Rice may be forced to look for new ride

UPDATE This rumor was reiterated by Robin Miller on the SPEED Report Sunday night, that Buddy Rice is out of a ride in the Rahal Letterman team after this year and he is seeking a ride in Champ Car or with another team in the IRL. Right now Rahal Letterman will be just a 1-car team in 2007 with Ethanol sponsorship, although that could change between now and then.

07/29/06 BROOKLYN, Mich. — With a sponsorship uncertain at Rahal Letterman Racing, 2004 Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice has permission to look elsewhere for employment for next season.

But Rice said Friday that he's not currently looking. He wants to remain with Bobby Rahal's Indy Racing League team, and he's willing to give Rahal time to assemble a program.

Rahal's only secured major sponsor is Ethanol, which currently has Jeff Simmons in its car. Argent Mortgage is the primary sponsor on the cars of Rice and Danica Patrick.

Patrick will leave Rahal's team at season's end to join Andretti Green Racing. Rahal said he wants Rice to return.

"I think I'm in the spot I want to be at and where I need to be at," Rice said of his current position in the No. 15 car. "There's not a whole lot of (good) seats that are open anyway."

Rice still has a year left on a three-year contract with Rahal, and he appreciates the team owner giving him the freedom to pursue other options.

"Bob's a race car driver; he knows what it's about," Rice said during a media gathering in preparation for this weekend's IRL race at Michigan International Speedway. "He knows (it's important) that when the music stops you're not sitting out. That's quite commendable on his behalf.

"But we've had enough talks to know that I want to be back and we both want to keep going in the same direction. It just boils down to Bob having enough money to do that." Indy Star