Pook emerges CART CEO favourite
Talk from the Houston paddock suggests that Long Beach promoter Chris Pook has emerged as the favourite to take over as CART's permanent CEO from interim boss Bobby Rahal
Pook has talked in the past to CART's team owners about the job and thought about taking the position last spring. The British expatriate has reconsidered however, and said as much at last week's United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis.
"I'm definitely interested," Pook said. "It's got to be on the right terms and I'm not interested in moving to Detroit. I'd like to see them relocate to Denver or Los Angeles. But I'm very interested in taking on the job, again, on the right terms."
In Houston this weekend many CART team owners expressed their support for Pook. "He'd do a great job," said Roger Penske. "I could definitely support that. I haven't talked to him but I'm going to give him a call."
CART's interim CEO Bobby Rahal also voiced support for Pook. "I'm sure Chris would do a very good job," Rahal said. "He understands the business and would be an excellent candidate."
Rahal said there were other contenders for the job. "We have some very good candidates, very qualified people. Most of them are businessmen and racers. I think we're going to end up with a very qualified person."
Veteran team owner Pat Patrick also expressed support for Pook. "I'm in favour of Chris," Patrick said. "We've talked to him a couple of times. I think he would do a very good job. He has the experience and knowledge of the racing business."
Mo Nunn said Pook was the only candidate he's aware of who's qualified for the job. "He's the only guy I would think of I would vote for," Nunn said. "We need to get all the team owners together, tell him what we need and give him a free hand to do our business. We have no other person who could do the job."
Carl Haas and Barry Green also said they could support Pook if he confirmed he was a candidate for the job. "I could definitely support that," Haas said.
Bobby Rahal will relinquish his position as acting CEO when he takes up a similar role for the Jaguar Formula 1 team at the end of the year.
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