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Thursday, Jun. 25, 1998
Guerrero out of Pagan driver's seat
Racing team ends 5-year bond
By GEORGE VONDRACEK
Staff Writer Assistant Sports EditorThe five-year relationship between Roberto Guerrero and the Pagan Racing Team ended Wednesday when the Corpus Christi-based organization released the veteran Indy Racing League driver.
Team owners Jack and Allan Pagan said in a statement the decision to let Guerrero go was ``one of the toughest things we've ever had to do.''
Neither Allan Pagan nor Guerrero, who met last weekend to discuss the situation, returned messages late Wednesday.
``To say that this was difficult would be a gross understatement, because I consider Roberto to be a friend,'' Allan Pagan said in the statement. ``Roberto has been a part of our team since 1994, but after examining the situation we decided that this was a move we had to make.''
The situation was less-than-stellar results this season from the Colombian-born Guerrero, who turns 40 in November. In four IRL starts this season, the Pagan Dallara driven by Guerrero has no top-20 finishes. The Pagans are 31st in the Pep Boys IRL standings with 21 points, well behind leader Tony Stewart (115).
Guerrero held the No. 9 qualifying position for May's Indianapolis 500 but placed 22nd in his 14th running at the Brickyard. He also had crashed at the True Value 500 at Texas Motor Speedway earlier this month in Fort Worth.
The search for Guerrero's successor has started, although no possible successors were named.
``I know they have a good number of interviews scheduled and (Allan Pagan) is hoping to have that situation rectified by the end of next week,'' said Mike King, Pagan Racing's media relations director.
The Pagans will not compete in Sunday's Pennzoil 200 in Loudon, N.H., nor at the July 19 IRL Pep Boys 400K in Dover, Del., while the search for Guerrero's replacement continues. Five more races remain on the IRL schedule after the race in Dover.
``I want to make sure we take our time making this decision because the remaining events we run in 1998 will be important for the future of this team,'' Allan Pagan said. ``Performance is the name of the game in racing and we believe this move was necessary to help us regain our competitive edge.
``I wish Roberto all of the best and I hop he understands that business decisions are not always easy to make,'' Pagan said. ``Hopefully, this will be the best move for both Pagan Racing and Roberto Guerrero. I guess only time will tell.''
The release of Guerrero was the latest in a line of hurdles the Pagan Team has faced this season. They entered the campaign with no major sponsor after Pennzoil declined to renew its sponsorship after the end of last season.
It wasn't until the early practice sessions of the Indy 500 that the crew picked up Royal Spas as the lead sponsor. The Pagans also had released longtime team manager and chief mechanic John Barnes last August.
The Indy 500 Rookie of the Year in 1984, Guerrero was seventh in IRL points last season and earned more than $600,000, despite one top-five finish. He was sixth in 1996 in points, earning more than $439,000 with two top-five efforts.
Guerrero's four-lap speed of 232.618 mph at the 1992 Indy 500 set a record that stood intil 1996. His best finish at Indy was second in 1987.Post your comments about SportsFront Page || Main Index || News || Business || Texas || South Texas Outdoors || Birdwatching || Sports || Entertainment || Selena || Education || South Texas Attractions || World Wide Web