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Robby Gordon Burns Green Bridges
If Robby Gordon ever decides to make an attempt to return to IndyCar racing after his NASCAR stint, it surely will not be with Barry Green's team.
Robby made a very un-Kool move when he signed with SABCO Racing this past weekend.
"It's pretty frustrating, to say the least," said Green, "and I guess it's partly my fault because I should have gone for the throat and got him (Gordon) to sign a contract instead of taking his word."
All this just after Green got Tony Cicale, who was the engineer for reigning PPG Cup champion, Jacques Villeneuve, to come back to Team Green.
Robby and Barry had a verbal agreement that Gordon would be with Team Green in 1997. Until Robby made a bold move, to sign with SABCO Racing and will racing stock cars for at least the next three years.
Gordon is filling Kyle Petty's shoes who will evidently become an NASCAR team owner in 1997.
Barry Green Has Few Choices Left
So, that leaves a very prominent IndyCar team owner, with a pocket-full-of-money sponsor (Kool), a car, and no driver. It is also reported that a second car will be sponsored by Lucky Strike.
Oh my! I can hear the anti-tobacco lobbyists whacking out all sorts of disinformation about racing and cigarettes. But that's another story.
Sure, there are a slew of drivers who'd love to have this ride, but almost all of them are already committed for 1997 and the Kool executives are demanding an American driver.
The prime candidates for this ride are: Tony Stewart (IRL), Eddie Lawson (IndyCar), Richie Hearn (IRL), Buddy Lazier (IRL), Scott Sharp (IRL)....and that's pretty much about it. Unless Green wants to "buy" a driver, or run a wash-out.
There are a few other news sources reporting that Scott Pruett is still available, but as reported at SpeedCenter a few weeks ago, he has already signed with Patrick Racing for 1997. There would have to be a buyout of Pruett's contract to make that work.
But, this is the Silly Season and I have seen stranger things happen!
SpeedCenter Adds Andrew Craig To The Interview List
SpeedCenter has confirmed an interview with IndyCar CEO and president, Andrew Craig. As of this writing, the interview will be conducted at the Labor Day weekend race at Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
In addition, SpeedCenter also has confirmed interviews with Parker Johnstone and Christian Fittipaldi, at Vancouver.
For Laguna Seca, so far, we will be interviewing Nancy Pruett, IndyCar driver, Scott Pruett's mother, to get a parent's perspective of the sport. Also for Laguna, or thereabouts, we are currently working out the final details of interviewing engineers from the Penske Racing organization. That interview will be conducted via telephone from California to Poole, England, where the chassis' are engineered and constructed.
If you would like to ask a question of any of the above, send email to The Editor.
Scott Goodyear Is Back!
When it seemed that Scott Goodyear had been beamed off the Planet Earth, he returns (again)! The IndyCar News Service reports:
Scott Goodyear of Walker Racing returns to the PPG Indy Car World Series
after a three-race absence for the Molson Indy Vancouver on Sept. 1 at
Concord Pacific Place. Goodyear will be making his first appearance in the
Valvoline DuraBlend Reynard Ford since finishing 19th at the Molson Indy
Toronto on July 14.
"I really don't like sitting on the sidelines," Goodyear said. "I've been
at the recent events and I haven't been racing, so I'm extremely happy to be
back in the car again."
The start at Vancouver will be just the third of the season for Goodyear.
After competing in the season opener at Miami, he missed the next nine races
due to a fractured vertebra he sustained during a practice accident at Rio
in March. Goodyear also is scheduled to drive at the season-ending Toyota
Grand Prix of Monterey on Sept. 8 at Laguna Seca Raceway.
There was no word as to why Goodyear skipped Mid-Ohio and Road America.
Max Papis - Arciero-Wells Racing to Miss Vancouver
Rookie Max Papis (MCI Reynard Toyota), who replaced the late Jeff Krosnoff for Arciero-Wells Racing, will bypass the Molson Indy Vancouver to continue his chase of the IMSA World SportsCar championship. He will compete that same weekend in an IMSA series event in Dallas for Team MOMO Corse Ferrari. Papis, who also races this weekend in an IMSA event at Mosport, currently is second to Wayne Taylor in the World SportsCar driver standings. Arciero-Wells will not field an entry at Vancouver, and the team as well as Papis will return for the Toyota Grand Prix of Monterey.
Jamie Galles To Join Galles Racing Organization
Jamie Galles, son of IndyCar owner Rick Galles, will leave a prospering Trans-Am career at the end of this season to take a managerial position with his father’s operation. Galles is among the SCCA Trans-Am points leaders and earned a triumph earlier in the season at Long Beach, but the success could not sway him from joining his father in an Indy Car operation.
"It’s like a dream come true to have my son join Galles Racing," the elder Galles said. "Jamie and I have been talking for several months about the possibility of him working within the organization. I know how much he enjoys driving and I realize what a difficult decision it was, but I think he’s looking long term."
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