Yates partner with Newman/Haas

Carl Haas and Paul Newman joined Robert and Doug Yates and other representatives from each side in a press conference at Indy to unveil their partnership with will see RYR renamed as Yates/Newman/ Haas/Lanigan Racing with immediate effect.

"This is a wonderful partnership," said Robert Yates. "This gives us a clear vision how to get to the top. It is our goal to continue to build so this team will be better positioned to contend for the championship."

Newman Haas will have a strong engineering input in the new partnership, which is expected to boost the whole organization and their programs, especially with the development of their Car of Tomorrow.

Although for Newman/Haas as a team this may be their first step into NASCAR, for Carl Haas this is his third attempt at success in stock cars. He previously owned Haas-Carter Motorsports and currently owns the Busch Series car driven by Kyle Krisiloff.

"I am very proud of our accomplishments in the Champ Car World Series and hope we can have the same success in NASCAR," said Carl Haas.

"We have been looking to add other forms of racing to our Champ Car program, and when the opportunity came along to work with Robert Yates Racing, a team that shares the same drive for success that we do, it was too good of an opportunity to pass up."

"I think that the NASCAR and Champ Car programs can learn something from each other and only enhance the championship level that Robert Yates Racing and Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing have competed at in previous years."

Although details of the deal were not revealed, Robert Yates stated that their move is not a merger as that recently announced by DEI and Ginn Racing this week. He emphasized they have set up a technical partnership and that his team will continue to operate at his current shop.

"We have always been an engineering-driven team," co-owner Paul Newman said. "We think we have something special to add to the benefit of both. This in no way lessens our commitment to open-wheel racing - we want to broaden our horizons."

Michael Lanigan, who is also part of the new partnership, became part of the ownership structure at Newman Haas earlier this year. He owns Mi-Jack Products Inc, the leading U.S. manufacturer of specialized RTG cranes, and previously co-owned Mi-Jack Conquest Racing in Champ Car.

"The opportunity of joining Robert and Doug Yates is an opportunity of a lifetime," added Lanigan. "The Yates family has been competing against the best and winning for many years. We look forward to a long and productive association."

Newman Haas follows in the steps of former Champ Car rivals Penske Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing, who have already established their teams in NASCAR's top series, although with limited success until now.