Scheckter eyeing IRL return

UPDATE #2 A reader speculates, With regard to the Tomas Scheckter rumor, Miller has always enjoyed success in Indy Cars in particular with Rahal. Tomas' quote said that it would be a company that would "give other companies confidence to invest in Indy Car again." I get that he also said it was US-based but wouldn't the US arm of South African Breweries (Miller) make sense all around? Rahal needs the cash and it could come with a brand that he is familiar with. Dan, Lincoln Park, MI.

Dear Dan, Makes sense to us too. Mark C.

02/17/09
Question: After seeing your report of Tomas Scheckter with a sponsor possibly coming on board, you mentioned he would like to go to a team that would win races. Outside of Penske, Ganassi and AGR, which teams do you think would be in the next tier, ones that it would seem Tomas is looking to bring the sponsor to. Who would you put your money on? Matt, Oshawa, Ontario

Answer: There are two logical possibilities in my mind: Rahal Letterman and KV Racing Technology. I think KV Racing still hopes it can strike a deal for Paul Tracy or at least Oriol Servia, so I think Scheckter's best bet is with Rahal. Tomas didn't say how much money he might have access to, but I'd guess about $2 million. I'm not sure if that's enough for Rahal, but it would be an interesting team to watch. I suppose a return to Vision isn't out of the question either. Tomas did a lot to help that team grow. Indy Star

Tomas Scheckter, son of F1 great Jody Scheckter

02/16/09 Tomas Scheckter confirmed today that he has a potential sponsor to help him return to the IndyCar Series this season.

He wouldn't disclose the sponsor, but he said it is a U.S.-based one that figures to give other companies the confidence to invest in Indy-car racing again.

"It'd be a great company to have in the sport," he said.

Scheckter also declined to say which team he's most interested in joining, but at 28 years old he said he wants a full-season ride with a team that has a chance to win races.

Scheckter, who has two race victories and eight poles in his IndyCar Series career, drove in six races last season for Luczo Dragon Racing.

"We're speaking to people," he said of IndyCar teams. "It's still not a done deal (on the part of the sponsor), but the intent is there. It's like, 'OK, how can we get it together to make it work?'" IndyStar