RAHAL LETTERMAN RACING FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST SCOTT SHARP AND PATRON
SPIRITS
HILLIARD, Ohio (November 28, 2007) -- Rahal Letterman Racing announces
that it has filed a lawsuit in United States District Court Southern
District of Florida Miami Division today against Scott Sharp Sports, LLC,
Scott Sharp Inc., driver Scott Sharp (collectively "Sharp") and sponsor
Patron Spirits.
The suit alleges, among other things, a breach by Sharp of a multi-year
contract with Rahal Letterman Racing. The terms of the contract call for
Sharp and Patron Spirits to participate in the IndyCar Series with Rahal
Letterman Racing through 2008. Rahal Letterman Racing's suit seeks
damages for, among other things, Sharp's breach of contract and
Patron's interference with contractual relations as well as injunctive
relief. Additionally, RLR will file an emergency motion for a preliminary
injunction against Scott Sharp forthwith.
"We find it deeply unfortunate that Scott Sharp Sports and Scott
personally have taken this course of action, given that they are
contractually committed with Rahal Letterman Racing through 2008," said
team co-owner Bobby Rahal. "We have learned that Scott is interested in
racing somewhere else. If that is his direction in the future, so be it,
but not in violation of his 2008 commitments. Their attempted legal
maneuver to break the contract early is totally without merit. As such,
Rahal Letterman Racing will vigorously and aggressively pursue our claims
against Sharp and Patron and the remedies to which we are entitled, as
well as defend our team against their unfounded allegations. We had hoped
to avoid the ramifications of legal proceedings, but with the allegations
against us becoming public record, it is important that we act quickly
and decisively to obtain judicial intervention to protect our reputation
and goodwill in the industry, as well as to prevent any interference with
our relations with our sponsors and other business partners."
Sharp joined Rahal Letterman Racing in 2007 with Patron, rejuvenating his
career by finishing eighth in the IndyCar Series. He scored ten top-10
finishes, three top-fives and won his first pole since 2001 when he led
qualifying in Texas. He also finished sixth in this year's Indianapolis
500, the best finish of his 13 career Indy 500 starts.
RLR expects to be successful in its suit and therefore is planning on
moving ahead with its plans for the 2008 season, including taking part in
December tests in both the IndyCar Series and American Le Mans Series.
About Rahal Letterman Racing:
Rahal Letterman Racing, based in Hilliard, Ohio and co-owned by
three-time IndyCar Champion and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal
and CBS LATE SHOW host David Letterman, has been competing for more than
a decade compiling 19 victories, 30 poles and one series championship
(Bobby Rahal in 1992 in CART) and an Indianapolis 500 championship (Buddy
Rice in 2004). In 2007 Rahal Letterman Racing, campaigned two cars in
the Indy Racing League's IndyCar Series driven by Ryan Hunter-Reay with
sponsorship from the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council and Scott
Sharp with sponsorship from The Patron Spirits Company and partnered with
Andersen Racing to run two entries in the Indy Pro Series. Additionally
in 2007 Rahal Letterman Racing made its debut in the American Le Mans
Series by entering a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR in the GT2 category. Bell
Microproducts served as the primary partner for the ALMS entry, which was
driven by veteran sports car drivers Ralf Kelleners and Tom Milner.
-credit: rlr
