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Racing Briefs: Penske gives Power full-time ride for 2010 season
By The Associated Press
Sunday, November 22, 2009 | No comments posted.
INDIANAPOLIS — Will Power won’t be waiting around for a ride next year.
Penske Racing has hired the 28-year-old Australian to drive full time next year after giving the Indy Racing League driver a part-time gig last season. He will drive the No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dallara/Honda for a team that features three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe.
“It is a dream come true,” Power told reporters Thursday after Penske made the announcement. “It’s something I’ve worked very hard for my whole career, to end up in a place like this.”
Penske said the deal is a key element of a multiyear deal with Verizon Wireless that began this year. Power’s deal is only for the 2010 season, and additional years haven’t been discussed.
Power drove for Penske last season while Castroneves dealt with legal issues. After Castroneves returned, Power stayed on temporarily and finished fifth at the Indianapolis 500. Penske eventually brought him back, and Power finished third at Toronto and won at Edmonton.
F1 Williams sells minority stake to investment firm
Frank Williams says he is not preparing to relinquish control of the Williams Formula One team despite selling a minority stake on Friday.
Williams and co-founder Patrick Head have been sole owners of the team since its creation in 1977, but now have agreed to sell an unspecified percentage of the team for an undisclosed amount to an investment firm headed by former racing driver Toto Wolff.
“I want to emphasize he is a minority shareholder and the company is still totally under my control,” Williams said Friday in a conference call. “I have no intention of losing control of this company.”
The team boss said he had “never taken any money out of the business in 40 years” but was conscious of his advancing age, adding the sale would provide funds for his private finances.
Button takes pay cut to join McLaren team
LONDON — Formula One champion Jenson Button admitted Thursday he took a pay cut to join McLaren and team with 2008 winner Lewis Hamilton.
“I am actually earning less than I would have been at Brawn, so it’s not about the money and everybody involved knows that is not the case. It’s because it’s something new,” Button told BBC Radio.
Button said he was sad to leave the team but happy to join fellow British driver Hamilton, even though they will remain rivals.
“I knew it would be a challenge to go up against Lewis in his environment and my goal since I was eight years old was to win the world championship,” Button said. “I’ve done that now and I feel in need of something else, a new challenge.”
Button had won only one grand prix before capturing the 2009 title in a Brawn car. He finished 11 points ahead of Red Bull’s Sebastien Vettel of Germany.
RPM driver Kahne will look elsewhere after 2010 season
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Kasey Kahne will strongly consider leaving Richard Petty Motorsports after next season because of the instability surrounding the organization.
Kahne has been unhappy with many parts of RPM this season, including a planned merger with Yates Racing that has yet to happen. Kahne says the company needs to become focused and resolve its lingering issues in the offseason.
Kahne said on Friday he will start looking at other teams in January. He says the ups and downs this season have made it hard for him to think about staying with the organization in the long term.
Gordon wants to keep driving for Hendrick Motorsports
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick expects Jeff Gordon to drive at least “three or four” more seasons and the four-time Cup champion says he has no immediate plans to retire.
Gordon said on Friday that his achy back has improved and he’s still having fun racing. Gordon is third in the points standings and has one victory this season heading into Sunday’s finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Hendrick says as long as Gordon competes in Cup racing, he’ll be with Hendrick Motorsports.
Comedian Caliendo will host NASCAR banquet
LAS VEGAS — Comedian Frank Caliendo will host NASCAR’s season-ending banquet in December in Las Vegas.
Caliendo, a noted impressionist, was featured in several videos at last year’s awards ceremony. He has appeared at postseason events for the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
NASCAR moved its banquet to Dec. 4 at the Wynn Las Vegas.
Singer David Gray and female electric string quartet Escala will perform at the banquet.
Penske Racing has hired the 28-year-old Australian to drive full time next year after giving the Indy Racing League driver a part-time gig last season. He will drive the No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dallara/Honda for a team that features three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe.
“It is a dream come true,” Power told reporters Thursday after Penske made the announcement. “It’s something I’ve worked very hard for my whole career, to end up in a place like this.”
Penske said the deal is a key element of a multiyear deal with Verizon Wireless that began this year. Power’s deal is only for the 2010 season, and additional years haven’t been discussed.
Power drove for Penske last season while Castroneves dealt with legal issues. After Castroneves returned, Power stayed on temporarily and finished fifth at the Indianapolis 500. Penske eventually brought him back, and Power finished third at Toronto and won at Edmonton.
F1 Williams sells minority stake to investment firm
Frank Williams says he is not preparing to relinquish control of the Williams Formula One team despite selling a minority stake on Friday.
Williams and co-founder Patrick Head have been sole owners of the team since its creation in 1977, but now have agreed to sell an unspecified percentage of the team for an undisclosed amount to an investment firm headed by former racing driver Toto Wolff.
“I want to emphasize he is a minority shareholder and the company is still totally under my control,” Williams said Friday in a conference call. “I have no intention of losing control of this company.”
The team boss said he had “never taken any money out of the business in 40 years” but was conscious of his advancing age, adding the sale would provide funds for his private finances.
Button takes pay cut to join McLaren team
LONDON — Formula One champion Jenson Button admitted Thursday he took a pay cut to join McLaren and team with 2008 winner Lewis Hamilton.
“I am actually earning less than I would have been at Brawn, so it’s not about the money and everybody involved knows that is not the case. It’s because it’s something new,” Button told BBC Radio.
Button said he was sad to leave the team but happy to join fellow British driver Hamilton, even though they will remain rivals.
“I knew it would be a challenge to go up against Lewis in his environment and my goal since I was eight years old was to win the world championship,” Button said. “I’ve done that now and I feel in need of something else, a new challenge.”
Button had won only one grand prix before capturing the 2009 title in a Brawn car. He finished 11 points ahead of Red Bull’s Sebastien Vettel of Germany.
RPM driver Kahne will look elsewhere after 2010 season
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Kasey Kahne will strongly consider leaving Richard Petty Motorsports after next season because of the instability surrounding the organization.
Kahne has been unhappy with many parts of RPM this season, including a planned merger with Yates Racing that has yet to happen. Kahne says the company needs to become focused and resolve its lingering issues in the offseason.
Kahne said on Friday he will start looking at other teams in January. He says the ups and downs this season have made it hard for him to think about staying with the organization in the long term.
Gordon wants to keep driving for Hendrick Motorsports
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick expects Jeff Gordon to drive at least “three or four” more seasons and the four-time Cup champion says he has no immediate plans to retire.
Gordon said on Friday that his achy back has improved and he’s still having fun racing. Gordon is third in the points standings and has one victory this season heading into Sunday’s finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Hendrick says as long as Gordon competes in Cup racing, he’ll be with Hendrick Motorsports.
Comedian Caliendo will host NASCAR banquet
LAS VEGAS — Comedian Frank Caliendo will host NASCAR’s season-ending banquet in December in Las Vegas.
Caliendo, a noted impressionist, was featured in several videos at last year’s awards ceremony. He has appeared at postseason events for the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
NASCAR moved its banquet to Dec. 4 at the Wynn Las Vegas.
Singer David Gray and female electric string quartet Escala will perform at the banquet.
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