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CART: FedEx Championship Series Happenings

2 March 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Notes and Quotes from Championship Auto Racing Teams

Target/Chip Ganassi Racing owner Chip Ganassi announced Monday that the team would compete in the 84th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 28 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Drivers Juan Montoya and Jimmy Vasser will campaign Oldsmobile Aurora-powered G-Force chassis in the event, with primary sponsorship from Target - the team's sponsor in the FedEx Championship Series - and associate sponsorship from Budweiser, the official beer of Championship Auto Racing Teams.

"When CART left two weeks open in its May [2000] schedule, we decided the time was right to give our drivers, teams and sponsors the opportunity to become part of the largest one-day sporting event in the world," said Ganassi, whose team has won an unprecedented four consecutive FedEx Championship Series championships. "While we're very proud of our accomplishments in CART over the years, I felt that this was the perfect opportunity to give our team the chance to add another level of excitement."

Vasser has made four career starts at Indianapolis, with a best finish of fourth in 1994. He was leading the 1995 event with 30 laps remaining when he exited due to contact, finishing 22nd.

"I've missed racing in the Indy 500 a great deal, and my teammates and I are looking forward to coming back," Vasser said. "It will be a busy time for us, but I can tell you that we are extremely focused on this program. We're very excited and we're looking forward to it a great deal."

Montoya, the FedEx Championship Series champion who will be making his first appearance in the 500, shares Vasser's excitement.

"I think being at Indy is a great thing," he said. "It's a great challenge, and I think it will be great for CART and the IRL [Indy Racing League, whose drivers have comprised most of the Indianapolis 500 field since 1996]. The object of this whole thing is to try and get the two sides together, and I hope this will help to make that happen."

Ganassi indicated that the team expects to conduct the first test of its Indianapolis 500 equipment package March 29 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Text provided by CART

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