Vision Racing fires Larry Curry

UPDATE Tony George acknowledged Sunday that his role as head of the IndyCar Series trumped his role as a team owner in his decision to remove Larry Curry as team manager of Vision Racing.

Curry was fired Friday for rules infractions that resulted in the qualifying times of Vision drivers Ed Carpenter and A.J. Foyt IV being disallowed at the season-opening race March 29 at Homestead, Fla.

"Any other team probably would have dealt with it in a different way than we dealt with it and it would not have meant a separation," George said. "But we have had discussions internally since this team was formed (about what was expected) and after reviewing the facts, it was obvious to me there was a breakdown."

George said he wanted to thoroughly investigate before taking action. He termed the infraction minor and said it involved the use of an unapproved part.

"After I uncovered the facts, I believe the league hasn't done a good enough job ensuring things like this haven't happened in the past," he said. "There was no performance advantage to it, but there's no excuse for it. (Curry) had knowledge of it and the ability to stop it."

Curry accepted responsibility for the team using the part, although it was not his initiative.

"But I knew about it, and I could have stopped it, and I didn't," he said.

With George's blessing, Curry is helping Roth Racing driver Jay Howard get through rookie orientation. Curry is unsure what he will be doing after today. George said he has "left the door open" for Curry to work with the team this month as a consultant and possible race-day strategist for Carpenter. Indy Star

05/02/08 In addition, the team has made some organizational changes effective immediately. Former crew chief, Keven Kukuliwicz (a.k.a. Keven Kaye) has been named to the post of team manager, taking on the additional responsibility for the operation of the race team. Kukuliwicz follows Larry Curry as Vision Racing’s team manager.

Curry fired for cheating

Curry was one of the first employees of Vision Racing when team owners Tony and Laura George formed the team from assets purchased through the sale of Kelley Racing in 2005.

“Larry has been an asset to the growth and building of Vision Racing," George said. “However, after full review of the facts surrounding the disallowance of the teams qualifying runs at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Larry and I agreed that a breach of what amounts to the teams code of conduct had occurred and as team manager he was expected to uphold a very high standard, but in this instance fell short." [Curry previously spent time in jail for stealing from John Menard's team. Since Menard's sponsors one of Visions cars, do you think John Menard had anything to do with this?]

Kukuliwicz has also been with the team since its inception, boasting racing experience that stretches far and wide. “This is a decision that will allow the team to grow organically and as we head into what promises to be a very exciting month, it provides continuity." Before joining Vision Racing in 2005, Kukuliwicz held a variety of positions with such teams as Carl Haas Auto/Newman-Haas Racing, Players/Forsythe Racing, Mo Nunn Racing, and Cheever Racing.

“Keven was a natural choice to name as our new team manager, George added. “His experience and rapport amongst the crew makes him the ideal candidate. This is a pivotal moment in the growth of Vision Racing and Keven is ready to lead the team starting with the Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Vision Racing