Scott Speed talks about getting sacked
"I'm very disappointed," Speed said. "This is by no means settled and I'm sure there will be a lawsuit over it. It's a 100 percent breach [of his contract]. I think it was handled very poorly. The last thing I wanted to do is sue someone. It's retarded, it's childish, but I have been given no other choice. It's like they're saying, 'Have fun making the motor home payment next year.'
"You're released two weeks after the season, in late November, and it's late to try to do something. It was a big surprise."
Red Bull Racing released this statement a week ago regarding Speed: "We have exercised our rights to end the relationship at the end of 2010," officials said. "We wish Scott the best of luck in his career."
Speed's position is he had a contract that guaranteed him a role in the Red Bull organization next season. The team's driver situation wasn't clear after it signed Kasey Kahne to a one-year contract in August. Brian Vickers, one of Red Bull's original drivers when it began racing in Cup in 2007, missed the final 25 races of this season after being treated for blood clots and his status for 2011 was based upon his treatment and recovery.
"After they signed Kasey, the options were to run me in a third car [in Cup] or in Nationwide. If Brian doesn't come back, I was their guy. They were holding onto me in case Brian didn't come back. They're sure Brian is coming back, I assume, and decided to get rid of me."
Would Speed have been willing to run in the Nationwide Series?
"Absolutely," Speed said. "[Red Bull General Manager Jay Frye] had the opportunity to bring Kasey Kahne into the company, that's a good decision. I'd be in favor of [Nationwide]. They didn't try to work anything out. I don't think that's right at all."
Severing ties with Red Bull was painful, too. He had hoped to sit down with company executives at the Cup finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway to talk to them about putting together a Nationwide program, but wasn't able to do it.
"When the big decision-makers from Austria to Miami, they didn't talk to me," Speed said. "Considering the relationship with this company, it should have been worked out." SI.com