California Testin'

It's an off-week for the Championship Auto Racing Teams, with the next race set for Canada's left coast at Vancouver.

Many of the teams spent the week testing at Laguna Seca, and reports began to circulate that Helio Castroneves clocked the fastest times.

According to a news release from Mo Nunn Racing, "Helio Castroneves set at track record in the afternoon session to take fast lap honors for the two days. His time of 1:07.602 (119.180) bested teammate Gil de Ferran, who had the second-fastest overall time at 1:07.896 (118.664 mph)."

Mo Nunn Racing, however, obviously cared more that its driver Tony Kanaan was fourth fastest in the session. Tony seemed happy he could flog that underpowered Mercedes to the fourth fastest overall testing time.

"We've made some big gains with our motor program, which showed today, and the guys have really brought the chassis along, too. We tried a few things for the afternoon's session and, sure enough, they worked. I've got to head down to Brazil now for a Hollywood event the next few days, but I can't wait to get back on the plane and make my way to Vancouver for next weekend's race."

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Wheels elsewhere are spinning too -- spinning with rumors.

Last week it was the newspaper gadfly Robin Miller on RPM2 Nite. Miller reported Michael Andretti has been locked into a seat at Team Kool Green, with Motorola as a sponsor. The desire to run Indy was apparently a smokescreen.

Or - let's start another rumor - maybe Andretti and Team Green will be at the Brickyard.

Robin Miller says Barry Green may move to F-1, running the BAR team, leaving his brother to run the CART operation.

Speedvision has the same rumor.

Team Green Rumor Central

"Indianapolis, Ind., Aug. 24 - 7615 Zionsville Road in Indianapolis is Rumor Central these days - on both sides of the Atlantic. That's the address of Team KOOL Green which, with each passing day, appears more and more to be the ultimate destination of Michael Andretti and Motorola for 2001 and beyond."
Full Story.

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Once a high-profile driver moves, you gotta think there's going to be the proverbial domino effect. After all, according to garage talk, Paul Tracy is already number two at Team Green. Where does that leave him? On his way to Players Team Forsythe, according to Miller.

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CNN/SI has a different take on the Andretti move -- they're thinking Ganassi will snag him because of the Indy connection -- but they too report he is the key player in what they're calling musical chairs

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