Tagliani to start own IndyCar team  Alex Tagliani will become an IndyCar Series owner/driver in 2010. Tagliani, whose Conquest Racing entry was headed for Victory Lane at Toronto last month until a full-course caution fell badly with the team's pit stop strategy, has found a Canadian investor, enabling him to purchase all of ex-IndyCar driver Marty Roth's equipment which includes four race cars and one show car. Racer.com

The latest rumor is that Chip Ganassi somehow will merge his Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing team with Joe Gibbs Racing, possibly eliminating another owner. While a potential partnership would be great for those EGR employees and hopefully save a bunch of jobs, it’not beneficial for the overall health of the sport. SPEEDtv/Jimmy Spencer

Harvick to leave RCR,  Kevin Harvick has told Richard Childress he would like to leave after this season, according to multiple sources. Harvick has one year remaining on his contract with RCR, but the Shell/Pennzoil sponsorship deal on the No. 29 ends at the end of this season, and Harvick is trying to move with it to Stewart-Haas.

Tony Stewart has said his team is interested in running a third car in Sprint Cup in 2010. Adding Harvick in a package with a strong sponsor would be a masterstroke. SI.com

Indy tire problems still loom.  Goodyear has added an additional tire test for Indianapolis Motor Speedway in late May, but the manufacturer’s general manager of worldwide racing, Stu Grant, said progress was made during a test there Wednesday from a test a week earlier. 

Goodyear has had several tests since last years debacle that resulted in mandatory caution every 12-13 laps, including two last October. At one of those tests with 13 teams, Goodyear had a tire it felt comfortable with but was concerned about the heat. It came back with a different tire a week later that worked better in a one-car test.

Goodyear went back April 20-22 to Indianapolis and had similar problems to those it did a year ago, but engineers were unsure if that could be attributed to the track being green with no activity in nearly six months. At the test this past Wednesday, Goodyear brought the tire that worked well at the 13-team test last October.

“We went back with that right-side, and at first we got the typical seven or eight laps and then cords and then 10-12 laps into the cords and then all of a sudden, the track rubbered in and things looked good,” Grant said Friday at Richmond International Raceway. “We had projections to do about 30 laps, and then we ran a couple of 10-lap runs and blistered the right sides.

“It was a classic situation: When the track is not rubbered in, you can see the high wear and that gets rid of the high heat. Once the track gets rubbered in and the wear goes away and the heat stays, then we blistered some right-side tires. That’s not going to work, either. Now we have to find something in the middle. The good news is we were able to rubber in the race track.”

Helio Castroneves Aquitted, will Race for Penske at Long Beach  The IndyCar Series today released the following statement from Brian Barnhart, president of competition and racing operations for the Indy Racing League, regarding Helio Castroneves return to Team Penske and the IndyCar Series:

“We couldn’t be happier for Team Penske, Helio Castroneves and his family and look forward to having him back on the race grid at (name of venue/event). Helio has played an integral part in the growth of the IndyCar Series on and off the race track the past few years and has an incredible legion of fans. He is a true star in every sense of the word and his infectious personality, popularity and success on the race track is welcomed back.”

Penske's Tim Cindric said he told Helio on the phone that "We have a car ready for you," and a happy Helio responded "I'm coming man."

Richard Petty Motorsports on Friday said Allmendinger will drive for the team in 2010 but does not have a car number or sponsor details finalized. View full report at Yahoo Sports

Paul Tracy lands Indy 500 ride  KV Racing Technology will field a car for open-wheel superstar Paul Tracy at the 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500, May 24, 2009 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. It is also speculated that PT will also be in a car for the two Canadian races at Toronto and Edmonton.

Tracy, the 2003 Champ Car World Series champion, is one of the most successful and exciting drivers in the history of open-wheel racing.  The 40-year-old Canadian will be sponsored by GEICO Insurance and pilot the #15 GEICO - KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry during the 2009 Indianapolis 500.  Tracy will team with Mario Moraes, #5 KV Racing Technology - Votorantim Honda/Dallara/Firestone, in a two-car effort for KVRT at this year's Indy 500, which marks the opening of the Centennial Era for the Speedway and commemorates the 100th anniversary of the facility. The 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race will be in 2011.

"I am pleased to announce that Paul Tracy and GEICO Insurance will be joining KV Racing Technology for the 2009 Indianapolis 500," said KVRT co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven.  "Paul is one of the greatest and most exciting drivers in the history of the sport, while GEICO Insurance is an outstanding company and a leader in the industry.  I am confident that Paul, with the support of GEICO Insurance, will provide KVRT with a very competitive entry in this year's Indy 500."

IZOD's multi-million dollar advertising and promotional program on Ryan Hunter-Reay will not be lost as it's reported that Tony George agreed Thursday to campaign the talented 27-year-old American in a second Vision Racing car for the entire 2009 season.

A formal announcement is expected this weekend reports SPEEDTV.com.

"It all happened yesterday and we're still getting the contract squared away but the team is scrambling to put my car together and thankfully I'm going to be racing Indy cars this year," said Hunter-Reay. "I really can't tell you how thankful I am that Tony stepped in because it was getting late and I know Terry Angstadt (IRL's president of its commercial division) has been working real hard to help me and I appreciate his efforts.

"The entire IRL marketing and commercial department has been working relentlessly on several B to B deals as well as sponsorships and I can't thank them enough. I'm just very grateful right now. This will be a huge opportunity for me to race for Tony George at Vision." SPEEDTV.com

Petty team gone? To merge with GEM  Multiple sources have confirmed that after 60 seasons of stock car racing and 10 championships, America's first family of stock car racing will shut its doors and merge with the team currently known as Gillett Evernham Motorsports. A deal was inked between Petty Enterprises and team owner George Gillett on Christmas Eve, but the terms of that agreement have yet to be divulged.

Petty to drive for Wood Brothers?  Now that Kyle Petty has been axed by Petty Enterprises, he said would be open to running a part time schedule and there is some speculation that he may be in line for one of the Wood Brothers part time teams in 2009. The Wood Brothers recently announced that they would only campaign in 12 races next season primarily at the larger tracks where they have had good performances in the past. Although veteran Bill Elliott was originally named as the driver for those 12 races, now that Petty has thrown his hat into the ring, there could be a possibility that Petty may share the seat with Elliott.

In 86 starts with the Wood Brothers, Petty scored 2 victories, 17 top 5 and 40 top-10 finishes. Cupscene.com