From the intrepid Curt Cavin at IndyStar.com.
Andretti Green Racing will remain a four-car team even if it loses Dario Franchitti, a team co-owner said Sunday.You'd never know it from the glove-throwing incident in Texas, but I'm told Scheckter and Young Marco are total buds. Not sure if that makes Tomas the front-runner, but if Dario is indeed gone for 2008 then it's time for some serious musical chairs.
Kevin Savoree confirmed a sponsorship program with a company brought to them by the group owned by rock singer Gene Simmons. AGR's drivers were introduced this weekend to the owners of an energy drink company.
Believed to be on it are IndyCar Series veterans Tomas Scheckter, Darren Manning and Vitor Meira. Indy Pro Series champion Alex Lloyd remains a possibility.
And, did Gene Simmons actually DO SOMETHING? What the...?
it's a long shot, but it wouldn't surprise me to see Quattro move to AG-R since he's been doing so well with his backmarker car, and he did well with his drive at Chicagoland last year subbing for the injured Dario..
I'd love to see Manning at AGR so I'll still having a rooting interest in 3 of the 4 AGR drivers. That said, I don't think it can happen since Darren got his option for next year picked up by Foyt.
I've read on some boards that Manning and Foyt have a contract for next year, but I haven't actually seen it reported anywhere.
If you find this confirmed anywhere please forward it to me. Thanks.
I would be very surprised if it wasn't Tomas Scheckter. He's shown enough talent in decent equipment to get the ride and his leaving Vision automagically helps Tony G. reduce his driver "inventory" down to his desired two car number.
Also a total wildcard longshot could be Marino Franchitti, who's already under contract with AGR in the ALMS Acura LMP2 car.
Manning said he was "good" for 2008 with Foyt and talking like he's looking forward to coming back to all the tracks, everyone having another year under their belts, etc. As for a second car, he said in a very Manning-esque way, "If someone comes up with the cash I'm sure it could happen." I'd be shocked as well if it's not Thomas. It will be very interesting to see the musical chairs situation. Much more interesting the bawling over Dario and/or Sam leaving.
Jeff: I actually heard it on TV but, for the life of me, I can't remember what I was watching because I was only half paying attention. I just remember hearing it and giving a little "yay!"
I just did a Google News search for an announcement of some sort and couldn't find anything at all so... *shrug*
At any rate, I hope someone picks Darren up if Foyt didn't.
Hey, since rumors seem to be the order of the day, I'll jump in and start one.... How about Boris Said for that ride? He does have the sponsorship of an "energy drink company", no real prospect of a full-time ride in the tin tops, plus, like all of the other drivers in the field, he's a "road course specialist". Not that I see it really happening, but he would bring some real fun to the field. Just the thought of tiny clowns running around trying to pack him into the car would be fantastic...
I love watching Boris tear it up during the few NAPCAR road races, but let's put this in persective: Mr Said is a few days older than Michael Andretti.
I'm thinking that's probably not a good age to start racing OVER 200 miles per hour.