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NASCAR WCUP: Chip Ganassi Goes Winston Cup Racing with Dodge

7 August 2000

Chip Ganassi Goes Winston Cup Racing with Dodge

    INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 7 Chip Ganassi, motorsports innovator
and four-time CART championship team owner, will now try his hand at the
world's most popular series, joining Dodge as the newest member of its 2001
NASCAR Winston Cup team.

    As part of the Dodge "one team" approach, Ganassi will field two Dodge
Intrepid R/T race cars next year, bringing the total to five team owners and
10 Dodge Intrepid R/Ts that will debut at the Daytona 500 in 2001.

    "I'm honored to be part of the Dodge return to Winston Cup racing," said
Ganassi.  "The approach Dodge is taking to NASCAR Winston Cup racing is
unique.  It will help us become competitive much quicker.  I'm delighted to be
a part of the Dodge effort and I'm confident that I can add something."

    Ganassi sees the Dodge "one team" approach as a watershed event in
motorsports history.  "Dodge is starting something new that we believe other
manufacturers will follow," he said.

    Jim Julow, Vice President Dodge-Division, said the feeling is mutual.
"We're delighted to have another proven winner join the Dodge team," said
Julow.  "Chip Ganassi may be new to NASCAR but he knows how to win
championships and big races.  His 25 years of racing experience will make a
substantial contribution to our racing success."

    Ganassi also has acquired a majority interest in Team SABCO from founder
Felix Sabates, who will continue to be involved in business operations.  The
2001 race team will be named Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.

    "If you have any competitive spirit in you, you can't ignore NASCAR
Winston Cup racing," said Ganassi.  "It's impressive to see the level of
competition, the close racing and the way NASCAR touches the fans every day."

    Both Ganassi and Sabates have a long history with Dodge and
DaimlerChrysler.  The first vehicle Ganassi drove was a Dodge pickup truck,
and what Sabates called his first "real job" was selling cars at a
Chrysler/Plymouth dealer in Charlotte.

    Ganassi admitted that he was about five years under the legal driving age
when he got his start in that Dodge pickup truck.  "Our family had a country
place in Western Pennsylvania and I drove the truck there."
 
   Sabates said he has been a longtime fan of Dodge products and two years
ago bought his mother a Dodge Intrepid.  "It's funny -- I could have bought
anything but I picked an Intrepid.  I liked its looks."

    Andy Graves, veteran NASCAR crew chief and head of the race-winning
Target/Chip Ganassi program at the Indianapolis 500 this year, has moved to
the new race team and will work with Team SABCO's Tony Glover on day-to-day
racing operations.
    Graves is no stranger to Dodge racing programs.  His father Fred, now crew
chief for Kyle Petty's number 44 Hot Wheels car, was formerly crew chief for a
Dodge Ram truck in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

    "As I watched my father and the truck program, I realized how serious
Dodge is about their racing," said Graves.  "I saw how they came into a
totally new program, how committed they were and how quickly they developed
all the parts they needed.  I'm really excited about working with a
manufacturer who is going to be very heavily involved and support us."
 
   Tony Glover has been with Felix Sabates since 1996.  Career highlights
include serving as crew chief for two Daytona 500 victories by Sterling
Marlin.  Glover will also oversee race-day operations for the team's 01 car.
 
   "I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work for Chip Ganassi
and Felix Sabates, to be a part of history with Dodge coming back into racing,
as well as having an opportunity to work with someone of Andy Graves' caliber.
I'm very excited about the future of our race team."