Edsel Ford II says Ford will not go IndyCar racing: “I’ll be six feet under”

IndyCar, IndyCar commentary — By on May 14, 2014 8:27 am
Buddy Lazier was the last driver to take a Ford-badged car to victory lane at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Buddy Lazier was the last driver to take a Ford-badged car to victory lane at Indianapolis in 1996. No attempts to change that statistic are on the horizon according to Edsel Ford II.

Those longing for Ford’s return to IndyCar competition will evidently have to wait.

Edsel Ford II, a member of the Ford Motor Company Board of Directors and great-grandson of founder Henry Ford, says that the marque will not be going IndyCar racing any time soon.

“No, no, no,” Ford said when questioned on the topic yesterday evening at a private event. “I’ll be six feet under. No way. Not a chance.”

His reasoning is simple: “No one in the stands. The General Motors guys would like us there and Honda would like us there, but there’s just no value in it.

“I’ve talked to Jamie (Allison, Director of Ford Racing) a lot about it. He, Raj (Nair, Group VP of Global Product Development), I don’t think any of us really want to go to IndyCar racing.”

With the answer being so definitive, Ford was asked where the thought the rumor might have originated. “Probably by the GM people,” he said, “because they want some relief.”

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