Chip Ganassi Breaks Silence on Potential NASCAR return

Chip Ganassi pondered over returning to NASCAR as a team owner with Honda's rumored talks of joining the sport as the forth OEM.

Chip Ganassi Breaks Silence on Potential NASCAR return

Chip Ganassi (via Penske Entertainment)

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Chip Ganassi has talked about a potential return to NASCAR after leaving the sport in 2021 as a team owner. Ganassi sold his team, Chip Ganassi Racing, to Trackhouse Racing back then and deemed his complete exit. Still, he remains one of the most successful figures in motorsports, as his team finds success in various motorsport categories. As such, the 67-year-old has hinted at a return to stock car racing.

Chip Ganassi was involved in NASCAR for over two decades before exiting by the end of the 2021 season. Ahead of the next-gen car era, Ganassi sold the team to Trackhouse Racing as the team owner, Justin Marks, offered him a deal too good to refuse. Meanwhile, his team in IndyCar was booming as he wanted to shift his focus there and give all his NASCAR assets to Marks and Trackhouse Racing.

Honda could potentially join NASCAR as the fourth OEM following ongoing discussions. The Japanese giant is already renowned in IndyCar, especially with Chip Ganassi. As such, the arrival of Honda to stock car racing could resurrect Ganassi’s interest in returning to stock car racing. However, the 67-year-old remained secretive about his plans and did not reveal too much too soon.

Chip Ganassi declared his interest in returning and pointed out that he was open to the idea of joining NASCAR again. However, he clarified that he wouldn’t give a firm yes or no on the matter as he had yet to have any advanced talks with Honda.

Moreover, Ganassi revealed that he hadn’t had the conversation with NASCAR yet either. The 67-year-old then made a ‘never say never’ remark on his potential return to the pinnacle of stock car racing.

Am I open to it, I wouldn’t say ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ but what I can tell you is that I haven’t had that conversation with Honda, I have never had that conversation with NASCAR but I am also smart enough to never say never.

Chip Ganassi told Motorsport.com.

Chip Ganassi opens up on possibility of Alex Palou joining NASCAR

Alex Palou is one of the better IndyCar drivers in this generation, as he has been making headlines because of his dominant performances. Palou remains one of the winningest drivers of IndyCar as he is a reigning champion since the 2021 season, except for the defeat in 2022. As such, Chip Ganassi opened up on bringing the Spaniard to NASCAR if the former were to return to the sport.

Chip Ganassi with Alex Palou (via Imagn)
Chip Ganassi with Alex Palou (via Imagn)

Chip Ganassi pointed out that his answer to the question of Alex Palou coming to NASCAR was a clear yes. Ganassi revealed that he had already thought about how good Palou would be in stock car racing, given his IndyCar career. The 67-year-old emphasized that the winning formula in the sport had also changed since he left in 2021, as the Spaniard would definitely be a great fit for the sport now.

You’re onto something there, so the answer is yes (I have considered how good Palou could be in NASCAR) because the formula has changed since I was there,It is a formula that does lend itself to the kind of racing we do and the kind of engineering we do, that we’re good at.

Chip Ganassi noted.

There are no concrete discussions on the return of Chip Ganassi to NASCAR yet. However, every fan would hope for Ganassi to return to the sport and bring Alex Palou with him. Honda joining the sport could also be a great ordeal for stock-car racing, as the Japanese giant has already made its mark in multiple motorsport categories, especially IndyCar and Formula 1.

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