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CUP: TRD Exec Talks F1, Earnhardt-Ganassi
Written by: Bob Pockrass
SceneDaily.com   http://www.scenedaily.com
11/07/2009
Fort Worth, TX
 
Joe Gibbs Racing's Denny Hamlin drives his No. 11 Toyota at Texas Motor Speedway during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dickies 500. (Photo: LAT Photographic) ยป More Photos

Toyota has talked to Earnhardt Ganassi Racing about joining its fold, but it is not unusual for Toyota Racing Development executives to talk to other teams, TRD President Lee White said Saturday.

White addressed the manufacturer’s participation in NASCAR in light of the announcement Thursday that the manufacturer is pulling out of Formula One. Various media estimates had Toyota’s involvement in Formula One anywhere from $300 million-$500 million annually. Formula One budgets typically are much more extravagant than NASCAR budgets.

“We are still on very, very tight budget restrictions as we have been for the last year-and-a-half and are continuing to be for the foreseeable future,” White said between Sprint Cup practices at Texas Motor Speedway.

As far as Earnhardt Ganassi, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Ganassi name associated with Toyota as Chip Ganassi Racing runs a Toyota brand (Lexus) in the Grand-Am Series and also has run one in IndyCar. But it would be a leap for the Earnhardt name, which has been associated with Chevrolet.

“We’ve had discussions with a lot of people, and as everyone knows we have a long relationship with Chip all the way back to 2000 as partners in motorsports,” White said. “But at this point, there’s nothing decided. Yes, we’ve had discussions with Chip, but we’ve had discussions with a lot of people.”

Juan Pablo Montoya's season has been “very impressive,” White said, with his making the Chase For The Sprint Cup and sitting fourth in the standings with three races left in the season.

White said Toyota primarily supports three organizations – Michael Waltrip Racing (three teams, including affiliate JTG Daugherty Racing), Joe Gibbs Racing (three teams) and Red Bull Racing (two teams). All of those teams have contracts for 2010.

White said the Formula One decision was finalized at the Toyota global motorsports meeting.

“We were surprised, just like everyone else,” White said. “We are no more worried today than we have been for a year where we know we have to be responsible for budgets, we cannot cowboy and free-lance and go off the ranch so to speak.

“We have to adhere very strictly to our budgets, which are approved, and do our best to provide the best performance on-track and gain the results for the company within those budgets – just like everybody else.”

SceneDaily.com • Oklahoma teacher named Dickies American Worker of the Year
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