If you "think" CART interim CEO Bobby Rahal "is ready
to get rid of" his interim role and "take the job full time,
think again," according to Alexander & Rosewater of the
Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, who wrote that Rahal "isn't making
any promises he will be heading CART for the long haul."
Rahal: "I have thought about it, but I haven't. It's been
very tough on my family and on me, to be honest. My job is
to put things in motion. I haven't ruled out anything yet."
Rahal "confirmed" that CART has interviewed search firms "to
help look for a permanent" CEO (PLAIN DEALER, 8/12).
NY STATE OF MIND? CART "might return" to Watkins Glen,
NY in 2002 after a "two-decade absence." CART VP Hal
Whiteford said that he "planned to meet" in two weeks with
ISC officials "to discuss a future" race (CHICAGO TRIBUNE,
8/12). But Rahal said that "several improvements would have
to be made at the track before CART could return" (AP, 8/12)
MOVING ON? In Cleveland Amy Rosewater wrote that CART
points leader Michael Andretti said he is "in the middle of
a 'very tough decision'" on whether he "should continue
racing in CART, or "make the jump" to the IRL, a series he
and his father Mario have "denounced since its formation" in
'96 (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 8/13).
NOTES: In Phoenix, Mark Armijo wrote that to "avoid a
conflict" with CART's finale at CA Speedway in 2001, the
NASCAR Winston Cup race at Phoenix Int'l Raceway (PIR) "will
likely be held" in late October rather than the first Sunday
in November. Armijo added that PIR officials "already had
discussed" a date change prior to the CART announcement
because they "want to add" a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
race to the Winston Cup weekend (AZ REPUBLIC, 8/12)....In
Charlotte, David Poole, on the state of NASCAR: "A drumbeat
of negativity is fast becoming the sport's new soundtrack.
Publicly, NASCAR officials try to ignore critics and insist
things are still well. Privately, some admit the sport's
momentum is heading in the wrong direction -- or at least
that there's a perception it is" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 8/13).
