Target: Indy

The Internet buzzed last week. The circuits were rampant with rumors: the Target/Chip Ganassi Team would enter the Indy 500 .

CART's back at the Brickyard, if you count one deserter from the united front the CART boys had presented after being legislated out of participation in the storied race by Speedway owner Tony George.

Whatever you want to say about The Chipmeister, Ganassi isn't afraid to rock the boat. In fact, in a move that surprised many CART observers, Ganassi switched to Toyota engines for the 2000 season.

An announcement on the team's Web site says, "In a move that he believes will help continue Target/Chip Ganassi Racing's success into the new millennium, team owner Chip Ganassi today announced a partnership with Toyota to supply his team's engines for the next three years."

Just another guy with a yen for more sponsorship money? Hard to believe, considering the Target/Chip Ganassi Team had won the last three CART championships powered by Toyota's prime rival Honda. Have you priced a new Accord? Honda obviously doesn't have cash flow problems.

Don't read too much into the Ganassi effort at Indy. He's not jumping the CART ship. He's building a whole new boat.

According to Eric Powell's story at the Indy 500 Web site, "Vasser and Montoya will drive G Force/Oldsmobile Firestone cars in the Northern Light Indy Racing Series event and will carry primary sponsorship from the Target retail chain, the same company which sponsors the team in the Championship Auto Racing Teams series. Vasser will drive car number 15; Montoya number 10."

Different chassis. Different engines. Racin' is racin', of course, but CART and the IRL field cars significantly different from one another, primarily because the IRL cars are normally aspirated. What set the Internet lists and chat rooms bubbling was the seeming arrogant disregard of his newcomer status by Ganassi pilot Jimmy Vasser.

According to the story coming out of Indy, Vasser said, " "I'm looking forward to the competition, for sure. I really enjoyed all the races I had here before. It's still the Indianapolis 500, and it's something I want to add to my credentials as a race win." He went on to say, "I went to see my doctor the other day, and he said I was a little calcium-deficient, so perhaps I need to drink a little more milk."

A cold bottle of milk is traditionally offered to the victor in the Indy Winner's Circle.

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