Sharp to remain in IRL for another year

Scott Sharp

Scott Sharp is exploring options in sports-car racing, but he said it's not at the expense of his Indy-car program. Sharp, 39, is the oldest driver in the IndyCar Series and will return to Rahal Letterman Racing in 2008 with Patron sponsorship.

"We're committed to the IRL for another year, at least, although we might add a sports-car race here or there," he said. Sharp, who shared the league's first championship with Buzz Calkins in 1996, said he doesn't think age has slowed him.

"It's all perception," he said. "If you're winning races in a Penske car, no one asks about your age. But if you're 45 and running mid-pack, people tend to point fingers." Sharp, who has nine career IRL wins, finished eighth in points this season. He is the last driver on a team other than Penske, Ganassi or Andretti Green to win a race (at Kentucky in 2005). Indystar.com