"The Thrill" Is Back - Temporarily
By Andrew Cutler
July 15 2008
Move over, Danica & Helio. Next week you will be sharing the media spotlight with the driver they call "the thrill from West Hill". That's right; Paul Tracy, the 39 year-old Canadian who is nearly always electricfying on-track - and outspoken off-track - will be back at Edmonton.
The deal, which will see former CCWS team boss Derrick Walker supplying the crew, Vision Racing supplying the car & Subway Restaurants sponsoring the effort, is currently for the race at Edmonton only: However, all sides have agreed to keep their options open for more races through the remainder of the 2008 season.
Tracy was left on the sidelines after the IRL/CCWS merger in February due to his contractual obligations to Forsythe Racing, a CCWS squad that opted not to join the newly merged series. Derrick Walker was going to join the new series, but the last-minute defection of driver Will Power, along with his Aussie Vinyards sponsorship money, to the KV Racing squad dashed his plans. Now, both men have an opportunity to "audition" for 2009, as it were.
"We are looking forward to working with Vision Racing and Paul Tracy," Walker said. "Walker Racing is building on 2009 and this opportunity with Vision Racing affords us the chance to show that we are still alive and a viable entity. I appreciate that [IRL founder & Vision Racing owner] Tony [George] has provided us with this chance. It's a good opportunity as well to work with Paul. Having raced against him for many years I've always admired him as a very competitive driver. There is no doubt we are all going into this event with our eyes wide open. We just want to execute the best that we can and the results will take care of themselves."
WHERE WILL PAUL TRACY FINISH ?
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Seriously, though, this is definitely good for the IRL, and I would hope that this leads to at least a apartial schedule for PT in 2009.
"Speed has never killed anyone, suddenly becoming stationary... That's what gets you."-Jeremy Clarkson
Also, what has Wheldon done, or not done to be on his way out of the Gnassi camp ?
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IMO, TK & Wheldon are both top-line drivers, so there wouldn't have been a performance "upgrade" for Ganassi. Therefore, I can only assume that Chip & Dan are not getting along too well - or maybe TK was willing to work for less than Dan, who reportedly makes $3 mil per year.
I also don't know who contacted the other person first; Chip or TK. Now that this situation has come to light, I can't wait to see if Dan keeps his seat, or if Chip keeps looking about for someone else.
I don't know what Chip thinks of Paul, but that would be an interesting opportunity for both of them. However, after years of clearly being the top guy at Forsythe, I wonder if he would be willing to be an "equal" teammate with Dixie.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:08:08:18:40:11 by IndyAndy.
As the title says,"The Trill" Is Back-Even it's Temporarily !
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