Full Throttle

There are various reports out of Australia claiming Craig Gore, co-owner of Team Australia with Kalkhoven and Jimmy Vasser, is about to pack up and leave IndyCar and possibly auto racing in all its forms.

The question is, how accurate are those reports?

If you base your conclusion on the team’s website and the following statement issued by Craig Gore you’d have to say the media is yet again wrong, or at minimum, stretching reality.

“I have not made any announcement regarding my retirement from motorsport,” said Gore.

“I did state that I was taking time this week in Byron Bay to reflect upon things and my future after a life threatening illness and that if it came down to having to make a choice, I would prefer to spend time with my kids rather than go racing. I made no comment of whether I discussed this with my family or close friends. I considered this conversation to be in confidence.

“I also stated that I had discussed my position with my partners, Kevin Kalkhoven and Jimmy Vasser.

The #5 Aussie Vineyards - Team Australia IndyCar of Oriol Servia at the Nikon Indy 300 (Credit: Ross Gibb)

“If there is a Surfers Paradise IndyCar Series event I will work with my current partners to bring Team Australia to the event with Will Power as our driver.

“I have no control and no influence over the event, the possibility of the IndyCar Series competing at Surfers Paradise or the continuing negotiations.

“I have and will continue to support the event and the team in any way I can until the outcome of these negotiations is clear.”

I think Gore makes himself fairly clear, if IndyCar returns to the Gold Coast, Team Australia will receive all the support Gore can offer given his health issues and family commitments.

If Tony George decides to stay north of the Earth’s waistline for the 2009 IndyCar season - leaving the scrapes for others to pick-up - Kalkhoven and Vasser will be looking elsewhere for a new owner/partner.

Sounds simple enough for me, but I’m not part of the Aussie media who may be spinning the story in an attempt to put pressure on the Queensland government and IndyCar to resolve whatever issues remain for the series to return.

On the other hand, they could be ill informed hacks who where too lazy to go the the source to find out the real story.

You be the judge, I think you know my verdict.