Ernie Irvan said he is considering leasing the shop he co-owns with Mark Simo to Robby Gordon’s team next season. Gordon also could buy the four or five cars that are built and ready in the shop. Irvan planned to run the team but has not found a 2000 sponsor. About a week ago he was contacted by Gordon about the potential lease. Simo is meeting with Gordon later this week, and Irvan expects everything to be finalized in the next few days. The plan also could benefit the Irvan-Simo team. Current employees could be kept on and gain needed experience working with Gordon. Irvan said any potential role with the team has not been clarified. There is the possibility that he could work with Gordon during the upcoming year( Times-Dispatch ) — UPDATE: Robby Gordon announced Tuesday he has entered into a relationship with Irvan/Simo Racing that allows use of all Irvan/Simo assets next season, with an option for 2001, while Team Gordon constructs its own, new North Carolina facility. Those Irvan/Simo Racing assets include the Mooresville, N.C., facility, equipment, cars, employees and a merchandising program through the Mark Simo-owned clothing company, No Fear. Team Gordon also announced plans to campaign the Ford Taurus for the upcoming season. The car will use “lucky” number 13, a number it hopes fans will find endearing. The Irvan/Simo relationship also extends Gordon’s association with Mark Simo and the No Fear Clothing Company, which will assemble and operate the team’s merchandise program, both trackside and in retail outlets. On the racing front, Ernie Irvan comes on board as an advisor to Gordon and co-owners Held and John Menard. His role will be as a mentor, to ease the transition from the CART series, where Team Gordon successfully debuted in 1999, to the extremely competitive 34-race NASCAR Winston Cup Series schedule. Lee Morse, Irvan/Simo Racing general manager, will lead the ship, rekindling a relationship Gordon had with Morse during his sedan years with the Ford Motor Company. The team is also working on one of the last pieces to the puzzle — hiring a crew chief to couple with Jerry Baxter and Doug Louth. An announcement is expected in the next two weeks(in part from the Official Ernie Irvan Site )
