INDYCAR: Tributes flow for Carl Haas

The recent passing of legendary team owner Carl Haas, whose death was announced early on Thursday, prompted a rush of tributes from the IndyCar paddock, and also from the broader motorsport community.

MARIO ANDRETTI (driver for Newman/Haas Racing from 1983-1994, 1984 Indy car champion, 18 race wins with team)

"Carl had a heart of gold and a deep commitment to our sport. He earned the respect and admiration of his competitors and all those who drove for him through the years for being tenacious yet fair. In fielding teams in various series from SCCA to Formula One, Carl always sought the best equipment, the best drivers and the best team personnel. His legacy, especially in IndyCars, will be his phenomenal record of victories and championships, thanks in part to the great supporting cast I just mentioned. When I recall the joys of my whole career, I have to include my tenure at Newman/Haas because of the people. Spending 12 seasons with Carl and (wife) Berni and Paul Newman was amazing, triumphant, relentless work and heartwarming. All of it. The sport has lost a colorful character, but Carl Haas is unforgettable. He will always be an icon in motorsports and myself and so many others have lost a dear friend."

MICHAEL ANDRETTI (current owner of Andretti Autosport; driver for Newman/Haas Racing from 1989-1992, 1995-2000)

"I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Carl Haas. Carl was an icon to our sport and the automotive industry, and I owe a great deal of my career's success to my time with Carl and the Newman/Haas family. Paul and Carl built what was undoubtedly one of the greatest teams in history; I am truly honored to have been a part of the legacy they built."

SEBASTIEN BOURDAIS (current driver at KVSH Racing; driver for Newman/Haas Racing from 2003-07, won four consecutive championships from 2004-07

"It is with great sadness that I heard the news of Carl's passing. Back in 2002, Carl gave me the opportunity of a lifetime when he hired me to drive the second Newman/Haas Racing in CART for the 2003 season. He did so with no sponsor to run the car, and I will be forever grateful for the faith he placed in me. From 2003 to the end of 2007, the whole team became a real family to me, thanks to him, Berni and Paul, who had successfully assembled the best group of guys I ever worked with. Today, I can only feel privileged to have been able to contribute with poles, wins and championships to Carl's racing legacy. My deepest condolences to Berni and their family. Carl, you will be dearly missed."

J. DOUGLAS BOLES (president, Indianapolis Motor Speedway)

"Carl Haas fielded cars for some of the best drivers in the world, and his leadership and competitive spirit caused Newman/Haas Racing to become one of the most successful teams in our sport's history. The IndyCar community was fortunate to have his personality as part of its family and Mr. Haas' legacy of excellence and winning will long be remembered."

MIKE LANIGAN (current co-owner at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing; former co-owner at Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing)

"As a partner of Carl's for four years in INDYCAR, I got to know him as a generous and kind individual whose whole life's purpose was racing. I have always had the respect for the man who achieved so much success on and off the track. He lived the American dream in starting his career under humble beginnings and achieved his accomplishments through hard work, long hours and determination. Isn't that what this country is all about? He will be sadly missed, but never forgotten."

MARK MILES (CEO, Hulman & Co., parent of INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway)

"All of us at INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are saddened to hear of the passing of Carl Haas. His contributions to our sport were immeasurable and the success of Newman/Haas Racing solidifies his place as a legend in motorsports. We send our condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time."

GRAHAM RAHAL (current driver at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing; driver for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing from 2007-10)

"Carl Haas was one of the legends of our sport, a person whose passion for racing led his teams and businesses to amazing success over the years. I personally can't thank Carl enough for giving me my first opportunity and introducing me to the sport I love. In his time, Carl was the boss of many of racing's greatest drivers, and for me to get to work under him for those four years was some of the greatest times of my life. There weren't many like Carl, and he will surely be missed."

NICK CRAW (President and CEO of ACCUS; former President of the SCCA, SCCA Pro Racing. Haas served as Chairman of the SCCA Board of Directors and later of SCCA Pro Racing during Craw’s stints as President).

“While Carl’s accomplishments in IndyCar and Formula 1 are remarkable, he never received proper credit for his generosity to less visible parts of the industry, such as club racing.  For six years, he gave countless hours to SCCA as its Board Chairman; I will always be grateful for his staunch support and wisdom.

DARIO FRANCHITTI (four-time IndyCar champion; three-time Indy 500 winner)

"I'm so sad to hear of the passing of Carl Haas. He owned cars in all kinds of series: Can-Am, F1, NASCAR and of course IndyCar, where he became a legend. Together with Paul Newman they had many huge years, world class drivers, big sponsors and a great team of people. In later years Carl and Paul dug into their own pockets to keep that group of amazing people together. He was an unbelievably hard businessman but loved his sport.
I talked with Carl and Paul once to come to their team, Paul wanted to drink beer and talk it over... Negotiating with Carl is something neither my manager Julian or I will ever forget! He wrote the book.

"Carl was an eccentric, hilariously so at times. I'll tell you this though, when I won a race or championship or had another sizeable crash the first email I always received was from Carl and Bernie either to congratulate me or to ask if I was ok and if I needed anything.
We will never see his or Paul's like again, rest in peace guys, we miss you both."

LISA NOBLE (President & CEO, SCCA)

"Carl Haas was a titan in the motorsports industry. His love for the Sports Car Club of America was evidenced by his commitment in serving for a dozen years as Chairman of the SCCA Board of Directors, and as Chairman of SCCA Pro Racing. But those are just facts, and facts will never give you a sense of his incredible personal presence and influence.
 
"His Lola Cars populated the ranks of SCCA formula car fields. Many a Club driver still remembers the day they called Haas Automobile Imports to order a Lola formula car or Hewland parts, many times ending up with Carl on the other end of the line.
 
"Because he is so aligned with his race business and pro teams, it is easy to forget the man was an accomplished race car driver himself. Long after his career as a driver had passed, I remember him and PL Newman on the Road Atlanta pit wall. A huge stogie clenched firmly between his teeth as they watched the action on track. There were race cars out there, so of course, he was interested!
 
"In his tenure at the helm of the SCCA, Carl established the business bedrock the Club is built on today. On behalf of our 67,500 SCCA members, we send condolences to the Haas family and team members."

RON DENNIS (Chairman and CEO, McLaren)

"The word 'legend' is often overused in a racing context, but undoubtedly it is justified in the case of Carl Haas. His passing is therefore an occurrence not only of great sadness to his grieving family and friends, but also of great significance to the motorsport community - not only in the United States, but also all over the world.

"Since Carl inaugurated his first race team in 1967, he has been prodigiously successful - 16 championships, more than 140 race wins - and on behalf of all at McLaren and Honda, I hereby therefore salute him and his legacy, and offer his loved ones our sincere condolences on this very sad occasion."

ORIOL SERVIA (driver for Newman/Haas Racing in 2005, '09, '11, below)

"Carl's overwhelming success in racing as his legacy states was only matched by his genuine, passionate and peculiar character. I was lucky enough to drive for Carl in the three different seasons and during those years all the conversations I had with him were priceless. He was loved and appreciated by everyone that ever worked for him. He had high loyalty standards and all his partnerships with manufacturers, sponsors, Paul Newman and with his long life partner and wife, Berni Haas, are a clear proof of it and should serve as an example to the rest of the racing and business community."