Tracy, who through 20 years of open wheel racing in North America has been a thorn in the side of team owners from Roger Penske to Jimmy Vasser, sided with his car-owning bosses — this time in criticizing IndyCar’s decision to introduce a new car for next season.

The reason both Tracy and team owners oppose the introduction of a new chassis is simply money.

He said that this season he has battled as hard off the track as he ever did on it attempting to secure enough sponsorship dollars to run just a part-time schedule that includes this month’s Indianapolis 500, the Honda Indy race in Toronto and the Edmonton Indy.

“Bringing in this new chassis will add from $1.5 to $2 million (U.S) to each team’s budget per car,” he said. “I am thinking it’s going to be hard trying to explain to potential sponsors why the price went up so dramatically.”

There are lots of others, however, like Texas Motor Speedway promoter Eddie Gossage who feels that if the IndyCar series wants to grow it has to give fans a different look, the way NASCAR does by having four — Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota and Dodge — manufacturers on the track.

“Sure it would be nice to have different chassis in the series,” Tracy said. “But to ask every team to buy all new equipment at once is a little much.” Calgary Sun