Jay Howard To Test For Forsythe

News like this may ultimately mean nothing but it still makes me feel uneasy. Indy Pro champion Jay Howard – who can be seen lifting weights in yesterday’s IndyStar – will be in Houston next week testing a Lola for Champ Car’s Forsythe Championship Racing.

While Howard will be joined by two other drivers, it’s still disconcerting to see one of the true stars of the IRL’s developmental series being courted by a CCWS powerhouse. There are too many drivers to go around for all the teams so this kind of thing is bound to happen, but it’s still a crying shame that guys like Howard and Wade Cunningham can do all that is asked of them at Indy Pro and then get stiffed for an IndyCar series ride.

By the way, as talented as Howard has shown homself to be I think it’s safe to say Cunningham is the more polished driver. Had he not had appendix issues in 2006, Wade would have easily repeated as series champion. And I’m not just saying that because he was kind enough to discuss his hair with yours truly.

In the end this paring of Howard and Forsythe may not last beyond the test, as several other drivers like Buddy Rice are already on the team's radar for 2007. It’s my understanding Sam Schmidt (the “Penske of Indy Pro”) is helping Howard personally with his career, so there is hope his ties to the IRL keep Jay in the league.

But talented racers like Howard have to eat too, and if there are no rides in IndyCar then he's off to explore his options.