Rahal to Leave CART Post for Formula One

First it was champions Jacques Villeneuve, Alex Zanardi and Juan Montoya who left CART champ cars to drive in Formula One.

Now CART is losing its interim president and chief executive to Formula One.

Bobby Rahal, three-time CART champion who has been running the organization since Andrew Craig resigned at midseason, announced here Wednesday that he is accepting an offer from the Ford Motor Co. to become chief executive of Jaguar Racing, Ford’s Formula One team.

Rahal will leave his CART post after the season finale Oct. 29 at California Speedway and begin his new duties Dec. 1. He will continue to own Team Rahal, with Kenny Brack and Max Papis as drivers, in CART. Scott Roembke, who has managed the team while Rahal was busy with CEO duties, will remain as manager.

“This gives me an opportunity to fulfill a dream,” said Rahal, who will move his family to England from Dublin, Ohio.

“I spent some time in Europe racing when I was young, and I think the experience will be great for our children. But not in my wildest dreams did I think I might return to Indy [as an F1 team owner] under these circumstances.”

Rahal won the Indy 500 in 1986, but since the CART-Indy Racing League split, he has not been here.

James Hardymon, chairman of the CART board, said an executive search firm will assist in finding a president and chief executive. Among candidates mentioned are Hardymon himself, former team owner Steve Horne and Mario Andretti.