What of Team Cheever?

UPDATE #2 Panther Racing cut loose 12 mechanics and Eddie Cheever gave eight their walking papers last week in the first of what figures to be many layoffs in the Indy Racing League. Cheever has taken delivery of a Grand Am sports car and it's also believed that Tony George met with Grand-Am officials here Tuesday to discuss joining the series. SPEEDTV.com 10/20/05 Hearing that Eddie Cheever called everyone into the shop Wednesday and told them they were all laid off. We await an official statement from the team as to what is going on, but right now the future looks grim and we hear Patrick Carpentier might be eyeing a return to Champ Car. On a related note, some team members from Fernandez Racing are here in Surfers this weekend helping out with the third Walker Racing car and they are ecstatic to be here. 10/18/05 Some people claim to have heard Eddie Cheever say at Fontana this weekend that unless he finds a big sponsor to replace Red Bull, he won't be back next year in the IRL, this despite Cheever's public insistence that not only will he be back with two cars next year, he will also be starting a Grand-Am team because of the short IRL season. The Silly Season is well underway. We suspect Tony George will help his buddy Cheever out because he's desperate for cars next year.