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.

Answer the following questions in an email by numbering your answers the same as the questions are numbered here, and send to mhbearesq@gmail.com

1.       Name PTG’s drivers in the 2001 American Le Mans Series season. (1 point for each)

2.       What is the significance of Portola Road in sports car racing history? (5 points)

3.       Who is Mel Hawkins? (5 points)

4.       What progenitor of a famous racing family was proud to be on Richard Nixon’s ‘Enemies List’? (5 points)
 

5.       Who was the winner of the first Pebble Beach Road Race in 1950? (5 points)

6.       When and where did seven time World Driving Champion Michael Schumacher last race in North America? (5 points)

7.       Who was the last driver to qualify and race a front engine car in the Indianapolis 500? What year was it? (5 points)

8.       Identify the driver and the car. (3 points for each)

    9.       What North American racing incident involved the driver in the photograph? (5 points)

    10.   Name the ‘Odd Couple,’ a Silicon Valley CEO and a former college tennis player who combined to launch a sports car racing team, then drove to a podium finish at Le Mans. (5 points)

    11.   The werks John Wyer and Porsche Salzburg (1970) and Martini (1971) teams won all but four races in which they entered the 917 in the FIA Group 5 World Championship of Makes. Name the four races in which the werks 917’s were beaten, whether points-paying or not, and the car that won in each instance. (8 points, 1 for venue, 1 for car in each instance)

    12.   What Le Mans winner won a race in a Scarab?  (5 points)
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    13.   What driver finished second overall in NASCAR points in his rookie season (year 1), then the next year third overall at Le Mans (year 2) and finally third in points in the following NASCAR season (year 3)? (5 points)

    14.   Who celebrated a milestone birthday at Sonoma, California in July, 2000. (5 points)

    15.   What do TWR USA/Jaguar, Nissan Performance Technology, Risi Competizione, and Tafel Racing have in common? (5 points)

    16.   Which team won the biggest ever sports car purse, what was the race and year? (5 points)

    17.   What driver called a GT1 a “real race car” when asked to contrast it to the car he usually raced. (5 points)

    18.   What driver competed in six ALMS seasons with an artificial heart valve? (5 points)

    19.   Murphy the Bear’s office is located in what institution on Monterey’s Wave Street? (5 points)

    20.   Who completed a cross county motorcycle ride between ALMS races at Lime Rock and Infineon. (5 points)