mean Ted Kuczynski outer-fringe) rumor suggests Penske currently considers Parker "I'm just so happy" Johnstone as a future Marlboro Man, which--although undoubtedly his employment would excite--is less likely to happen than A.J. Foyt hiring Guido Dacco to race a Renault touring car next year at LeMans.
Meanwhile in the Walker Racing compound, rumor flies over Robby Gordon's position within the Valvoline operation, as talk of his transit to Barry Green's championship-winning effort in 1997--reaping KOOL cigarettes' newly-increased sponsorship--proves an extremely viable possibility amid current gossip's numerous extremities.
With Gordon's potential Green transit, who then replaces the previously Valvoline-clad off-road throttle psycho at Walker Racing's Indianapolis base? Gil de Ferran and Emerson Fittipaldi have passed around the previous week's paddock, with Fittipaldi a severe longshot and de Ferran's fate contained within the coming paragraph.
The Brazilian prodigy's future finds him with Roger Penske, Derrick Walker, Carl Hogan, Jackie Stewart, Pat Patrick, remaining with Jim Hall or even making a Frank Williams transit to Formula 1 dominance in 1997--that's how complicated this Pennzoil Posterboy's career has become (and perhaps what severe anarchy the Silly Season prompts). Hall Racing looks to file bankruptcy following the 1996 season if rumors outlining sponsor Pennzoil's departure prove accurate, consequently forcing de Ferran's free-agency in search of 1997 PPG Cup employment--undoubtedly and an abundantly plentiful hunt.
De Ferran's most likely prospects have him leave Indy Car racing with the newly-formed Jackie Stewart operation of perhaps replace Robby Gordon at Walker--I doubt his Penske employment (as Tracy will likely remain) and pursue the F1 possibility more actively, though such itself remains an improbable proposition.
Jeff Tessin covers the PPG IndyCar Series freelance and publishes a Midwestern fan newsletter.
