Many observers of American motor sport suggest it is a foregone conclusion that the newly created Andretti-Green Racing team will defect from CART to the IRL. This may well be the case. Engine supplier Honda is confirmed as switching to the IRL from 2003 onwards and it has been suggested is placing great pressure on Andretti-Green to be one of the squads that spearhead its campaign. Furthermore, Michael Andretti has made no secret of his desire to win the Indy 500 before he hangs up his helmet. On this evidence it seems indeed to be a foregone conclusion.
But is that the case? With a little guesswork it is possible to see another outcome that is relatively plausible and is a far more appealing outcome for all concerned.
Team Green unsuccessfully attempted to win the 500 this season after some extremely dubious rulings by the IRL. There is little doubt however that the squad would relish the prospect of going back to Indianapolis and winning properly next year. However, with the IRL and CART going in different directions with regards to engines and chassis, and (whether CART likes it or not) competition in the IRL increasing next season, a one off 'entry' in the 500 is unlikely to bring success. This is simply because the IRL teams will undoubtedly start the month of May better equipped to win than any crack CART squads could be. In fact it is the issue of the degree of competition in the IRL and the diverging paths of the IRL and CART that is central to this entire theory.
Consider now the previous statements in the context of the Andretti-Green squad. Andretti desperately wants to win the 500 but as just a driver is reliant upon the support of his team to find funding and resources to do the race. Furthermore, having won the CART title before and given that CART races are now scheduled for the hallowed month of May, Andretti is likely to be more interested in devoting all of his efforts to winning the 500. There is therefore a clear outcome that will benefit all parties concerned - the creation of a super-team, part owned by a racing superstar with the funds and support to operate two separate teams.
In much the same fashion as Ganassi Racing, I believe (and hope) that Andretti-Green will continue to run two cars in CART whilst establishing a separate team to run Andretti in the IRL. This way, Andretti can tackle the 500 properly, Honda get their man, and Team Green gets a name big enough to get them the backing needed to win both the CART Championship and the Indy 500. In sponsorship terms, Andretti's presence as a team-owner is likely to help Team Green attract a big enough sponsor, who is not a tobacco brand, to bankroll both squads. And even if that doesn't come to fruition, there will certainly be no problems finding sponsorship in either of the two series' for such a big name team.
While this piece has shown the advantages that could be accrued, in all likelihood the whole squad will simply defect to the IRL and that will be the matter closed. The fact rumours persist that Paul Tracy has signed for Forsythe Racing suggests the move is further forward than Andretti-Green like to admit in public. But if the move does go ahead, it should not necessarily be seen as the death knell for CART.
In recent weeks it has emerged that Mario Andretti is considering setting up his own CART squad with Carl Haas. Now that would be a real shot in the arm for CART and would more than make up for the loss of Andretti-Green. Perhaps every cloud does have silver lining.
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