-
Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
IndyCar
INDYCAR: Newman/Haas Working On Two-Car Return In 2013
"We’re trying not to lose our momentum and our objective is to run two cars again next year," Newman/Haas GM Brian Lisles tells SPEED.com.
Newman/Haas is hoping to return in 2013 and to rekindle the magic it found with a pair of talented drivers like Oriol Servia and James Hinchcliffe. (Photo: LAT)
With its plans for an Indy 500 return with Lotus ambassador and former F1 driver Jean Alesi now sidelined, Newman/Haas Racing General Manager Brian Lisles confirmed that a few aspects of the Lotus-financed program just didn’t meet the championship-winning team’s criteria.
“Unfortunately, we had to withdraw our entry for the Indianapolis 500,” he told SPEED.com. “We weren’t able to get everything done in time for a sensible entry. We didn’t want to do some mad rush at the last moment, and didn’t have everything in place to feel we could do a credible effort, so we withdrew our entry.”
The hiccup with the Lotus/Alesi program won’t impede any of the other plans the team has in the works, including its first foray into sports car racing and an ongoing effort to rejoin the IZOD IndyCar Series.
“We’re looking to hopefully be on track later this year, but that’s not finalized,” Lisles explained. “That’s not in IndyCar. As we said, we won’t be doing IndyCar this year. The only opportunity was the Indy 500 and that’s passed us by. We are already starting on work to hopefully return to IndyCar for 2013, however.”
With little chance to secure a Chevrolet or Honda engine this season, Lisles said gearing up for 2013 is the only practical choice for Newman/Haas.
“I think, not wishing to get ahead of myself, obviously, in talking to sponsors, you can imagine any sponsor that’s going to put any sizeable investment into a team wants [an engine] that’s competitive,” he remarked. “So they’re obviously going to be looking at what’s going on, and some hard choices will be made come October, I imagine.”
Although Newman/Haas Racing won’t be fielding an effort of its own on the IndyCar trail this year, a number of its team members have been dispatched to help other programs, with Dragon Racing as the most visible recipient of NHR’s temporary support.
“We did help out where we could, and yes, we have an agreement and a cut-off point to come back and prepare for Indy,” said Lisles. “Actually, we anticipate our people will be helping one or two of the teams at Indy this month. Then we anticipate if everything goes according to plan, everyone will be back and altogether working on what we’re going to do in June and onwards.”
PHOTOS: Click Here or on the image below to view INDYCAR: Newman/Haas Racing Throughout The Years
“Unfortunately, we had to withdraw our entry for the Indianapolis 500,” he told SPEED.com. “We weren’t able to get everything done in time for a sensible entry. We didn’t want to do some mad rush at the last moment, and didn’t have everything in place to feel we could do a credible effort, so we withdrew our entry.”
The hiccup with the Lotus/Alesi program won’t impede any of the other plans the team has in the works, including its first foray into sports car racing and an ongoing effort to rejoin the IZOD IndyCar Series.
“We’re looking to hopefully be on track later this year, but that’s not finalized,” Lisles explained. “That’s not in IndyCar. As we said, we won’t be doing IndyCar this year. The only opportunity was the Indy 500 and that’s passed us by. We are already starting on work to hopefully return to IndyCar for 2013, however.”
With little chance to secure a Chevrolet or Honda engine this season, Lisles said gearing up for 2013 is the only practical choice for Newman/Haas.
“I think, not wishing to get ahead of myself, obviously, in talking to sponsors, you can imagine any sponsor that’s going to put any sizeable investment into a team wants [an engine] that’s competitive,” he remarked. “So they’re obviously going to be looking at what’s going on, and some hard choices will be made come October, I imagine.”
Although Newman/Haas Racing won’t be fielding an effort of its own on the IndyCar trail this year, a number of its team members have been dispatched to help other programs, with Dragon Racing as the most visible recipient of NHR’s temporary support.
“We did help out where we could, and yes, we have an agreement and a cut-off point to come back and prepare for Indy,” said Lisles. “Actually, we anticipate our people will be helping one or two of the teams at Indy this month. Then we anticipate if everything goes according to plan, everyone will be back and altogether working on what we’re going to do in June and onwards.”
PHOTOS: Click Here or on the image below to view INDYCAR: Newman/Haas Racing Throughout The Years
2013 INDY 500 Practice
LATEST HEADLINES: AUTO-RACING
-
LE MANS: BoP Adjustments For GTE Announced
GTE-Pro Aston Martins handed extra weight, larger restrictor for… -
LE MANS: Jim France Named LM24 Starter
GRAND-AM founder and NASCAR Vice Chairman to wave tri-colour flag… -
INDYCAR: 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh To Pace The Indy 500
Jim Harbaugh, head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, will drive the… -
MILLER: Dinner With Legends
It’s become an annual event and, as my pal and longtime Indy… -
VIDEO: Dyson Tech Talk - Tires 101
The art of going fast: what kind of feedback does a driver want from… -
VIDEO: SPEEDing Through Hinchtown, Episode 2
Andretti Autosport IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe utilizes the… -
LE MANS: Driver Lineups For LM24 Finalized
Seats at Delta-ADR, Morand Racing, JMW Motorsport and others confirmed… - More News
