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DaveyFan28 · #16 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by dalejrgamer

I'm aware that Felix Sabates made that decision with Ganassi. It's just that the team just flat-out sucks since Marlin is gone, and closing down the 40, along with hiring Dario Franchitti, just wasn't going to help the team at all.

Closing didn't have anything to do with the team, and had everything to do with the fact the team couldn't find sufficient sponsorship. Is that entirely performance, or lack thereof, related? Maybe, but sponsors don't always simply flock to the most recent winner.

For all those inquiring minds who want know, here's Felix Sabates providing his perspective:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayski.com

Felix Sabates talks about closure of #40 team: Felix Sabates spoke with Claire B. Lang on "Dialed In" on XMSN (XM Channel 144) Tuesday evening about Dario Franchitti's future with the team
CBL: You didn't have a sponsor - people forget this team was unsponsored:
Sabates: "What happened to us - we kind of got hung out to dry by Coors. Coors was with me for almost ten years and they had a management change and the new people come over and told us don't worry about it - 'Don't look for a sponsor; we're going to be back with you in 2008, 2009.' So, we never looked for any sponsors and come October they come and tell us well Coors is going to do something else. They're going to sponsor the NASCAR Coors pole and this and that so then it was too late (for the 2008 season)...so we have been running all year long without a sponsor."

CBL: Talk about the options for Dario Franchitti:
Sabates: "Dario had a hard time with it. He made a change from the Indy Racing League to come here. But truth of the matter is that he needs more seat time. We gave him an option to go in the Nationwide car because we do have a sponsor for the #40 Nationwide car. He's going to decide what he's going to do in the next few days and maybe he'll be racing in Chicago (Nationwide race July 11).....I hope he does get in the Nationwide car. He's a very talented driver and if he gets a few more months under his belt maybe we can get a sponsor for next year and we can go racing next year.
Sabates told CBL on the cost of running the team and how much he's paid to keep it running: - "It cost you $20 to $21, $22 million dollars to run a competitive team and if you run 15 races and you don't have any money coming in you have already lost $10 or $11 million dollars."
Sabates on Dario's choices: "Chip pretty much told him if he wanted to go to back to Indy that, because it doesn't cost near as much money there as it does here, and over there Chip is the Rick Hendrick of over here - so he can get a sponsor for an IRL car very easily. So he's got his choice - if he wants to drive the Nationwide Car - get some more experience, maybe we'll get a sponsor for next year or go back to the IRL -- it's up to Dario - he has a contract and we intend to honor it."
Sabates on what he thinks Dario will do: "At the end of the day - I think he will get in the Nationwide car- he needs more seat time anyway."(XM Radio PR)(7-2-2008)

Now I think it's fair to point out that the #40 car never ran without sponsorship, so I'm not sure why Felix is talking about losing millions of dollars this season. While we don't know exactly where that sponsorship money always goes, Target sponsorship is somewhat unique with Ganassi given the relationship between the two, it should be reasonable to assume that they received some compensation somewhere. and simply aren't out the 10-11 million Sabates talked about.

I do like how Ganassi offered Dario the choice between Nationwide and a return to the IRL. That shows just how much Chip cares about his drivers and wants to facilitate their success as much as he can.

--DF28