THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO — Longtime open-wheel star Paul Tracy of Toronto has filed suit in U.S. District Court, claiming former boss Gerald Forsythe owes him more than US$2.3 million.
The lawsuit, filed last week, claims former Champ Car team owner Forsythe breached his contract with Tracy, who signed a two-year deal in 2002 and had it extended twice, the last time through 2011.
The complaint claims Tracy’s contract called for a $1-million buyout if the team ceased operation in Champ Car. Terms of the contract, spelled out in the lawsuit, also claim Tracy was to be paid $2.25 million, plus bonuses, for the 2008 Champ Car season. But Tracy said he hasn’t received any payments since April.
Champ Car went out of business in February, with most of its teams absorbed into the rival Indy Racing League’s IndyCar Series. Forsythe decided to continue only in the second-tier Atlantic series rather than move his team to the IRL.
The 39-year-old Tracy was left without a full-time ride and has driven only two races this season — the Champ Car finale at Long Beach in April and the IndyCar race at Edmonton in July.
No date has been set for hearing the lawsuit.