Fernandez Nearing Deal to Run Chesson
INDYCAR: Fernandez Nearing Deal to Run Chesson
Written by: Robin Miller
Indianapolis, Ind. 12/20/2006
After an abbreviated '06, Chesson could be back in the saddle with Fernandez next year. (LAT Photo)
It's not signed and sealed, but it appears Adrian Fernandez is back in the Indy Racing League with P.J. Chesson.
"There's a lot of paperwork flying around and it looks like a legitimate multi-year deal with a solid sponsor," said Tom Anderson, the co-owner of Fernandez Racing. "I'd say right now it's about 75-25 it's going to happen."
Because of longtime sponsor Delphi's uncertainty, Scott Sharp taking his new sponsor to Bobby Rahal and Kosuke Matsuura moving the Panasonic money to Panther Racing, Fernandez was forced to lay off 25 employees and shut down the Indy-car operation two months ago. The team had a Honda ALMS deal for 2007 but no plans for Indy cars until recently.
"Actually, Gene Simmons and Richard Abramson brought the deal to the IRL in conjunction with Just Marketing and, because of the demographics of the sponsor, they decided P.J. Chesson was their man," said Anderson.
"They were kind enough to contact us and we're hoping to get this thing finalized. We've still got all our cars and equipment and I've been talking on the phone with some of the guys we had to let go and told them 'It's getting closer.'"
Chesson, the only bona-fide American short-track sprint driver in last year's Indianapolis 500 besides Ed Carpenter, competed in the first four IRL shows of '06 before Hemelgarn Racing closed its doors when a supposed sponsorship deal with NBA star Carmelo Anthony dissolved.
That deal was also brokered by rock & roll icon Simmons, the official spokesman for the IRL whose marketing company has partnered with Tony George's series to try and develop sponsorships.
