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Formula One
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CART
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IRL
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NHRA
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| Monday, February 5 |
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| Barnes says report of deal is 'bold-faced lie' ESPN.com news services | |||
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INDIANAPOLIS – Reports that Michael Andretti will
drive in this year's Indianapolis 500 for Panther Racing of the
Indy Racing Northern Light Series are false, according to
Panther team owner John Barnes. Barnes told The Indianapolis Star on Sunday that he hasn't
spoken with Andretti, or his agent, since July. Barnes is denying a report by ESPN that Andretti would sign with
Panther in "a couple weeks" but said the team would be willing
to talk to the CART driver. "That isn't to say there isn't an opportunity, but to say we're
(currently) talking about a deal is a bold-faced lie," Barnes
said. According to Gary Pedigo, co-owner of Panther Racing, "Every
team in this league wants Michael. I've never even met him." The 38-year-old Andretti is the winningest driver in CART
history, but has not driven in the Indianapolis 500 since 1995 –
the last year CART participated in the race en masse. Andretti is in his first season with Team Green in CART and
general manager Kim Green said the team does not have plans to
participate in the Indianapolis 500 because it has three drivers
competing in CART. Dario Franchitti and Paul Tracy are the other
two drivers for that operation. Andretti said at the CART "Sneak Preview" in mid-January that
any attempts to return to the Indianapolis 500 this year were
"unlikely" to occur this year. The driver was in Japan Sunday
and could not be reached for comment. | |
ALSO SEE Michael Andretti to race Indy 500 in 2001 | |
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