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"Mr. Rahal, Please Report to Human Resources."

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Aug 28, 2001

"Mr. Rahal, Please Report to Human Resources"

The big news around the CART racing circuit this week was the pink slip handed to Bobby Rahal by Niki Lauda. Well, it wasn't CART exactly, but it will effect the series, for Rahal will now be back at the helm of Team Rahal and directly overseeing drivers Kenny Brack and Max Papis.

Rahal had signed on to lead the Jaguar Team in F-1. Although it seemed a good fit -- Rahal is smart and a deft administrator -- there were questions raised because of Rahal's lack of F-1 experience.

Apparently Bobby also liked experience in European political manipulation.

Who knows where the discontent started? Jaguar is a Ford subsidiary, but the cat team simply wasn't cutting the mustard in F-1. Rahal apparently attempted to persuade Team McLaren engineer Adrian Newey things were greener on the Jaguar side of the fence, nearly had him in the bag, but then lost him when McLaren made him the proverbial offer not to be refused. Then there was the supposed joke about trading Jaguar driver Eddie Irvine. Buried deep in one of the numerous news reports from Europe was a reference to Lauda and Irvine being party pals on London's cocktail circuit.

Whatever the reasons, Rahal lost out in the behind-the-scenes political war -- gossip among fans characterizes Lauda as a master of the political shuffle -- and was handed his walking papers. And a $5 million plus buy-out of his contract.

I always thought Rahal missed his calling -- or, better said, CART missed a great opportunity -- when he gave up as CEO of the series to take the Jaguar job. Who better than a racer to administer a racing series?

One thing curious is the amount of "Oh, well ..." reaction in the US press while the overseas media offers a more pro-Rahal view of the Lauda power-grab.

Let's take a tour of the 'Net. Pay particular attention to the Hamilton article from The Observer, a newspaper in Great Britain.

Rahal Comes Home, Robin Miller's take on the situation as posted on the CART Web site.
Jaguar Makes It Official: Rahal's Out, Milton Keynes reports on Speedvision.
Rahal rocks, head rolls, Maurice Hamilton writes in The Observer.
Bobby Rahal dumped as Jaguar boss, reports The Sporting News.
Lauda replaces sacked Rahal at Jaguar, The Telegraph, in the United Kingdom.
RAHAL SACKED OVER IRVINE SALE, from Sky Sport News.

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