Who Will Take Paul Tracy’s $2M?

**CorvetteFan** · 12-19-2011 06:59 PM

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...aul-tracys-2m/

With dust beginning to settle on the check he’s hoping will deliver a seat in the IZOD IndyCar Series, Paul Tracy is starting to wonder what he has to do to get a team owner to take his money.

“We have about $2 million raised right now, but nobody wants to pull the trigger on doing a second car with us,” he told SPEED.com. “I don’t get it. We have a commitment level right now that’s not enough for a full season, by any means, but it’s not an insignificant amount. Nobody wants to put one foot in front of the other and make something happen. Of all the drivers who are out there walking around looking for a ride right now, I don’t any of them are sitting on $2 million to spend

Of the teams with vacancies that interest Tracy, and with Honda Canada sponsorship in his portfolio, Honda-powered Rahal Letterman Racing is the best fit for the open-wheel veteran, but he’s also spoken with Dreyer & Reinbold, amongst others.

“We’ve met with Bobby [Rahal] multiple times,” said Tracy. “He went and met one of my sponsors to have a face-to-face. That went well and everybody seemed pretty keen to do something. But the budget number to make things happen there is higher than what we can bring right now. I think most team owners are sitting on the fence waiting to see what kind of best deal they can get, and if I was an owner, I’d probably do the same thing.”

Despite Tracy’s desire to join RLL’s two-car stable, the team owner says he’s not feeling the pressure to sign a contract with any of the drivers he’s met with.

Tracy's best results of the year came with Dreyer & Reinbold. (IndyCar Series)

“We’re not trying to play the field or delay people,” said Rahal. “It may sound egotistical to say this, but I think we’re a pretty good team. We’re not going to rush to sign a deal unless everything’s there to be competitive. We feel that one of the most important things for us is that we have a competitive effort, not only in one car, but in two cars. And that means we have the right financial backing in both cars. And so far, we haven’t found what it takes.

**Z28** · 12-19-2011 07:13 PM

It should show people the state of the sport that team owners don't have the sponsors and for someone like Tracy who wants a competitive ride, which should be his aim, he can't find a team owner with the 4.5 that with his 2 would make for a full season. But to look at from the viewpoint of a team owner he can't be expected to spend his own money to get two new cars and a full season engine lease, take Tracy's money which isn't enough for a full season and then do what for the rest of the season? Take lesser talent with money for race by race deals, and probably buy a lot of spare parts, just spend his own money and not get enough TEAM money to come close to covering his loses. Drivers like Tracy end up in the spot he's in because there aren't enough team owners who can go out and get their own sponsors.

Everybody wanted new cars, you've got them and with that is the added cost and combined with owners with no sponsors and drivers that don't have sponsors this is where you end up.

**aaron5572** · 12-19-2011 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by Z28

It should show people the state of the sport that team owners don't have the sponsors and for someone like Tracy who wants a competitive ride, which should be his aim, he can't find a team owner with the 4.5 that with his 2 would make for a full season. But to look at from the viewpoint of a team owner he can't be expected to spend his own money to get two new cars and a full season engine lease, take Tracy's money which isn't enough for a full season and then do what for the rest of the season? Take lesser talent with money for race by race deals, and probably buy a lot of spare parts, just spend his own money and not get enough TEAM money to come close to covering his loses. Drivers like Tracy end up in the spot he's in because there aren't enough team owners who can go out and get their own sponsors.

Everybody wanted new cars, you've got them and with that is the added cost and combined with owners with no sponsors and drivers that don't have sponsors this is where you end up.

That's a little unfair in the sense that Tracy couldn't get a ride with the old cars

**TKG26** · 12-19-2011 07:55 PM

The old cars still cost money. Weather the total price is 5 million or 6.5 nothing changed from this year to next year.

Crossing my fingers for ya PT!

**Inline** · 12-19-2011 07:57 PM

Tracy has $2 mil but only with a Honda team so that limits his options. Add to that fact he has probably burned some bridges in his time. End result not many prospects. BTW I doubt Rahal is telling the full honest story. Really is too bad because he can still drive and could benefit an inexperienced teammate, if he'd play nice.

**railroad** · 12-19-2011 07:58 PM

Hey, Paul. Write a check for the difference, then sell the space later.

**indyrox@lith** · 12-19-2011 08:04 PM

Rahal is waiting for someone with a bigger check or for Honda to just pay him to take Sato full season.

**nascarnation** · 12-19-2011 08:15 PM

"We’re not going to rush to sign a deal unless everything’s there to be competitive."

Which translates to: We'll pick the best funded ride buyer after all the proposals are in.

**TKG26** · 12-19-2011 08:24 PM

So would that not be PT? Do others actually bring more then 2mill?

**nascarnation** · 12-19-2011 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by TKG26

So would that not be PT? Do others actually bring more then 2mill?

We'll likely know the answer by March.

**Wronkle** · 12-19-2011 09:49 PM

I think PT has burned way too many bridges to even be upset that he isn't being considered for a ride. Plus he is old now and slow.

**Racing Steward** · 12-19-2011 10:26 PM

Originally Posted by Wronkle

I think PT has burned way too many bridges to even be upset that he isn't being considered for a ride. Plus he is old now and slow.

Thank you! Somebody on this forum finally said it.

**Hitokiri** · 12-19-2011 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by Racing Steward

Thank you! Somebody on this forum finally said it.

His time is over. Hang up your hat.

**BretEarl** · 12-19-2011 10:38 PM

Hell, if nobody wants his money I will take it.

