IndyCar: Changes ahead for KV Racing

Speculation regarding the future of the multi-owner, multi-car KVSH Racing/KV Racing Technology IndyCar teams has been rife since the season ended at Sonoma Raceway.

Rumors of the team shutting down, losing sponsorship, and a change in the ownership structure have been making the rounds, and while some change are in motion, team co-owners Kevin Kalkhoven (the K in KV), Jimmy Vasser (the V), and James "Sulli" Sullivan (the SH in KVSH) provided an update on some of the items in question.

Under an arrangement that has netted an Indy 500 win in 2013 with Tony Kanaan, and multiple wins with Sebastien Bourdais in the No. 11 Hydroxycut Chevy, the three owners of the KVSH portion of the team have had great success in a short amount of time.

On the KVRT side, which is wholly owned by Kalkhoven and Vasser, the success has been more sporadic, and funding for the entry has often come from paying drivers.

This year, young Monegasque IndyCar rookie Stefano Coletti (ABOVE) raced the No. 4 KVRT Chevy to 19th in the standings, earning one top-10 finish from 16 starts.

According to Vasser, a new team name will be used going forward which will reflect Sullivan's expanded role.

"There are a few moving parts with the KV and the SH that are super positive," Vasser told RACER. "We're bringing Sulli more into the fold. Moving forward, everything will be KVSH. There's a potential sports car program we're working on, a potential second IndyCar entry next year – all as KVSH."

"Sulli's an integral part of our team; he's not just a partner, he's part owner of the team," Kalkhoven added. "He's a very successful part of our ownership group and also a very good friend."

In another note of alignment between KV and SH, Vasser says the veteran IndyCar team could also join Sullivan as partners in SH's race-winning Red Bull Global Rallycross program.

"And you could even see the K or the V being involved on Sulli's side with his GRC team," Vasser continued.

"There's a lot of things happening; we're all meeting up to fly to Europe with Kevin and spend a week on team and partnership development."

Funding for the No. 11 Chevy is also headed in the right direction, as Sullivan (LEFT) explains.

"The sponsorship side – the deals aren't done, but our sponsors aren't leaving," he said. "It's quite the contrary. We're in a re-up process with them for next season. That's the least of our concerns."

Four-time Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais won twice for KVSH this year, has become an integral part of the program, and has also indicated his intent to continue racing in the Verizon IndyCar Series. The death of Bourdais' friend Justin Wilson deeply affected the 35-year-old Frenchman, but his team owners expect to have him back next season.

"I'm sure that a lot of drivers felt unsure about things after Pocono, and that's more for Seb to speak on, but the talks we had with him at Sonoma, we all feel we're in a great position to continue working together, our sponsors feel that way about him, Chevy is fired up to continue, and we're only talking about going forward as a team with Seb," Vasser noted.

"We've presented Sebastien with a contract extension and we're hoping all goes well for next year," Kalkhoven added. "He won as many races as any other driver, except for Dixon at the final race; we're very proud of him, and expect to continue together."

Among the final changes on the horizon for KVSH, the team's second entry is expected to have a number of layoffs take place until funding for the car can be secured.

"You'll see some downsizing [on the No. 4], but you will see the No. 11 car remain essentially intact," Vasser said. "It's not going to be easy, but you'll see most of the familiar faces over winter on the 11 car. I'm pretty pumped up about the budget and plans for that car moving forward."

"We're doing our best to keep everything together for the No. 4 car next year, and will see how far we can go based on the sponsorship we can raise," Kalkhoven remarked.