How far have the conversations progressed for Scott Pruett to succeed Casey Mears at Chip Ganassi Racing? “We’ve joked about it a couple times,” said Pruett, 46. Pruett runs for Ganassi’s Grand American Rolex Series team and has filled in at road courses Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen International for the last four years. Still, Ganassi doesn’t have Pruett on his list: “Not really. We had a talk, and Scott said if he was five years younger, he wouldn’t let me get anybody else. But he just enjoyed his life pretty well as it was and wants to win the Grand Am championship.” Added Pruett: “I’d like to be, but I’m a realist. … (Teams are) looking for the next best young kid. There’s a lot to be said for that. If I come in, I’d be here one or two years. When you’re talking about a 19- or 20-year-old kid, you’re talking (about him staying) 20 years.” The three-car Ganassi Cup team has two rookies Reed Sorenson and David Stremme in its stable. Mears, 28, signed two weeks ago to run with Hendrick Motorsports in 2007, leaving a hole to fill. “Right now everybody’s being considered,” Ganassi said. “There are a lot of good drivers out there, good people, and we’re going to give it a shot, pick the best driver and go with it.”(USA Today)(6-29-2006)
