Open-wheel Racing Mulls Making all Hiring Decisions Based on Sponsorship

Come on. Do I have to? OK. Everything below is made up. Sheesh.

The jobs of engineers, pit crews, PR people, even transport hauler drivers in the Indy Racing League and Champ Car World Series may soon be determined by how much sponsorship the applicant can bring to the table.

Strapped for cash, the premier American open-wheel racing series are considering extending the practice of hiring drivers in part based on how much sponsorship they can generate to other positions within teams.

"We figure there may be some engineers out there who can bring some cash to the table. There may very well be some rich kids who want to be engineers in the IRL and wear the fancy team stuff home to show their friends," said an IRL insider. "All we're saying is that may become more of an element in hiring."

Many teams routinely make driver hiring decision based on how much sponsorship the driver can bring to the team. The practice, known derisively as "ride buying," is prevalent in both the IRL and CCWS.

Under the new program, ride buying would be a model for engineering buying, pit crew buying and even public relations representative buying. So, for example, a right front tire changer with $10,000 in his pocket could get the job over a changer with more skill but less cash. "From our point of view," said a Champ Car insider, "if it works for drivers, why not extend the model, so to speak?"

In other news, Champ Car leaders denied rumors that the remaining Lola chassis/Ford Cosworth engine Champ Cars may soon show up on eBay. Champ Car is going to its much-anticipated Panoz DP01 chassis with Cosworth engine (right) in 2007. Rumors that Panoz got the job designing the DP01 because it brought "significant sponsorship dollars to the table" could not be confirmed.