Champ Car team to merge with Yates Cup team
07/26/07 This rumor is upgraded to 'strong' today. Mergers continue to be the name of the game in NASCAR Nextel Cup series racing this year.
Robert Yates Racing and Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing will reveal on Friday its plans to merge, a source close to the situation confirmed to ESPN.com. A formal news conference has been set for that afternoon at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
This announcement comes on the heels of the merger acquisition of Dale Earnhardt Inc., and Ginn Racing, as reported by ESPN.com on Tuesday.
Actor Paul Newman, an avid racer and long-time team owner in open-wheel racing, and partner Carl Haas own the team currently leading the Champ Car series with driver Sebastien Bourdais, a three-time champion in the series.
Yates last month at New Hampshire International said he had personally abandoned pursuit of a business partner, saying he had no debts and didn't need to get into a more pressure-packed situation answering to a partner's business demands. He did, however, say he would allow a head-hunting firm continue to look in that area.
Like Robert Yates Racing, Newman/Haas/Lanigan has had deep ties with Ford. ESPN.com
07/25/07 Seven-time Champ Car champion owners Carl Haas and Paul Newman have offered to purchase Robert Yates Racing, sources told FOXSports.com. An announcement could come as early as Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Haas currently runs the No. 14 CAH-PPC Ford in the Busch Series with Michael Lanigan, who became a partner on the Newman/Haas Champ Car operation earlier this season, and Mari Hulman George. Haas was most recently involved in NASCAR at the Cup level as Travis Carter's partner on the Nos. 26 and 66 in 2002. Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing currently leads the Championship Point Standings with three-time champion Sebastian Bourdais who looks to win an unprecedented fourth title this season.
Robert Yates purchased the No. 28 from Harry Ranier in 1988. He expanded to two teams in 1995 with the No. 88 and Dale Jarrett. Yates won the championship with Jarrett in 1999. RYR currently runs two entries in the Nextel Cup Series with David Gilliland and Ricky Rudd, who are currently 27th and 30th in points, respectively. Stephen Leicht pilots Yates Busch's effort in the No. 90 Citifinancial Ford and is currently eighth in the standings. FOX Sports