IRL: Blueprint Racing missing NcCanless

SPARTA, KENTUCKY, Friday, August 25, 2000 - It is with a heavy heart that Aramis/ Blueprint Racing competes in the Belterra Resorts Indy 300 this weekend. Brad McCanless, Blueprint Racing team manager and engineer, remained at his Indianapolis home with his sick father, Jack. Jack McCanless, often at the track as a valued member and friend of the Blueprint team, was stricken by a stroke some weeks ago and recently took a turn for the worse.

This weekend's Kentucky event is only the second time in Jimmy Kite's 20-event Indy Racing Northern Light Series career that McCanless has not worked with the Stockbridge, Georgia resident.

"This is the first race in a long time, actually, only the second time in my Indy Racing career, that Brad hasn't been here with me," said a saddened Kite. "All of our hearts and prayers are with Brad, Jack and his family back in Indy right now. We're more than a team, Brad and I are great friends and it is hard to see friends have to go through this."

"That thing in there," said Blueprint co-owner Ed Rachanski Sr. pointing towards the Aramis/ Blueprint Racing Special, "is nothing but carbon fiber and metal. That is never as important as family. You only have one father and Brad did what he had to do. He did what I hope we all would do."

Tim Wardrop, who engineered Arie Luyendyk's 1997 Indianapolis 500 victory as well as countless other race wins, will act as team engineer in McCanless' absence. The team is using McCanless' setup as its base and does not expect to stray too far off the Indy Racing veteran's plan. Wardrop took on the role as part of his duties with G Force Engineering LTD and as a favor to friend McCanless. The #27 Aramis/ Blueprint Racing Special is a 2000 G Force chassis.

"It is a bittersweet feeling right now for the whole team," said Blueprint co-owner Keith Sanders. "We are all thrilled to have Aramis on board with the team but our thoughts are with Brad, Marian and his family. All of our prayers are with Jack this weekend."

The thoughts and prayers of all of Blueprint Racing are with the McCanless family.