Here's a breaking news scoop no one has reported. While every reporter is off celebrating The Year of the Rat, your humble host has been checking out the Panther Racing Q&A. And what nugget of information is there to find?
Q. You’ve flirted with possibly being a one-car team this season, how is that looking right now? No deal for PJ Chesson?
A. (2-8-08) It’s safe to say now that Panther will be a one-car team in 2008, at least until the Indy 500, where we would likely expand to a two-car operation.
There's no info to prove this, but it can't help but be pondered how many potential drivers have sponsors who are now sitting on the sidelines waiting for a post-unification racing world. With all of the frothy anticipation in recent weeks you can't blame a sponsor for waiting to see if they can't get more bang for their buck by simply delaying any program by a year. 2008 may be good, but 2009 will most certainly mean more tracks, more competitors and presumably more race fans.
In the meantime, Vitor is literally THE man for the Panther Pack. Bummer for PJ Chesson, as well as the rest of us.
Long Beach Preview
-
Is it just me, or does it seem like we have gone months without an IndyCar
race? If you want to get technical, we have. The last points-paying race
was run...
22 hours ago
Doh. That''s a bummer. But yeah, if I were a sponsor, right now I'd be waiting. Even if this frenzy doesn't culminate in a deal, the writing on the wall is in an increasingly bold type. Which adds ANOTHER point off pressure to finish this. I hope. Oy vey.
That's really crappy for PJ. :( From a sponsor standpoint, I'd think that securing a bargain deal with a young driver and a mid-pack team BEFORE the poo hits the rotary impeller would be the better value. Waiting a year after a deal has been officially secured and competing with others for a spot on a sidepod will drive the cost of sponsorship up. Best to get in now for cheap and be in place when an official full-season of a single AOWR series emerges in 2009.
Most of all, though, this really sucks for PJ Chesson. He really deserves a full-time ride!
year of the rat ? I've been wrting chicken on my checks all day !
Fab find, Jeff. Props. Good point that the whole unificatinal thing probably has potential sponsors scratching heads. Here's hoping a merged series makes sponsorship more attractive.
PJ has the kind of personality the series needs. I hope something comes up for him for the Indy 500, at least.
He could drive for Rocketsports, perhaps. ;)
Panther said something about a second Indy 500 car, so P.J. won't disappear from them anytime soon. Besides, Panther's IPS ride is still open...
PJ "Done Deal" Chesson strikes again!
P.S. I swear Pressdog's expression in his icon changes after a post is made.