PPI Won’t Participate in CART Series

Cal Wells III said his Rancho Santa Margarita-based PPI Motorsports team will not participate in the CART FedEx Championship series in 2001. He did not rule out a future return though.

“I enjoyed CART and will be watching with great interest,” Wells said. “I can’t speak to the future. Right now, my focus is on [Winston] Cup.”

Wells also said Ricky Craven will replace Scott Pruett as driver of the No. 32 Ford next season. Craven finished 19th in 1997, with four top-fives and seven top-10 performances though he was sidelined for two races after suffering serious head injuries in a crash. He raced partial schedules in the two seasons since.

Pruett will remain with PPI in an undetermined role, Wells said. Pruett drove stock cars last year for the first time after a 10-year career in CART racing. He finished 37th in the point standings.