Karam to replace Briscoe at Ganassi? (Update 2)
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| Sage Karam |
Below is a quote from Sage Karam, who co-drove the #01 Ford EcoBoost Riley for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates in today's Rolex 24 at Daytona. The 2013 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires Champion was asked what his chances were of securing a 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series ride with Chip Ganassi Racing.
"I know everyone wants it to happen, I think it’s just the extra little bit of funding just to get the seat at the level we need it at to start the season. I know Chip is really pushing for it, my main sponsors are really pushing for it, and pretty much all of the main guys at Chip Ganassi Racing are really pushing for it. Testing went really well, couldn’t me more happy with that, and everyone wants it to happen. Everything’s been positive, so I think it’s going to happen, we just need that last little push with funding."
Based on the quote above from Karam, and other information AR1 has received, we're bumping this rumor up to 'strong.' No, the deal is not done, but the two sides are very close,. We expect something will be made official in the coming weeks, and anticipate Karam will be behind the wheel of the #8 Ganassi Chevrolet this coming season.
AR1 Staff Report
10/09/14 Apparently Sage Karam does not have enough money (or sponsor) to buy his ride so there's a very realistic chance Ganassi will run 3 cars next season. Rumor has it the #10 Target car will be going away, which means Target may be cutting back from two cars to one, likely because of IndyCar's horrible TV ratings on NBCSN making it no longer worth it. If that is the case we could see Kanaan move to the #8 car. Obviously it all depends on the funding, but this may be another example of keeping the races on NBCSN means IndyCar collects their nice check but teams lose sponsorship, so the net sum of sponsor money in the IndyCar paddock is negative.
10/06/14
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| Sage Karam |
According to this racer.com story, and per our 2015 IndyCar Silly Season page (see link above) since August, Sage Karam is in the running to replace Ryan Briscoe in Ganassi's second team.
"My goal and ambition is 100 percent with IndyCar," Briscoe told racer.com. "I was really hoping to continue in the No. 8 car after all we built this year with new guys, and on my side, we were trying to be conservative as we got everything in place for 2015. But as the discussions have gone on, the team told us how the car has needed more money to continue, and I've always been in the pro driver sector where I haven't brought money to the table. It's a bummer, but we're starting to talk to teams and will keep working to put something together for next year."
"I'm keeping all of my options open, and I think right now, the IndyCar Series is so competitive that there are opportunities to shine almost anywhere on the grid with teams that are ready to make a strong effort," he added.
"Pretty much every year I've tried to mix in sports car racing," Briscoe noted. "I've done a lot of the endurance races that fit with my schedule, and I've really enjoyed being with the Corvette Racing team this year, so I hope to keep doing that between IndyCar commitments. Going for an IndyCar championship is what really drives me, and I'm not ready to leave it. Not at all.
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| Ryan Briscoe |
"If I can do more endurance racing in addition to IndyCar – in the TUDOR Championship, or the WEC, maybe Le Mans again – that would be incredible." He gets paid to drive in endurance racing and does not have to buy his ride like in IndyCar that is infested with the ride-buying cancer.
08/30/14
NTT Data Chip Ganassi Racing driver Ryan Briscoe told us he is not under contract with the team for 2015. The team's press release from last December noted that Briscoe had signed a multi-year contract previous to this year, so we're not sure what has changed.
Anyway, he told us a few minutes ago, he was not signed for 2015. We will continue to track the story.
Lucille Dust reporting for AutoRacing1.