If it wasn’t on Friday, a missed payroll will likely be made up soon, Murphy hears. But it seems a long shot for the team to make any of the first three races, at least with a car of their own design.

The big rumored is that controlling owner Chad Hurley is disappointed with the current team management, and will provide significant additional funding only if the team is able to meet agreed-to progress targets. Of course they’re in a bit of a Catch-22, given that the current cash starved position makes it difficult at best to perform. According to rumors there was a “sweat equity” deal with current team senior management, and that deal includes progress clauses that would allow for their (forced) departure. Murphy can’t verify that (unless it happens), but it’s widely enough believed that others in the sport are positioning themselves to become a ‘rescue team’ on the assumption it’s true.

A US-based group is preparing to propose a ‘take-over’ of the project, as is a British. The latter would move the operation to the UK, throwing most current staff overboard. Any change has to come with the acquiescence of Hurley.

Both those groups and the current USF1 management are battling to acquire the complete and crunch tested Campos/Dallara chassis to cover those early events. (Clearly there are many in the sport – from Bernie on down - who don’t believe Campos is going to make it.) Meanwhile, Stefan Grand Prix (Serbian Zoran Stefanovich, previously referred to here as ‘the Russians’) is sitting on the sideline with the ex-Toyota F1 stuff (Zoran might want to check that accelerator) hoping a failed team drops a pair of grid spots into its lap.

Krohn Racing

Murphy’s heard that Tracey Krohn informed the head shop (pun unintended) on International Speedway Boulevard that he’s ending his Grand Am adventure. That might mean a second full-time Ferrari in the Risi stable. Might it also might mean a whole new marque for ALMS GT2, from a Stuttgart – Woking axis?

Alex Job Racing

Murphy heard last week that Alex Job Racing would field an LMPC, likely at Sebring. Other sources have been saying the same thing as far back as the open LMPC test at Petit.

AJR announced two GTC’s yesterday…(Murphy tweeted the news). It’s been rumored lately that Alex has an LMPC in his shop. His new GTC’s do not included AJR 2009 Patron Challenge client Mitch Pagery, but neither will that rumored LMPC, since Mitch will be elsewhere in the paddock – with Intersport.

A hint that LMPC entry might not be likely is Butch Leitzinger in a GTC for the team. If it was fielding an LMPC, wouldn’t Butch be better suited there? Or will that LMPC have two “gentleman” drivers? The Bear would like to say  Alex will run three cars in two classes, but it’s only just “possible.”

GAINSCO

The Cogs are mad at the Bear again for passing on a rumor about their little racing club (that’s spelled r-u-m-o-r). Here goes again. GAINSCO is one of six DP’s on the initial entry for Homestead, but rumors about the team and its drivers persist, and Murphy will report them as he hears them – that’s kinda what this little blog is all about, ya know. This week the Bear  was told Rahal Letterman is talking to Alex Gurney about an Indy drive in May, with perhaps Kansas as a ‘warm-up.’ Doing that along with Grand Am is possible; he’d only miss the Grand Am Lime Rock round for certain.