The intrepid Curt Cavin dropped this news item at the start of today's Q&A:
Bryan Herta is back in the Indy Racing League, although not as a driver. The former CART and IndyCar Series race winner has purchased the Firestone Indy Lights equipment of Playa del Racing for his new team, Bryan Herta Racing. Interestingly, the equipment was delivered to Vision Racing's shop in Indianapolis. Herta has not named a driver, or drivers, but expect that information to be forthcoming.Recall that after being fired from AGR's ALMS effort last year, Herta resurfaced as a
Further verification (or at least some interesting reading) comes from Bryan's own site.
There are some exciting projects on the horizon and I should be able to formally announce some of them in the near future. For now, thanks for checking back and I hope you are enjoying the off season, but I’m sure you will join me in saying the 2009 season can not begin soon enough!
"Exciting projects", eh? You decide: Does he mean the Indy Lights team or does he mean he's getting back together with "Bräck" for more Sex Pistols covers?
"...IIIIIII WAAAANNNA BEEEEEE ANNNNNARRRRCHYYYYYYYYYY!"
(Photo courtesy of IndyCar.com/Ron McQueeney)
Awe! Poor Bryan. If I were a team owner I would give him a shot over a couple of other already signed drivers. Ahem..Stanton Barrett?
Sounds like Vision is back up to 2 cars. I wonder who will be driving?
Oh please please please please let Bryan be back as a full-time driver! I miss him and I need someone else to root for in the series now that I've completely disowned any and all AGR drivers.
Sex Pistols?? Dude, you're giving away your age.
Sadly, I was one of the first to buy that record. :(
I have been a "Hertamaniac" for years. I seem to always root for the underdogs and resent the primadonnas. I was dismayed when Bryan lost his drive when AGR quit ALMS, and wondered where he'd go. I wonder if Bryan, as a husband and father, doesn't want to race open-wheel cars and risk horrible injuries or if his wife doesn't want him to race. I would've liked Bryan to earn a living racing in ALMS or even *ahem* pitiful GrandAm, as Scott Pruett has. Maybe Tony is helping matters along. Maybe Jimmy Vasser and Mike Andretti have shown Bryan that ownership/management is a good gig.
Brian McKay:
Bryan Herta was in ALMS due to the fact that he (1) had sports car experience & (2) his sponsor was Honda based.
XM sponsored AGR due to a supplier relationship with Honda NA.... AGR also fired Bryan & Christian Fittipaldi mid season 2008... AGR's Acura team closed due to Honda firing AGR!!! The XM sponsorship is now on Gil DeFerran's P1 class Acura.
His wife gave birth to the first two kids when Bryan was still an OW driver... she is not the reason for Herta leaving OW for ALMS.
I don't understand the Indy Light deal... would have thought Bryan would want to pursue a new sports car deal in ALMS or GA/DP.