IRL’s biggest stars eye NASCAR
Following the announcement that Casey Mears is leaving and that the No. 42 Dodge has an open seat starting next year, Wheldon was rumored to have agreed to move into the ride.
According to an official at Chip Ganassi Racing :"There is no truth to the Wheldon story." CupScene.com
06/13/06 ESPN's ESPNEWS Monday Night reported that Dan Wheldon could move from Chip Ganassi's IRL team to Ganassi's #42 Texaco Havoline Dodge in the Nextel Cup Series in 2007, replacing Casey Mears, who is leaving the team and could be headed to the #25 Hendrick Motorsports ride for 2007.
06/13/06 The Indianapolis 500 winner Sam Hornish Jr. and the 2005 rookie of the year Danica Patrick are two of the Indy Racing League's brightest young stars. But while preparing for last Saturday's Bombardier Learjet 500, both said they have considered what life might be like on the more popular and lucrative NASCAR circuit.
"I think the I.R.L. series is growing, but obviously, one of the big draws with NASCAR is the money," Patrick said. "There's a lot of money."
After earning more than $1.7 million for his Indianapolis 500 victory, Hornish is on pace to break his personal season earnings record of $2.477 million he achieved in 2001.
Even if he wins $2.5 million this season, the total pales against NASCAR earnings. Last season, 35 NASCAR drivers tallied at least $2.5 million in winnings during their 36-race season. Tony Stewart, the Nextel Cup champion, headed the list with $6,987,530. More at NY Times