Hogan-Penske pushing for Magnussen
The Hogan-Penske team is on the search for sponsorship for Jan Magnussen, their primary choice for the 1997 PPG IndyCar World Series.
"We're trying to put together sponsorship with Jan," Carl Hogan said. "I was very pleased with the job he did last year. At this point the plan is to run Penske/Mercedes-Benz; we're working towards that with our sponsorship plans and other efforts."
Marlboro Latin America sponsorship finds new home(s)
Gerald Davis, who has taken the reigns of the former Hall Racing Team, is in the process of finalizing a deal with Marlboro (L.A.) for confirmed driver Gualter Salles. There is still the question if Pennzoil will remain a sponsor of this team.
Andre Ribiero is finalizing a deal with Tasman Motorsports that will also receive strong backing from Marlboro (L.A.), who also sponsors Tasman's Indy Lights effort.
Bettenhausen Testing Drivers and Cars
Tony Bettenhausen is another team without a driver after Stefan Johansson left the team. Alumax will remain as the primary sponsor and the team, from 1996, will also remain in place.
The team will be testing several drivers the third week in October at Sebring, and Tony is very concerned about the very limited number of days for testing for one-car teams. A new rule for 1997 that he ironically supported.
"This is a decision I have to get right," Tony said, "But at the same time I can't afford to blow-off too many days testing, given the limit of 25 days on testing for one car teams. It's too bad there can't be some sort of exemption on the testing limits in the case of teams looking at new drivers."
Bettenhausen's short-list consists of Robbie Groff, who drove for this team a few times in 1994, and Reynard's latest poster-boy, Alan McNish. It's interesting to note here that "former" Reynard poster-boys are the likes of Gil de Ferran and Alex Zanardi!
MCI Racing tests at Milwaukee
Max Papis got his first taste of driving an oval at the Milwaukee Mile last weekend. The team tested there from September 27th - 30th and logged nearly 400 miles.
"It is very different from anything I have driven in the past," said Papis. "It is a totally new discipline. The driver just turns left. I have never had to only turn left. It requires a lot of finesse and you have to be a very clean driver."
Max poofed a Toyota over the weekend, but his fastest lap was 22.7 seconds. About 1/2 second slower than Honda-driver, Parker Johnstone.
Max will also be running his final IMSA race at Daytona this weekend. He currently stands second in points next to Wayne Taylor.
Patrick Carpentier to test for MCI Racing
It has been rumored that there may be a two-car effort in 1997 for MCI Racing, formerly known as Arciero-Wells Racing. Patrick Carpentier has also been named in several rumors for teams looking for drivers.
Carpentier, Toyota-Atlantic champion, will be testing later this month at Buttonwillow Raceway in central California.
KOOL Team still looking American but.....
Team Green, heavily backed by KOOL, is still looking for an American driver -- and the hunt has not been easy -- with the prime USA'rs already locked into major deals. It's been an uphill battle for Barry Green after Robbie Gordon dumped on him and moved to NASCAR.
"We're still on track to find an American," said Green, after three days of meetings with KOOL management last week. "KOOL has said if we have to go overseas to find a driver, then we have to go overseas, but I'm still committed to an American and I believe he's got to have IndyCar experience."
There are two lists for Team Green -- official and unofficial -- and both have been heavily rumored upon.
On the official list is Mike Groff, who has an IRL deal in the wings. Eddie Lawson, who became a much better driver after Davy Jones replaced him at Galles Racing and ended up twice on his head, failing to come close to Lawson's performance.
Also on the official list are 1996 Indy 500 winner Buddy Lazier, and 1992 Indy Lights Champion Robby Buhl.
The unofficial list consists of IRL driver, Tony Stewart. Stewart has been announced for a NASCAR ride, but latest rumors say that the deal has yet to be signed pending sponsorship.
1997 PPG IndyCar World Series Schedule?
Where is it? No one knows -- and no one is saying -- much.
The big hangup seems to be with a potential 1997 U.S. 500 and where to hold it...or hold it at all.
Texas? Nope. That deal was blown off in a big way, along with any race there in 1997.
Michigan International Speedway? No way. The 1996 U.S. 500 hurt sponsorship and fan attendance at the Detroit Grand Prix and the Marlboro 500.
St. Louis? St. Louis?!? Well, there may be a race there in 1997, but it would be another shot in the foot for IndyCar to stage the U.S. 500 at Chris Pook's 1.3-mile oval that will be ready for a race sometime in May.
The latest whispers around IndyCar say that a large number of team owners are against racing any time on Memorial Day weekend in 1997.
The IndyCar owners are scheduled to meet in Detroit on Thursday, October 3 and SpeedCenter has been told that the 1997 schedule is the top priority.
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