Another Reynard Convert at Toronto?

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Another Reynard Convert at Toronto?
©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc.
Chassis rumors abound at Tasman picnic
One of SpeedCenter's contributing reporters attended a sponsor picnicof the Tasman Motorsports Group today in Canada. The informationobtained is highly speculative, and nobody wanted to confirmanything, but we feel it's something fans at least like to hear tocontemplate what might happen this weekend in Toronto. This is almostas 'bad' a rumor as the silly season news, and we're just talkingabout used Reynards and Swifts here....
At that picnic, Tasman had both the 97 Lola [31x] and the 97 Reynardon the front lawn. A PR guy said that the other Lola that Ribeirowas using during the first half of the season is back at the brakeshop being used as a $400,000 paperweight.
Steve Horne came out with some Mitel Execs [Mitel is involved in Tasman sponsorship]for a quick tour. Ourinformant jumped into the conversation and asked him about whatchassis they would use next year. Of course he wouldn't say anythingspecific, but he seemed to get a little exited over the word 'Swift.'
One of the Tasman mechanics said that another driver should be usinga new 97 Reynard for the 1st time at Toronto. He said (laterconfirmed by a Tasman PR guy) that Davis Racing sold one of theircars to a Lola team! They wouldn't say who this Lola team was, butadded that whoever has it may not have it in time to set it up andrun the car this weekend in Toronto. However, they said that it mostprobably will run in Toronto. You never know, maybe they [Tasman]are that Lola team and Fernandez will get a shot... When asked pointblank, they wouldn't say: "No, we don't have it."
Apart for Tasman, there is only DellaPenna, Project Indy and half ofthe Payton/Coyne team still running the Lola chassis. Given thefinancial resources of these teams, only Tasman and DellaPenna makethe SpeedCenter shortlist for this mystery '97 Reynard opportunity.Reynard stopped building the '97 car a while ago, so only exisitingchassis like the Davis Racing spare are available for current Lolateams.
An interesting twist can be added to this story: why is Davis selling the car? Financial reasons? The sponsorship package behind the team is not the most complete, and liquidating the second rolling chassis at this pointin the season would free up a decent amount of cash. With two car-damage-prone ovals left (and an off-weekend after MIS for possible tub repairs in case the remaining car gets damaged), the risk of not being able to run a car after a contact is relatively small.
Salles runs a Reynard/Ford. Hearn runs a Reynard/Ford.... but then the Tasman source said the car might not be ready for Toronto. Because it needs to be converted to Reynard/Honda?
We'll have to wait to see if there is any truth to these rumors.


		NOW AVAILABLE! — The Official Directory for CART Racing

		Another Reynard Convert at Toronto? ©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc. Chassis rumors abound at Tasman picnic One of SpeedCenter's contributing reporters attended a sponsor picnicof the Tasman Motorsports Group today in Canada. The informationobtained is highly speculative, and nobody wanted to confirmanything, but we feel it's something fans at least like to hear tocontemplate what might happen this weekend in Toronto. This is almostas 'bad' a rumor as the silly season news, and we're just talkingabout used Reynards and Swifts here.... At that picnic, Tasman had both the 97 Lola [31x] and the 97 Reynardon the front lawn. A PR guy said that the other Lola that Ribeirowas using during the first half of the season is back at the brakeshop being used as a $400,000 paperweight. Steve Horne came out with some Mitel Execs [Mitel is involved in Tasman sponsorship]for a quick tour. Ourinformant jumped into the conversation and asked him about whatchassis they would use next year. Of course he wouldn't say anythingspecific, but he seemed to get a little exited over the word 'Swift.' One of the Tasman mechanics said that another driver should be usinga new 97 Reynard for the 1st time at Toronto. He said (laterconfirmed by a Tasman PR guy) that Davis Racing sold one of theircars to a Lola team! They wouldn't say who this Lola team was, butadded that whoever has it may not have it in time to set it up andrun the car this weekend in Toronto. However, they said that it mostprobably will run in Toronto. You never know, maybe they [Tasman]are that Lola team and Fernandez will get a shot... When asked pointblank, they wouldn't say: "No, we don't have it." Apart for Tasman, there is only DellaPenna, Project Indy and half ofthe Payton/Coyne team still running the Lola chassis. Given thefinancial resources of these teams, only Tasman and DellaPenna makethe SpeedCenter shortlist for this mystery '97 Reynard opportunity.Reynard stopped building the '97 car a while ago, so only exisitingchassis like the Davis Racing spare are available for current Lolateams. An interesting twist can be added to this story: why is Davis selling the car? Financial reasons? The sponsorship package behind the team is not the most complete, and liquidating the second rolling chassis at this pointin the season would free up a decent amount of cash. With two car-damage-prone ovals left (and an off-weekend after MIS for possible tub repairs in case the remaining car gets damaged), the risk of not being able to run a car after a contact is relatively small. Salles runs a Reynard/Ford. Hearn runs a Reynard/Ford.... but then the Tasman source said the car might not be ready for Toronto. Because it needs to be converted to Reynard/Honda? We'll have to wait to see if there is any truth to these rumors.