Series Swappin'

It's been a week off for the CART teams, with the crews gearing up to attack a road course after successive weekends on ovals.

It'll be a short trip from Chicago to Ohio, but it's a world of difference when it comes time for the teams to reach into their bag of tricks and find the tools to get around the lefts and rights.

Mid-Ohio's Sports Car Course is a tick over two and a quarter miles around, and Michael Andretti among current pilots is its master, with two wins and two thirds recently.

One of the happiest of those suiting up for a run will be Memo Gidley, Y2K's Super Sub who last week signed a contract to finish the year in Della Penna Motorsports' Toyota/Reynard. Argentinian rookie Norberto Fontana lost his half of the ride.

CART's Web site quoted team owner John Della Penna saying "Initially, Memo was going to drive for us on the oval tracks and Norberto would continue to drive at the road and street courses," Della Penna explained. "The series environment is so competitive, though, that we can't afford to give up anything. I can't have two drivers switching back and forth. The team needs continuity."

I find myself sometimes getting a bit disappointed when rumors turn to fact. Autoracing 1 is now reporting that Juan Montoya is definitely on the boat to Frank Williams' F-1 Team. Jenson Button apparently is to be farmed out - not to F3000 but rather to the Benneton F-1 team.

Button to Benetton, Montoya to Williams 3rd UPDATE - Frank Williams is waiting on Ganassi to find a suitable replacement for Montoya. The possible drivers include former or current F3000 standouts Nick Heidfeld, Bruno Junquiera, Warren Hughes and Nicolas Minassian, and Johnny Herbert. We are told Chip already has a driver in mind, but he's not saying who just yet. Let's not forget that Chip went to the F3000 well in the past. In addition, according to this article Frank's announcement might come as early as next weekend.

Sabates selling to Ganassi; team will switch to Dodge
By Jim Utter

Team Sabco owner Felix Sabates will make official the sale of a majority interest of his two Winston Cup teams to Championship Auto Racing Teams series owner Chip Ganassi during a press conference Friday night at Indianapolis, ThatsRacin.com has learned.

In addition, the teams will change manufacturers next season and become the newest entries into the Dodge