Rahal Gets Into Trouble With a 550
24.6.01

Jaguar F1 team manager Bobby Rahal experienced two forms of headaches at the Milwaukee CART Champcar round.

One was Neweygate, the now resolved infamous dispute about the attempted hiring of McLaren designer Adrian Newey, the other being the car in which he arrived at Milwaukee from his Chicago area home.

No sooner had he and Niki Lauda announced the signing of Adrian Newey by Jaguar on May 31st in London than McLaren issued a statement indicating that Newey was staying after all. Hours later Rahal was on a flight from London to Chicago, picked up his personal silver 550 Maranello and headed to Milwaukee to attend the CART race.

In the paddock a number of people noticed the parking pass in his name and some objected to the Jaguar team chief driving a Ferrari, objections which were soon posted on the Internet while Speedvision showed the car as well.

Interestingly, according to one source, Rahal had visited Ferrari North America in Englewood Cliffs and, complaining that he could not obtain a new 550 was taken to a warehouse and asked to take his pick!

Don't forget, of course, that Jaguar lead driver Eddie Irvine owns several Ferraris including a 288 GTO and a Daytona! Thankfully this storm in a teacup was soon forgotten and Rahal had the welcome satisfaction of seeing his driver Kenny Brack win the race.

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