Newman-Wachs to IndyCar or GP2?
On the heels of Newman Wachs Racing Team Owner, Eddie Wachs’ statement made earlier this week regarding NWR’s future, it has become apparent that a few things need to be clarified.
Team Manager, Brian Halahan explains:
“The team has plans to move forward with John Edwards and we hope to be in IndyCar with him for the 2010 season. We hope to be able to make an announcement about the details of those plans in the near future. However, this does not directly affect our current position in the Atlantic Championship Series. I am continually in close contact with the Atlantic Championship Series and I am hopeful they will be in a position to fulfill all financial obligations, both for the viability of the Series and for the continued support the Atlantic Championship Series gives to drivers in the open-wheel ladder system. I am moving forward on the 2010 Atlantic season and in discussion with several drivers. I hope to be testing by mid-November."
(see related rumor on possible demise of the Atlantic series)
10/20/09
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| John Edwards 2009 Atlantic Champion |
"Now faced with the prospect of grooming Edwards into an IndyCar driver, Wachs is hoping his deep relationships within the nuclear energy community will allow him to take his Atlantic champion onwards and upwards.
“Our big concern is if we can keep funding it ourselves. We’ve been almost fully funded by the Nuclear Energy Institute and Entergy. They are interested in our plans and they could be a player, but they haven’t committed at this point. We haven’t put that one to bed yet."
Running Atlantics again in 2010 is considered an option if they can’t secure the necessary IndyCar sponsorship, but Wachs has some misgivings about that possibility. It seems NWR’s move out of Atlantics is partly tied into the series’ ability to pay the $1,000,000 due to Edwards. (Editor's Note: this supports our rumor of teams having no plans to return to Atlantics…see related rumor)
Based on the speed and results Edwards has delivered while still in his teens, Eddie Wachs could be sitting on another future American IndyCar star. If all goes according to plan, the IndyCar Series could also be welcoming a new team. More at SPEEDTV