Stewart-Haas Racing likely will hire a crew chief, key engineers and road crew for Danica Patrick’s part-time schedule in 2012 with the idea that they will work with Patrick in 2013. The team doesn’t have sponsorship to run the car more than 10 races, and if it doesn’t find sponsorship for the races Patrick won’t drive, it must decide how many people it can hire to work full time for a partial run next year. “You want to build your team from the ground up,” SHR Executive Vice President Brett Frood said Tuesday. “Our objective is to start building that team throughout next year. It may not be every piece of the team, but the core components we’re going to build next year so they can get their continuity and learn from each other. It may be pieces at a time, but as we get into the end of next year, we’re going to have the team intact ready to transition into 2013 full time without any challenges.” Patrick’s 2012 Cup schedule will be announced Friday at Texas Motor Speedway.(Scene Daily)(11-3-2011)
