IndyCar driver Katherine Legge has "threatened legal action over her termination from Dragon Racing," following the team announcing Sebastian Saavedra "had been hired to drive the No. 6 this IndyCar season," according to Jenna Fryer of the AP. Legge yesterday said that she "had a two-year contract with Dragon and the team stole sponsor TrueCar for Saavedra." The TrueCar sponsorship "allowed Legge to return to IndyCar last season after racing in the European DTM series." She alleged that she "brought the sponsorship to Dragon because team owner Jay Penske ... promised additional sponsorship from Penske Dealerships." But Fryer noted the sponsorship "never materialized." Legge also "alleged her quest for sponsorship was hurt by Penske's arrest in August for allegedly breaking into the Nantucket Yacht Club and later urinating on the boots of a woman who confronted him in the parking lot." Legge said that she was "informed in January she was not going to be back with the team, and has been unable to find another job in IndyCar since." She also said that she "hoped IndyCar intervened on her behalf in the dispute with Dragon and TrueCar" (AP, 2/13). SPEEDTV.com's Marshall Pruett noted a release from Dragon Racing "offered its take on parting ways" with Legge. Exec VP Paul Woolnough said, "Unfortunately our primary sponsor and Dragon Racing have decided it is best for the team to move in a different direction for the upcoming season. We wish Katherine the best in her future racing endeavors." TrueCar Founder & CEO Scott Painter, whose company "serves as the team’s primary sponsor and backed Legge through its ‘Women Empowered’ initiative, confirmed Woolnough’s assertion that a new driver was desired for 2013, yet did not elaborate on the official reason for seeking the change" (SPEEDTV.com, 2/13).