**Team Canada** · 12-20-2011 12:00 AM

Here we go again, another PT is too slow, too old thread versus the people that want to see what he can do in a quality ride.

Fact of the matter: PT is not going to take a ride like last year, to give fuel to all of his detractors. Hell, nobody could have done a thing with what he had last year.

If he gets a good ride and does well, I look forward to seeing some people eat their words.

If he doesn't, and decides that the sh1t isn't worth it, we won't see these threads anymore.

Thats all I am going to say to defend PT, he is a big boy and if he wants to come back, he will, but seeing how some posts end up being a cesspool of venom, I wouldn't count your chickens.

**FlatOut** · 12-20-2011 12:13 AM

+1 TC. Its funny how if your 'old' and dont have the wins that PT has, that if you honored an IRL patch on your drivers suit, driver gets a free pass from "fans" here. New car next year, go out there and show them who the Boss is Applesauce.

You proved, after time away, in a car your not years familiar with, without the team resources, you can stick that car up front.
Tell Patty Happy Birthday Paul.

**Oldfan** · 12-20-2011 12:46 AM

Originally Posted by Inline

Tracy has $2 mil but only with a Honda team so that limits his options.

I think you hit on his biggest problem there, he's limited to only approx. 1/3 of the teams.

**vintage** · 12-20-2011 01:32 AM

Originally Posted by Oldfan

I think you hit on his biggest problem there, he's limited to only approx. 1/3 of the teams.

He's also severely limited by his budget. Unless he finds a few million more, he's going to end up splitting a ride with someone else, or he's going to be watching. I thought he said he wouldn't run this year unless he could run the entire schedule with a quality team?

**PPGfan** · 12-20-2011 01:49 AM

If I was in PT's shoes, I'd just say, "forget a full season", and make my best pitch to Sam Schmidt to drive one of his cars at Indianapolis.

**BizzyV** · 12-20-2011 03:34 AM

Be it his fault or not he did nothing to prove last year that he can still do this competetively.

That, and I dont think that teams want to spend a year with a guy knowing full well that he is gone the next year when a guy with similar talent can be had who will improve and be better the next year.

I was really hoping that RLL was the spot for him but if that Honda Canada money is significant, then he hasn't got a whole lot of options.

**paper** · 12-20-2011 05:06 AM

why do we say car owners anymore, arent they real car leasers? and they are not ride buyers, buyers get to keep the product,, they are car leasers,, maybe paul should see if hertz or national would sponsor him,

**ndcrs** · 12-20-2011 06:28 AM

Originally Posted by aaron5572

That's a little unfair in the sense that Tracy couldn't get a ride with the old cars

i think in the past, tracy talked about having 1m, now he has 2m...that's elevating the game.

**ndcrs** · 12-20-2011 06:32 AM

Originally Posted by Team Canada

Here we go again, another PT is too slow, too old thread versus the people that want to see what he can do in a quality ride.

Fact of the matter: PT is not going to take a ride like last year, to give fuel to all of his detractors. Hell, nobody could have done a thing with what he had last year.

If he gets a good ride and does well, I look forward to seeing some people eat their words.

If he doesn't, and decides that the sh1t isn't worth it, we won't see these threads anymore.

Thats all I am going to say to defend PT, he is a big boy and if he wants to come back, he will, but seeing how some posts end up being a cesspool of venom, I wouldn't count your chickens.

tc- why isn't pt doing his dragon thing? seems his and jay p's situation may be different if jay had actually been able to get paul in his car for indy2011. i'm sure that engineering group would have take pauls word for the handling instead of doubting the two rooks.

**Dave Long** · 12-20-2011 12:08 PM

Pretty sure I've read on this board before a number of times that Rahal is a penny pincher and doesn't want to look for his own sponsors. So expecting him to take the 2 million and find the rest isn't ever going to happen. He'll expect to have everything paid for by his drivers.

With Conway signed at Foyt, maybe Tracy should try to get into a second car there? That team could be on the rise?

**raskav** · 12-20-2011 12:09 PM

Who Will Take Paul Tracy’s $2M?

not Foyt

**Grizzlor** · 12-20-2011 12:31 PM

I think what Paul said was most of his discussions have been with teams over their 2nd car, if they have the 2nd car. Except for Shank, who have one car.

The Honda Canada money covers two races, it's not a significant amount. Look there's a good likelihood now that Servia and Tracy will be left rideless, which is a shame. I think Paul's approach is the most sound though, not wasting his sponsors' money on bad teams like Dragon. As for Rahal, if he chooses Jay Howard I think his credibility goes out the window. I mean, it's one thing to say he wants a driver for the future, which Tracy clearly is not, and another to take one who's just not going to cut it.

**Justhalc** · 12-20-2011 12:36 PM

With Conway bringing 1-2 mil, the TEAM money, and ABC Supply...I would think Foyt would welcome Tracy's 2 mil and be a 2 car team

**THE BEAR** · 12-20-2011 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by Justhalc

With Conway bringing 1-2 mil, the TEAM money, and ABC Supply...I would think Foyt would welcome Tracy's 2 mil and be a 2 car team

Didn't Paul run Foyt's crapwagon at Milwaukee last year, and was like six laps down after three laps?

That might have soured any relationship between AJ and PT, but hey, you never know. A little spark and some experience might be good in a second Foyt car.

**piercey** · 12-20-2011 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by THE BEAR

Didn't Paul run Foyt's crapwagon at Milwaukee last year, and was like six laps down after three laps?

That might have soured any relationship between AJ and PT, but hey, you never know. A little spark and some experience might be good in a second Foyt car.

Further back. The year Meira broke his back (09?)