[cdublxi]

So does PT have a ride or not? I haven't heard much about it. I know he was under contract in his Champ ride until 2011 with no "out" clause and no "performance" clause. Does this carry over to IRL?

It'd be nice to have someone to root for since Sam Hornish went to NASCAR.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by cdublxi

So does PT have a ride or not? I haven't heard much about it. I know he was under contract in his Champ ride until 2011 with no "out" clause and no "performance" clause. Does this carry over to IRL?

It'd be nice to have someone to root for since Sam Hornish went to NASCAR.

It'd be good to see Tracey back running competitively again. People who drive open-wheel cars like stock cars get my attention.

[Phils20]

From what I've heard and read, he is on the outs as of now. I'd also like to see him racing, but at this point, it doesn't look too promising.

[Racer Duck]

Here's an almost month old story describing Tracy's predicament. AUTO-RACING - INDYCAR: Tracy Back on the Market - SPEEDtv.com

[cdublxi]

Hopefully he'll get a ride sometime this season. If not, I'm SURE someone will get him a ride next year.

The guys on Powershift seem to think we'll see more teams next year than this one because of sponsorship problems with little notice.

[Racer Duck]

I guess the Powershift folks are taking the position that the newly merged series is gonna have some tough sledding this year and some teams will likely fail to secure sponsorship as a result.

I, on the other hand, think the positive buzz, expanded schedule and more cars in the field will help and we'll see some new teams next year, probably a couple running Indy Pro this year moving up. Remember, all those Champ Car sponsors and fans didn't go away, they just increased the size of the pools. And the unification has probably attracted back many old timers who left because of the split or some other reason - for instance, how many of the drivers who recently left Champ Car and IRL for more fertile fields (NASCAR, etc.) might be considering returning?

In PT's case, I think the team was already in the final stages of death throes and merger or not, they were going under. Sometimes aggressive drivers like PT accelerate team death because of their high maintenance costs.

[cdublxi]

I thought it'd be a no-brainer myself. IRL is giving Champ Car teams a chassis and the engine leasing program (1.5M worth easy) if they can stay in the league a full year.

Would you turn that kind of money down?

Tracy or not... I'm going to watch IRL and if Tracy doesn't secure a ride I'm gonna have to find a new driver this year since Hornish went to NASCAR.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by cdublxi

I thought it'd be a no-brainer myself. IRL is giving Champ Car teams a chassis and the engine leasing program (1.5M worth easy) if they can stay in the league a full year.

Would you turn that kind of money down?

Tracy or not... I'm going to watch IRL and if Tracy doesn't secure a ride I'm gonna have to find a new driver this year since Hornish went to NASCAR.

so you have a car and an engine and a few bucks.

now all you need is another $15M-$30M to pay for the driver, crew, support people, fees, tires, fuel, electronics, testing, transportation, marketing, and replacement parts. Then there's wind tunnels, 7-post and other more exotic testing/equipment that competitive teams spend mega bucks on.

Somebody has to put up the bucks. If ya don't have sponsors to do that, then the owner(s) need every deep pockets and not many owners have the wallets to fully fund a team for an entire season.

The old axiom holds true in IRL as well as other forms of racing: the way to make a small fortune in racing is to start with a large fortune.

[WestCoast]

PT is too exciting not to have a sponsor pick him up.
Besides, he needs to re-win the Indy again.

[mancheer12]

both need to learn how to drive nascars cause they suck

[WestCoast]

Miller speculates that we will see PT in a Truck race very soon.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by WestCoast

Miller speculates that we will see PT in a Truck race very soon.

I read that. Unfortunately Robin doesn't have a good track record with prophesies.

[WestCoast]

All Body-men and Parts-people pray for El Cruncho's return.

[WestCoast]

Paul got a ride with Vision Racing for the upcoming Edmonton GP, I hope it leads to a full time ride.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by WestCoast

Paul got a ride with Vision Racing for the upcoming Edmonton GP, I hope it leads to a full time ride.

I want to see Danica throw one of her famous snits with PT. he might just put her over his knee and paddle her. Maybe that'd take some of the "Princess syndrome" out of her?