APRIL 23, 2001

Ganassi looking for new drivers?

WORD on the street in America is that CART team owner Chip Ganassi has decided that he is not very keen on going to the Indianapolis 500 this year with two rookie drivers: former Williams test driver Bruno Junqueira and Frenchman Nicolas Minassian and is looking to replace them for the race.

WORD on the street in America is that CART team owner Chip Ganassi has decided that he is not very keen on going to the Indianapolis 500 this year with two rookie drivers: former Williams test driver Bruno Junqueira and Frenchman Nicolas Minassian and is looking to replace them for the race. Ganassi is said to have approached Jimmy Vasser and Paul Tracy. Tracy was keen but his sponsor Kool refused to let him while Vasser has to convince his CART team owner Pat Patrick that it is a good idea.

According to US sources Ganassi has even tried to hire NASCAR driver Tony Stewart but he is unlikely to be able to take the drive as he has a clashing commitment with the World 600 at Charlotte. In 1999 Stewart raced in both events but found it to be too exhausting to contemplate doing again.

Ganassi may end up trying to hire his old star Alex Zanardi...