Chip Ganassi

By Andrew Cutler
December 17 2010

After having his drivers capture the last three season titles, and two of the last three Indy 500s, it would be understandable if Chip Ganassi adopted a somewhat cautious, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" attitude about managing his IndyCar squad. But, when the perfect confluence of young driver talent and sponsorship funding came knocking at his door, Ganassi lept at the chance.

The end result (which had been rumored for weeks now) was announced to the world yesterday in a press conference at IMS: in 2012, Chip Ganassi Racing will be a four car operation, instead of just their customary two.

Comming into the Ganassi fold will be Graham Rahal, just 21 years old but already a three year IndyCar veteran and the youngest ever IndyCar event winner (at St. Petersburg in 2008). Rahal brought with him funding from TBC Retail Group, which owns several tire and automotive parts store chains. Charlie Kimball, a two season veteran of Indy Lights - and a driver who Ganassi has been kepping an eye on since his days in UK Formula Ford and Formula Three Euroseries. A diabetic himself, Kimball's sponsor will be Novo Nordisk, an healthcare company that specializes in diabeties care.  

"We as a company need to stay competitive. We need to stay at the forefront," Ganassi told reporters. "I think you have to constantly be looking at who is coming along, what drivers are coming along. I'm not pushing (Scott) Dixon and (Dario) Franchitti out the door yet, but they are of a different era, you might say, than these two guys. We wanted to make sure we had an opportunity, if at all possible, to work with them."

“It really is a dream come true,” said Kimball. “It’s still sinking in that I’m going to be on the grid in a full-size IndyCar next year.”

After losing his ride at Newman-Haas at the last minute early in the year, Rahal became the 2010 season's top 'journeyman' driver, and bounced around between four different squads, so he hopes to make the most of the stability that his new deal provides. "Last year was interesting -- a lot of ups and downs. It makes you appreciate it when you get an opprtunity like this. I have been working diligently, specifically over the past several months, to get into one of Chip's IndyCars, and now that dream has become a reality".