Bettenhausen Motorsports to race on

Accompanying them on the flight was Bettenhausen's wife shirley and long-time friend Larry Rangel.

Bettenhausen was piloting his twin engine Beech Baron aircraft from Tennessee's Tri-City Airport in Blountville to Eagle Creek Airport near Tony's home in Indianapolis when the accident occurred at about 11:45 am Monday.

"All of the team and Bettenhausen family is in a great state of shock," said team partner and friend Russ Breeden.

"This team was an extension of Tony and Shirley's family and we are all trying to deal with the tragic loss of our friends and family."

Jack Rodgers, another of business partners and one of Bettenhausen's original supporters in Champ Car racing, said: "Bettenhausen Motorsports, as a team, will carry on in the wake of this tremendous loss.

"Tony's love for the sport has driven us all to make Bettenhausen Motorsports what it is today and we plan to continue with Tony's dream to be a championship contender.

"His passion lives on in all of us and we hope to honour his and Russ' memory by continuing his work with the team."

Details of the crash are still under investigation.

Bettenhausen was a veteran pilot and was an instrument rated pilot flying on a pre-determined flight plan originating from the Miami, Florida area after CART's Spring Training open test.

Bettenhausen Motorsports recently teamed with Herdez / Viva Mexico to field a FedEx Championship Series car for Michel Jourdain Jr for the 2000 season.

The team plans to go forward with its plans including its pre-season testing to commence next week at Sebring International Raceway.