Citing irreconcilable differences in the team philosophy, Red Bull Racing and Marty Gaunt, formerly the team’s vice president/general manager, have parted company effective immediately, the team announced Monday. The team, which is owned by Austria-based Red Bull energy drink founder Dietrich Mateschitz, has struggled in its first year in the Nextel Cup Series, with both its cars outside the top 35 in owner points and therefore not guaranteed starting spots in races. Red Bull Racing must concentrate nearly all efforts on qualifying, while maintaining a strong emphasis on building a solid foundation for a successful and enduring organization for the future, the team said in a statement issued Monday. Given the team’s struggles in 2007, Red Bull has been rumored to be changing to Chevrolets next season, a scenario Gaunt and Toyota’s Andy Graves denied last weekend at Pocono Raceway.(SPEEDtv.com)(8-7-2007)
