Matters of moment, November 2002

American Eagle to soar again in Formula One?

The Eagle name could return to Formula One next season.

During the GP at Indianapolis, Dan Gurney revealed his plans to create an American F1 team, with two American drivers.

Gurney, the man behind the Anglo-American Racers outfit that ran Eagle chassis in F1 from 1966 to ’68, has been working on the project for a year, although the 71-year-old would not be involved on a day-to day-basis with the team.

The currently sidelined Arrows is one of the options Gurney and his financial team are considering.

Cosworth is prepared to supply engines, and Red Bull is being touted as a likely backer for the operation.

All the pieces are there, but they need to slot together quickly.

“Realistically, if things don’t come together during October, it’s going to be very difficult,” admitted Gurney.

The last US citizen to race in F1 was Michael Andretti with McLaren in 1993.

Team Lotus is another famous name from GP racing’s past recently linked to an F1 return.

In the aftermath of overwhelming reader support for F1 Racing‘s campaign for the reinstatement of Lotus, BAR is understood to have discussed the possibility of taking up the name. Sadly, the idea was rejected.