Ganassi trying to steal Hunter-Reay from Champ Car

UPDATE #2 Our Ganassi Racing moles tell us the team will probably test four drivers to fill the third team entry. 11/12/04 AutoRacing1.com has learned through its Ganassi Racing moles that Ryan Hunter-Reay was in their shop for two days recently getting a seat fitting and talking to their engineers with an eye toward an upcoming test.

With that said, we stake our reputation on our prediction that, at the end of the day, Hunter-Reay will stay in Champ Car. Why? Because Ryan is intelligent and we simply don't see him staking his wellbeing and his future bouncing off walls IRL-style. Hunter-Reay is a road racer with F1 aspirations. The road to F1 simply is not through the IRL. Mark C.

11/12/04 Ganassi Racing plans to add a third IRL car next year. The team plans to test two drivers, including Champ Car's Ryan Hunter-Reay, later this month. Indy Star Like Carpentier, who had no offers from Champ Car unless he brought sponsors or money, it is tough in Champ Car (unless you have a billionaire team owner who is committed to the extent that it is not imperative to have a sponsor supported budget). Champ Car needs to make sure that it does not lose Hunter-Reay as he is part of the solution to Champ Car making a comeback, and has proven that he is a fast talented driver that is an asset both on and off the track. Not only was he the first American in over 20 years to win a Champ Car race in his rookie season, this year he shattered another series record while winning the Milwaukee race from the pole by leading the most laps in a single race in the history of Champ Car.

Ryan has been a devout Champ Car disciple and done everything within his power to stay in Champ Car and deserves better than driving for teams that financially flounder mid-season and then go out of business as he has for the last three years (Atlantics: Hylton, CART: ASTJ and now Herdez which is on the ropes and will not be Herdez in 2005 if Keith Wiggins does not manage to find sufficient sponsorship to run one or two cars which we all hope he does).

There is not an engine manufacturer in Champ Car (the engines are owned by Champ Car and prepared by Cosworth a company that builds and rebuilds engines for a number of clients) and Toyota and Honda both compete in the IRL and in F1 which is Ryan's goal. Certainly, it is debatable what winning a series Championship in a series that primarily runs on ovals would do for any driver in the eyes of F1 team principals but an American driver that a major manufacturer that is high on that driver and competes in F1 cannot be ignored.