Gibbs team to switch to Toyota
"We sat down last week with GM, had some long conversations," Gibbs said Sunday prior to the Autism Speaks 400. "All GM teams are up at the end of this year. So we're going through the process of working on that. There's nothing new or interesting to add to that whole deal."
JGR has been a General Motors team (starting out with Pontiac) since its inception in 1992.
"Really no comment on a lot of that [Toyota speculation] other than to say we've been with Chevrolet for a long time, and we just sat down with them recently here and [we are] going over with them talks for the future as well," Gibbs said.
When asked specifically if his team has talked with Toyota, Gibbs said:
"I can't really say for us because we're in the process of sitting down with GM … and looking at their proposal," he said. "That's where we are now, reviewing it."
It all would be settled if JGR hires Dale Earnhardt Jr. – then JGR would have to continue to field Chevrolets.
"We're not even far along down that to go into that yet," Gibbs said. Scenedaily.com
06/03/07 SI.com reports that Toyota is pursuing Joe Gibbs Racing hard and that Gibbs is indeed interested. Officially, the Gibbs team denies any contact with Toyota:
“It’s news to us," team spokesman Mike Arning said.
Toyota, as a matter of policy, does not comment on contract negotiations. The potential deal is a delicate subject for Gibbs and Toyota. Gibbs’ contract with Chevrolet, which runs out at the end of the year, stipulates this is a non-negotiating period with other manufacturers. Is contact to determine interest negotiating? You’d have to read the fine print and then get a clarification from an arbitrator to determine that. But sources say there definitely has been communication between Toyota and Gibbs. SI.com