It will not be "official for a few days," but look for
former NBAP/Fox Sports Enterprises President Rick Welts to
be named CEO of CART, according to Robin Miller of the
INDIANAPOLIS STAR, who reported that Toyota Grand Prix Exec
Dir Chris Pook "pulled the plug on himself." Pook said late
Friday, "I asked to be removed from consideration. That's
all I want to say." Miller reported that Pook, who was "the
best candidate [CART] had has before it in 22 years," made
it "clear he would only consider the job if the power
structure was changed." Instead of "answering to 17 or 18
owners, Pook wanted the autonomy to run the show." Miller
wrote that while CART owners were at first supportive of
Pook, they may have "realized Pook couldn't be micromanaged
or got nervous because he knows them too well." Miller:
"I'm betting they're intimidated by somebody with Pook's
persona, intelligence and overall knowledge." Miller added
that while Welts is "well thought of in his field ... he's
walking into a mine field and, sooner or later, he'll be
blown up because nobody can survive as CART's field general
under the current parameters" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 11/19).
