Rahal-Letterman Files Suit Against Sharp, Patron

[Jag_Warrior]

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/indycar/41828/

Well, there's a good deal of irony in that one, IMO.

[mark123]

whats going on with Sharp? no one has said where he wants to race next year?

[CCFanatic]

I think Sharp was looking at ALMS or Grand Am. But the rumors I heard was Sharp going to race ALMS with RLR, so now I have no clue.

[Alexamateo]

This is a countersuit. Sharp filed suit first to get out of his contract. I think he wants to start his own team or shop the Patron sponsorship somewhere else. His ultimate goal is team ownership and evidently he was not happy working with Rahal.

[Alexamateo]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/irl/2007-11-28-rahal-sharp_N.htm


Days after Rahal Letterman Racing was served with a breach-of-contract lawsuit by driver Scott Sharp, the Ohio-based team countered with a suit.
"We have learned that Scott is interested in racing somewhere else," team co-owner Bobby Rahal said in a statement Wednesday. "If that is his direction in the future, so be it, but not in violation of his 2008 commitments."
Sharp, 39, filed suit in Florida last week seeking his release from RLR, citing the team's inability to be competitive in his first season there.
He finished eighth in the Indy Racing League's IndyCar standings with a best finish of third place (twice) in 2007. Sharp is a nine-time winner in the IRL's top series, but hasn't won since August 2005.
"He's not going to be driving for Rahal next year," Sharp's lawyer Michael R. Josephs said Wednesday night.


He's suing Rahal for breach of contract. What that entails, I have no idea, but I am sure some other folks will let us know sooner or later! ;)


EDIT:
I'm not sure what "inability to be competitive" means since he was the highest placed of the non-big 3 teams(Penske/Ganassi/AGR).

[mark123]

he may have been a bit quicker on the road courses if he kept it on the black stuff!!!

[bennybigb]

Do all drivers have an LLC that they drive under?

I was very suprised to see the suit was against Scott Sharp Sports and Scott Sharp LLC.

There must be tax and liability advantages, is this common practice?

[Alexamateo]

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071130/SPORTS0107/711300494/-1/NLETTER05

More Info.


Sharp believes Rahal Letterman is no longer committed to IndyCar racing because of the recent release of 10 crew members, including race engineers Jeff Britton and Ray Lehto, Sharp's attorney, Michael Josephs, said Thursday.
Britton had been Sharp's engineer since he won the pole for the 2001 Indianapolis 500 at Kelley Racing. Lehto was Danica Patrick's engineer when she nearly won the 500 in 2005.
Sharp's complaint also alleges that Rahal doesn't want to field an Indy Racing League program, won't participate in the league-provided test sessions and is not investing in a research-and-development program.


It lends credence to the folks that say Bobby Rahal doesn't want to be in the IRL.

[Rudy Tamasz]

Yes! We told you so! This is the beginning of the end for IRL! The domino starts falling! :bounce:

Nevermind guys, just fooling around. Just finished writing a boring memo in my office, bored to death and waiting for COB. ;)

[Wraith]

This is a countersuit. Sharp filed suit first to get out of his contract. I think he wants to start his own team or shop the Patron sponsorship somewhere else. His ultimate goal is team ownership and evidently he was not happy working with Rahal.

I can see Rahal wanting to keep the Patron sponsor rather than Sharp himself, via the contract. Given the direction of IRL in recent years, Sharp is unlikely to be a future potential winning driver, and Rahal, acquiring the services of Hunter-Reay, knows this.

[Speeds up for Corners]

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071130/SPORTS0107/711300494/-1/NLETTER05

More Info.



It lends credence to the folks that say Bobby Rahal doesn't want to be in the IRL.

It seems like a safe bet that if Sharps say Rahal does not want to do an '08 IRL program, it's probably true. The question is why is Rahal trying so hard to keep Sharp from moving forward on whatever plans he has (the immediate injunction) and what were those plans?

[weeflyonthewall]

Trying to get out of legitimate contracts which you signed, supposedly in good faith, is not a good way to establish credability as a business person. Assuming that is truly what's in play here.

Like nobody in racing does that? Do contracts really mean anything these days? Rahal should know, he's tried to freeze out guys that brought the deal to him before.

[weeflyonthewall]

Remember when Bobby abandoned Jordain Jr. and Gigante? There have been a lot of sponsor programs highjacked or undermined. Some owners believe this is how they should operate. Problem is it will always come back and bite you. A respected profit once proclaimed "You reap what you sow."

[mark123]

Lets hope that Sharp can exit his contract and remain in the IRL with a decent team. Afterall - he has done the hard work and found the funding.

RLR has no funding other then what the drivers have bought to the team (albeit that one of the drivers is no longer with us)

Lets hope that next year, Bobbie closes his doors and spends the summer following his sons progress, because surely no driver with any sense would present himself and a sponsor to RLR and buy a ride.

I'm sure that the increased prize money will encourage new teams to the series to replace RLR

[RaceFanStan]

I think it's the over-used stragedy of "drama builds interest" ... :s
Some racing series (or race teams) think "controversy is a good thing" ... :s

(Yes, I posted the same thing about Paul Tracy & I think it applys here also)

[Cass]

Any new motions filed lately? The suit front is very quiet. Gotta wonder if this makes it to court who Scott Sharp & attorney's will call for statements, and testify - perhaps Danica - she bailed pretty quick when her contract came up!

[BobbyC]

Is this where Scott is going?

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/indycar/42615/

[mark123]

no i doubt it

[Alexamateo]

Is this where Scott is going?

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/indycar/42615/

Rumor has it that Scott Sharp will be doing a one-off at Indy with this team. (Rubicon) There are a couple of Patron people on the advisory board of the team, so people are putting two + two together and putting Scott in this car.

It's not as some have said that Patron is suing to get out of the IRL, It's that Patron is suing to get away from Team Rahal.

[sanguin]

Indystar is reporting Max Papis for the seat at Rubicon for the one-off at Indy.

[mark123]

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/alms/42659/

sharp + patron to ALMS - its official

[V12]

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/alms/42659/

sharp + patron to ALMS - its official

That is one gorgeous looking car... *drools*