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Andretti-Green Racing First Honda IRL Team for 2003
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Date: September 18, 2002 05:20
Submitted by:
Civic
Source:
Andretti Press Release
Credibility Rating:
N/A
Earlier this year, it was announced that Michael Andretti (along with team manager Kim Green) bought Barry Green's Team KOOL Green Champ Car team. Team Green consisted of the two KOOL cars driven by Dario Franchitti and Paul Tracy, with Team Motorola as the third car satellite team run by personnel from the now-defunct Team KOOL Green Indy Lights team. All three cars were powered by Honda's HR-2 2.65L turbo V8 engine.
Renamed Andretti-Green Racing, the team's future was unknown. Rumours had the team staying in CART or moving to the IRL. Early indications had AGR moving to the IRL with Honda, but it seemed that AGR would stay in CART and run a Motorola car for Andretti in the Indy 500. Dario Franchitti and Paul Tracy were rumoured to leave the team if it went to the IRL. Tracy's disdain for the Indy Racing League is highly publicized, especially after his controversial loss in the 2002 Indy 500. Franchitti has also stated his desire to stay in CART.
The rumours were put to rest September 17 as Andretti-Green Racing has officially announced their plans to compete in the Indy Racing League for 2003. The team will be using Honda engines for Honda's first season in the IRL.
More surprising was the announcement that Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan will partner Michael Andretti. Tony Kanaan has driven for Mo Nunn's CART team the past two seasons, including a drive in the 2002 Indy 500 as teammate to Felipe Giaffone, Mo Nunn Racing's IRL driver.
Though sponsorship plans haven't been finalized, AGR will have Motorola, Archipelago, 7-Eleven, and Klein Tools as major sponsors. Motorola and Archipelago have sponsored Andretti's car the past two seasons, while 7-Eleven sponsored Team KOOL Green's Indy 500 effort due to tobacco restrictions preventing cigarette brand KOOL from sponsoring cars in two different series. Klein Tools has been a long time sponsor of Team Green.
Categ=default" target="_blank">http://www.andretti.com/HTML/News/NewsDetail.asp?ID=77&Categ=default http://www.speedtv.com http://www.indyracing.com
Last edited by Tuan on
September 18, 2002 20:00
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