Legge threatens legal action against Dragon Racing

“Brian continues to be an executive member of IndyCar and his understanding of our sport continues to provide our organization with valuable input. However, Brian’s future role with IndyCar will not be as CEO of the organization,” the statement said.

So who will?

The name that continues to surface is Zak Brown, founder and CEO motorsports marketing agency Just Marketing International. Brown had previously said he was interested in only a board position with IndyCar or a consulting role, but his name also appeared in series founder Tony George’s proposal to buy the series.

George’s proposal last October included a management team in which Brown would act as CEO of the series. Now, with IndyCar still looking for a leader six weeks before the season begins, Brown appears to be the best option for the series.

Roger Penske last week told The Associated Press he’d be in favor of Brown taking the CEO job, but noted Brown would have to relinquish his marketing agency and might be unwilling to give up JMI. Brown has declined to comment on any potential interest in the job.

But one thing is certain: If Brown was to move to IndyCar, he’d be wise to demand autonomy from the series and ensure the board of directors would not interfere in his management. Bernard had neither and was shown the door with two years remaining on his contract.

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PAPIS GETS A SEAT: Veteran road racer Max Papis has put together a limited deal with Richard Childress Racing this season for three Nationwide Series races.

Papis will drive the No. 33 Chevrolet at Road America and Mid-Ohio, and on the oval at Iowa.

“Having the trust and support of a man like Richard Childress … shows me how far I have come in NASCAR,” the Italian said. “With RCR and ECR Engines, I will have the best opportunity in my career to accomplish my goal of winning a NASCAR race. It fills my heart with joy to know that I did enough to earn an oval race opportunity and I will make everyone proud of their decision.”

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WELCOME BACK: Tom German will return to NASCAR after the season-opening Daytona 500 as the chief technical officer for Michael Waltrip Racing.

German spent almost 15 years with Penske Racing, but left midway through the 2011 season to attend the MIT Sloan School of Management. His departure came after a highly-publicized incident with driver Kurt Busch, who blasted German and the Penske team in an expletive-laden rant on his team radio during a race at Richmond.

Busch took specific aim in his meltdown at German, blaming the technical director for what he deemed to be ill-handling race cars.

German left to pursue his master’s degree at MIT shortly after, and Penske officials insisted German’s departure had been long planned and was unrelated to the Busch incident.

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