OCTOBER 8, 2002

Red Bull search forges on

Red Bull's American driver search is moving forward with the final candidates readying themselves for the run-off, scheduled for October 14th through October 18th at Paul Ricard in southern France.

Red Bull is saying that fourteen of the original sixteen candidates are expected to make the trip to Paul Ricard, but it is likely that there will be thirteen or less. USAC Midget driver Bobby East told Danny Sullivan that he had no interest in racing in Europe and did not want to be considered for the program, and A.J. Allmendinger and Joey Hand have signed Formula Atlantic contracts for 2003.

The candidates who do make the trip will have to sign an agreement covering the testing in France, and the four chosen winners will have to sign another contract, concerning the coming season.

Program Manager Danny Sullivan said, "The 'test days' contract covers the run-off process only. Then, after we've chosen the four winners, they will be offered - that is a key legal term, by the way - a drive in a European series. And that contract will also be a negotiable instrument. Which series the winning drivers end up in will, of course, be determined in part by the drivers themselves."