Changes at Ford? The Ford Motor Company will announce the departure of Jacques Nasser as the companys CEO Tuesday morning according to numerous news reports, a firing that will send tremors throughout the automotive world, and could have ramifications for the racing business as well. Nasser will give up the position that he has held for nearly three years in favor of William Clay Ford Jr., who is the great-grandson of company founder Henry Ford. The ascension of Ford into the CEO position marks the first time in 20 years that a Ford family member has overseen the company. Ford has its tendrils in many different forms of auto racing and it remains to be seen how the new CEO, himself an avowed environmentalist, will affect any changes on the companys racing outlook. Ford is also entrenched in NASCAR, CART and the World Rally Championship, with some questions remaining over their level of participation in those series.(SpeedVision)(10-31-2001)
