Pontiac wants Wells in their camp for 2003

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR Winston Cup team owner Cal Wells said Tuesday it was "premature" for him to talk much about a switch from Ford to Pontiac by his PPI Motorsports team -- but he did confirm Pontiac had approached him about making the change.

Longstanding rumors regarding Joe Gibbs Racing's switch from Pontiacs, which it has run since 1997, back to Chevrolets, which it ran in its first four years, escalated speculation that Pontiac was seeking a team or teams to replace Gibbs' two-car operation for Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart.

"In a couple weeks I'll be able to chat about it," Wells said. "We are looking at all our options and we're honored that we've been asked to consider it.

"We are simply looking to make the best deal that we can for Tide and our race team."

Craven had to take a provisional at Somona but finished 19th. He has six top-20 finishes in a row. Credit: Autostock

A Pontiac spokesman Tuesday deferred all comment to race team representatives. Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs was non-committal when questioned about the subject.

"We're still evaluating things at Joe Gibbs Racing right now," Gibbs said. "General Motors has been a great partner of ours and we're working together with them to determine what is best for both them and Joe Gibbs Racing.

"We're trying hard to get things better, and we really want to do what's best for them and for us."

Pontiac is working on a new model that will debut at Speedweeks 2003. The present Grand Prix has been in use since the mid-1990s.

Wells is currently pleased with his Ford engines from Robert Yates Racing, but has some interest in fielding a two-car team, which would merge with Pontiac's desire if it wants to maintain its five-car standing in Winston Cup racing. On fielding two teams, he said, "One day we think we are close, and the next day we slip the other way."

"I honestly don't know if we will be able to or not," Wells said. "We are diligently working towards it and I hope we will. If the 32 car's performance continues as well as it has been we will have warranted it (additional sponsorship)."

Wells said he had been in negotiations with a number of sponsors -- some currently involved in the sport and some newcomers -- and likened the process to "tip-toeing our way through a labyrinth."

Wells had a rocky start in his first year in NASCAR racing, 2000, when he fielded the No. 32 Tide Fords for former Indy car and sports car standout Scott Pruett, along with a short-lived Busch Series program for another open wheeler, Anthony Lazzaro.

A two-car effort in 2001 for Ricky Craven and former Craftsman Truck Series driver but Winston Cup rookie Andy Houston also came apart when Houston's primary sponsor McDonald's restructured its program in midseason after the team's spotty performance.

Finally, at the end of 2001 Craven paid back Wells' patience and commitment with both men's first Winston Cup victory, at Martinsville Speedway.

The team's strength has continued in 2002, with Craven having won a pair of Bud Pole Awards and sitting 13th in points -- just 137 points out of 10th. Wells said the 20-race stretch that begins with the July 6 Pepsi 400 at Daytona would tell the tale for his team, as well as the rest in the garage.

"It's been a good start (but) the major portion of the season that really counts is coming up here," Wells said. "After the crapshoot at Daytona we have 19 races in which we can perform and be rewarded based on the car you have and the driver you have.

"We hope to scratch into the top-10 (in points) -- we think we can accomplish that. We have maybe been a little bit on the downside of luck at times in the first half, but if we avoid other people's messes we can put a W or two in the right column. I hope we can (and) I'm cautiously optimistic."