Great Article On Expansion For 05!

[GP Racer]

I caught this article in the Indy Star today, on team expansion, and it really gives you a good idea of the future trend for the IRL, and it looks promising!

Alittle lengthy, but a good read :


October 3, 2004

FONTANA, Calif. --- Where Indy-car teams once had no more than two entries, Andretti has succeeded with four. One car, driven by Tony Kanaan, likely will win the Indy Racing League's championship today at California Speedway. Another, with Dan Wheldon in the seat, is second in the standings with two races to go.

Andretti's other two cars, driven by Dario Franchitti and Bryan Herta, also have won races, helping the Indianapolis-based team score 10 victories over the past two seasons.

Now, as IRL teams reach the part of the calendar that shapes next year, rivals are copying Andretti. Several teams are considering expansion.

Bobby Rahal's team, which is fielding two cars this season, seeks to have at least three in 2005, and it could have four -- or more -- at the Indianapolis 500. Rahal is close to announcing deals for 500 winner Buddy Rice, newcomer Danica Patrick and current team No. 2 driver Vitor Meira. Also under consideration are former 500 winner Kenny Brack, who is recovering from injuries, and Roger Yasukawa.

Team owners Chip Ganassi and Adrian Fernandez are pursuing three-car efforts for 2005, too. Eddie Cheever Jr. isn't ruling it out.

Even the small teams now think bigger is better. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing hopes to add a second car next year, a goal shared by Access Motorsports.

Morris Nunn's team looked to be on its way out of the IRL last month. Today it appears to have several options that could lead to a two-car effort down the road.

"Andretti Green Racing has certainly opened people's eyes," said Scott Roembke, general manager of Rahal Letterman Racing. "They've been able to run four cars and still help everybody (succeed).

"You've got to give them credit. They've figured it out."

Prior to Andretti, the only Indy-car team to tackle more than two cars for the season was Team Penske.

Development of chassis pieces has been cut to a minimum by league officials. The number of testing days has been reduced per car, too.

But a team can get more test days by adding more cars. Each car was allowed five days for 2004 -- all had to be used before the season started -- giving Andretti's team 20.

Plus, with next year being the third season in a four-year equipment freeze, teams have the inventory for a relatively seamless expansion.

"With the IRL's testing restrictions, there's a premium on having more cars," said Tom Anderson, who is Fernandez's partner. "Everyone has to be looking at it."

Spectators figure to benefit. The 22-car fields of this season figure to increase next year unless smaller teams that are struggling financially fade away.

A.J. Foyt said he might become a part-time participant next year if he can't find a sponsor to replace Conseco, which won't return next season.

Delphi has a contract to support driver Scott Sharp, but the program might switch teams -- from Tom Kelley's to possibly Ganassi's or Panther Racing -- which would mean no net gain to the league's car count.

"Having more big teams isn't a bad thing, but the smaller teams have to have a chance," said Foyt, who dropped to a one-car operation in 2003.

"You wouldn't want a league that just has big teams. That's not what people want to see."

But for now, that's what is working.

[Tim Northcutt]

That was the article I was referring to in the "patrick and Access" and the "Silly Season" threads, and it is the only place where I've seen the word that fernandez is looking to ad a third car......

It is a good read....