CART teams may give Indy 500 a miss

Champ Car teams are reportedly staying away from the 2000 Indianapolis 500 race.

Dec 16, 1999, 11:35 AM

According to US newspaper, The Indianapolis Star, teams powered by Ford or Mercedes are unlikely to take part in the event - even though CART chief Andrew Craig specifically left space for it in the 2000 Champ Car schedule.

Only CART veterans, Derrick Walker, Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi look likely to buy or lease any of the Indy Racing League's engines and chassis.

'It's clear Ford does not support this concept, nor does Mercedes,' Bobby Rahal reportedly told the newspaper.

Team owner Rahal had initially looked at entering drivers Max Papis and Kenny Brack in the legendary race.

Brack won the event in 1999, and has expressed the wish to return and defend his crown.

Carl Haas, co-founder of the Newman-Haas outfit is said to have confirmed that the team would be entering the event.

'I think right now it's the preference of Ford that we will not go, so we won't,' he told the newspaper.