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Written by:
Robin Miller
12/17/2006 - 07:00 PM
Indianapolis, Ind.
The renamed Minardi USA squad hopes to build on the momentum of CTE-HVM's breakout 2006, in which Nelson Philippe scored his first win at Surfers Paradise and finished third in points. (LAT photo) » More Photos
One of Champ Car's teams that's always facing the hangman at this time of the year has been granted a financial pardon.
In what could be billed as the melding of motorsports minorities, Paul Stoddart has purchased the majority interest in Keith Wiggins' CTE-HVM operation and it will now fly the Minardi Team USA colors in 2007.
Stoddart is believed to now own 80 percent of the Indianapolis-based outfit that never lacked skilled employees but struggled to keep the doors open the past few years.
"It's no secret that every team needs stability and resources and we've had a few hiccups in the past," said Wiggins, who took control of Herdez Racing (formerly Bettenhausen Motorsports) in 2004 but has always lacked major funding.
"Paul brings in a mix of stability, resources, knowledge and excitement and this is a great day for this race team."
Stoddart, who spent five years bucking the system in Formula 1 with his small budget/big heart Minardi program, hinted two months ago at Surfer's Paradise he was ready to get back into open wheel racing.
"I looked long and hard at this and obviously the budget you're looking to attain is sensible and Champ Car should be good, close racing with everyone running the new Panoz," said the Australian native.
Paul Stoddart (LAT photo) » More Photos
"Now is the perfect time
Before coming to America, Wiggins fielded cars that won championships in several, major open-wheel feeder series to F1. His Pacific Racing stepped up to F1 but was quickly spit out by the financial realities. Stoddart joked back at the 2000 US Grand Prix that he'd raised $50 million in sponsorship that season and was still "six seconds behind Ferrari."
Now these two F1 survivors hope to attain some success together.
"I think we've had some pretty good race cars over the past few years and now we've got a plan and budget for the future," said Wiggins, who will retain his day-to-day management of the team. "Plus Paul knows this business and he's got a lot of fresh ideas."
Stoddart added: "Keith left Formula 1 the year I got into it and we've both been through that mill. Maybe that made us click, straight away, but he's a fighter and has that 'Never Say Die' attitude like we did at Minardi.
"I'll bring some resources and street wisdom and Keith will keep running things."
Neither offered any details on drivers for what figures to be a three-car effort. Wiggins has stated he wants to keep Dan Clarke and Nelson Philippe, while Jos Verstappen, Robert Doornbos and Katherine Legge are also in the picture.
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