Mi-Jack selling interest in Mi-Jack Conquest Racing
Mi-Jack Products and the Lanigan family started their association with Eric Bachelart in 1992 when they first sponsored him as a driver. They remained a sponsor for the following years and became a co-owner of Bachelart’s Conquest Racing team in 2002. That same year, the team, which was renamed Mi-Jack Conquest Racing (MJCR), switched from the Indy Lights Series to the Indy Racing League. In 2003, Mi-Jack Conquest Racing joined the Champ Car family as a one car team and grew to a two car team in 2004. This past season MJCR added a two car effort in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship. For 2007, after so many years together, both co-owners mutually agreed that it was time to part ways.
“We have had numerous conversations over the winter and in the final analysis it was agreed to go our separate directions," explained Mike Lanigan, President of Mi-Jack Products. “Eric has been a superb partner over the past ten years and we salute him in the progress he has made in these challenging times in open-wheel racing. A friend and partner, he has proven himself numerous times by providing a competitive and professional race team in spite of the limited resources presented to him. I wish Eric and the whole Conquest Racing team the best of luck in the future and much success."
The departure of Mi-Jack marks the beginning of a new era for the team as it embarks on its fifth year of competition in the Champ Car World Series and its second in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship.
“The Conquest Team has been in existence for ten years now and for half of that decade Mi-Jack Products has been a co-owner of the team and a sponsor before that. They were and are a huge part of the team," expressed Eric Bachelart. “We mutually agreed to part ways, but it is still hard to see them go. Mike Lanigan has been a great partner and ally throughout the years. I would like to thank Mike, Mi-Jack and the Lanigan family for their continued support and wish them good luck with their future involvement in racing."
Despite leaving Conquest Racing, Mi-Jack remains committed to the Champ Car World Series as a promoter and an announcement regarding its involvement in other areas of racing will be made in the near future. [Editor's Note: If AutoRacing1.com sources are to be believed, expect to hear an announcement soon that Mi-Jack has taken a minority ownership position in Newman/Haas Racing]