Darren Manning - 2005 News

Darren and Target Team Part Ways
Jul 27, 2005, 10:56

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Target Chip Ganassi announced yesterday (26/07/05) that the team and driver Darren Manning will part ways, effective immediately. The decision was made amicably after much deliberation by both parties and it was felt it would be in Darren’s best interests to move forward with his racing career.

Since the news we have been inundated with messages of support for Darren, he would like to thank all of his fans and assure them that he will be bouncing back in the very near future.

If you would like to leave a message for Darren, please visit the official Darren message board.

A full statement from Darren will be released on www.darrenmanning.com within the next 24 hours.

Excerpt from Target Chip Ganassi Press Release:

Target Chip Ganassi Racing announced today that the team and their likeable IndyCar driver Darren Manning will part ways, effective immediately. The team has decided not to exercise the option on their contract with Manning for the 2006 IndyCar Series season, and both parties feel it is in their best interest to move on with plans for their future racing endeavours.

“Darren did a great job for us and we were very happy to have had him as part of our team,” said Target team owner Chip Ganassi. “The team does regret that we weren’t able to bring him to Victory Circle in our time together, but we certainly wish him the best of luck in his racing career.”

Manning, the 29-year-old British driver from North Yorkshire, England, joined Target Chip Ganassi Racing in November of 2003 and took the helm of the no.10 Target Toyota/ Panoz G Force for his inaugural season in the Indy Racing League. In his 24 IndyCar starts for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, Manning produced five top-fives and 12 top-10s including career-best fourth-place finishes at Japan, Nashville and Pikes Peak.

Manning, who after a 20th place showing in Milwaukee, stood 13th in the title hunt with 186 points, and held the highest position in the standings for Target Chip Ganassi Racing to date in 2005 IndyCar Series competition.

Earlier this year, Manning took part in the team’s three-car Daytona Prototype assault on the Rolex 24 at Daytona, partnering with fellow Target drivers Casey Mears from the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and 2003 IndyCar Champion Scott Dixon to cross the finish line in sixth place. At the end of last season, Manning also helped secure the Grand American Championship for Chip Ganassi Racing with a third-place finish, co-driving in a third entry with Dixon at California Speedway in the Rolex Sports Car Series finale.