JULY 11, 2002

Team Andretti?

THE need for cars in CART has led former World Champion Mario Andretti to consider starting his own team in the struggling American open-wheeler championship. Andretti is in discussions with Newman-Haas Racing about running a third car, under Mario's management. Michael Andretti, Mario's son, currently races in a third car with Team Green, under the Team Motorola name. The Andretti brand is the strongest in American racing and finding money to back the project should not be an issue, even in these difficult times. Michael Andretti has been thinking along similar lines in recent years but his aim at the moment appears to be to start a team in the rival Indy Racing League. Andretti Sr. has always been a big supporter of CART and was one of its biggest stars.

There is still a way to go before the team becomes a reality but the stories circulating in America are clearly designed to flush out a big sponsor at the time when big companies are finalizing their sponsorship budgets for the 2003 season.