Paul Tracy mentor dies in cycling accident

The man who in large part rescued the career of Canadian driving icon Paul Tracy and then nurtured it until legislation forced his company to end its auto racing involvement has died.

Robert (Bob) Bexon, who spent nearly 30 years at Imperial Tobacco starting as a salesman and ending as president and CEO, died as a result of injuries suffered in a cycling accident in the Eastern Townships of Quebec on Wednesday.

He was 56.

When Tracy was fired by Roger Penske following the 1997 season, his career was in jeopardy. No top rides were available in the CART series and his tendency to be hard on equipment made all but the most financially secure of team owners wary.

Bexon, who was senior vice-president of marketing and sales at Imperial's U.S. affiliate, the Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., had a deal with Australian Barry Green for a one-car CART team (with Dario Franchitti aboard) to promote Kool cigarettes.

Although it's never been clear whether Green approached Bexon about Tracy's availability, or vice-versa, the end result was that Green's budget was doubled, Tracy climbed into a second car and the famous Team Kool Green was born.

Tracy and Franchitti won many races but botched just as many others. In their first season together, for instance, Tracy wrecked Franchitti – who was leading – while trying to pass him late in a street race at Houston, Tex. Green was furious and he and Tracy exchanged words and came very close to blows. More at the Toronto Star