[DonMoore10]

Regarding the second Foyt car: My info is a couple months old. Have not heard anything lately.

[ThrottleHead]

Originally Posted by pgray Last we heard , the PDM team with owner Paul Diatlavich , has not secured sufficient sponsorship and will not present an entry as a second week team. Should this be true , it will be the first year in thirty that Paul will not field an entry. The #88 .... Playa Del Racing entered both Jacques Lazier and '07 Rookie of the Year Phil Giebler last year ; ( car #21 & 31 ). Team owner Susan Schafer has sold majority ownership of the team to Arizona businessman Mr. Eric Zimmerman. The deal was closed just 10 days ago. The team is now AMERICAN DREAM MOTORSPORTS located at 150 Gasoline Alley , Indianapolis. Eric had contracted with Phil Giebler as driver , for the former #21 , now #88. Just last evening , circumstances prevailed that would prevent the team from going forward with this particular car. Literally overnight , a deal was made to purchase another car , this one from Chastain Motorsports of Brownsburg , Indiana. This is the #77 car that was driven by Roberto Moreno last year. This car , now rebadged as the new #88 , with driver Phil Giebler and sponsored by Caffe Sanora Organic and Video Poker.Com among others. Team manager is Rick Duman. Iam assisting the team in various capacities for the month of May with both the Giebler entry and I will be working with the AMERICAN DREAM MOTORSPORTS Firestone Indy Lights entry with driver Al Unser III. In 2006 I worked with Roth Racing and team owner / driver Marty Roth. I was excited when Marty announced a full year team effort for '08 and with a second car and driver Jay Howard , a good friend. Very disappointed with the decision just today that replaced Jay with John Andretti. Larry Curry is newly appointed Roth team manager.

I think USAC's oldest rookie needs a shot at the 500. Paul, work it out!!! You can do it!!!

[mscs20]

Simmons is having a new Bell Helmet painted for the #41 Foyt car, same for Giebler and the #88 that was mentioned earlier. J Lazier is still shopping, but the shelves are empty. Alex Barron led me to believe this morning that he is driving the Beck car. To answer the money question, Becks price this week was $850K according to IPS driver CR Crews, who has about $500K to spend. That's about the same price everyone needs to satisfy Honda, Firestone and the IRL for fuel this year. The merger has created a shortage of parts and equipment, thus raising the costs needed to secure a ride. PDM doesn't even have a garage here, and last time I drove by their shop, Paul's stuff was still in the driveway. But this being Indy, never say never.

Watching it rain from garage N-13, the year of May continues......

[IndyBound]

Paul Gray, thanks for all the updates.

Don Moore, let's hope Paul D. can put everything together so he can field a car for Jimmy to run in this years Indy 500.


Patti

[pgray]

Originally Posted by ThrottleHead I think USAC's oldest rookie needs a shot at the 500. Paul, work it out!!! You can do it!!!

Don , Thanks for your support ! .... and , yes , I would do it in a heartbeat !

Very funny that you should bring this up , as just yesterday someone at the Speedway said this same thing to me ! And apparently they had given it quite some thought as they expanded on the potential marketing value ( as the oldest person ever to attempt qualifying for the "500" ) and even suggested potential sponsors for " the oldest IRL rookie " , including AARP , Dr. Scholl's , some nursing home outfit , etc - all stuff related to old people , I guess !

My relationship with the Speedway and the "500" began in 1962 listening to Sid Collins do the radio broadcast ; my first trip to the Speedway was in '73 ( met Jackie Stewart & Smokey Yunick among others ) and returned twice as a mechanic to teams.

The thing few people know ( that was also brought-up at the Speedway the other day by some oldtimers with great memory ) is that back in '78 I had put together a deal with Dick Simon , not necessarily for a "500" ride , but a car available for testing and rookie certification. Plans would later change as my stock car career was expanding.

I did drive a Sinden Racing G-Force at the Speedway in April of '07 in a test for their upcoming "drive" program. They had previously operated the "two seater ride' program.

There is nothing that I have loved more in my life than the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the 500 Mile Race !

As Al Unser , Jr. said , "this is Indy ... If you don't get it , well , you just don't get it !".

[Eagle14]

Shortbus is also having his bicycle helmet painted and refoamed.... heard he will be entering the SR Shortbus Racing Number Q..... LOOK OUT. :applaud:

I enjoyed reading (post) your history of Indy Mr. Gray. The best of luck to you this year. :greenflag:

[Seadog]

Originally Posted by DonMoore10 If there is a Foyt car available, he may be putting a well known Springfield, IL driver in that seat. We'll see.

I am highly doubting that. Foyt and the well known Springfield driver had a less than amicable parting of the ways a few years ago.

[DonMoore10]

That's history and they are still friends. My info is from a very reliable source, trust me.

[Seadog]

Originally Posted by DonMoore10 That's history and they are still friends. My info is from a very reliable source, trust me.

Another credible source says Jeff Simmons in in the Foyt #41. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I think before Foyt looks at putting a second car in the show, he better focus on getting the #14 in the show first.