Partnership makes sense for Kasey Kahne, Red Bull

Folks, I listened to the whole Kasey Kahne/Red Bull press conference yesterday afternoon, and there were a few things that really caught my attention.

Contrary to what many people thought would happen if Kahne signed with Red Bull (myself included), it appears that the team will remain with Toyota and not switch to Chevrolet. Team general manager Jay Frye gave no indication that they were making a move to Chevrolet. They stressed that this was going to be a completely separate deal from anything to do with Kahne’s contract with Hendrick Motorsports, which is for 2012 and beyond.

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The simple fact is, despite all the conspiracy theories around, Kasey Kahne has a one-year deal with Red Bull Racing – that’s it.

The unknown right now is who will be Kahne’s teammate next season.

The real wild card is Brian Vickers, who stepped away from his ride due to blood clot issues earlier this year. If he is able to get back to full strength for next year, as he has told many people he plans to, will Red Bull become a three-car operation so it includes current driver Scott Speed and Kahne? Frye did not rule that out. That said, I did pick up during the teleconference that Speed better improve his results. So next year it could very well be Kahne teaming up with Vickers, Speed, both or someone completely different if Vickers can’t come back.

The other lingering question is who will be Kahne’s crew chief next year. Frye did not rule out having Kenny Francis, Kahne’s current crew chief, join him. While not saying yes or no on the matter, what he did say, in so many words is why wouldn’t our team want Francis? Frye didn’t say Red Bull was talking to him, looking at him or planning to pursue him, but why wouldn’t any team want Francis? When the media asked Kahne about his crew chief, you could tell he has a very big passion for Kenny Francis.

Obviously, I’m not trying to say anything negative against the organization’s current crew chiefs – Jimmy Elledge and Ryan Pemberton. They are both friends of mine and I’ve worked with both of them and I think they are both very good crew chiefs and racers, but Red Bull did not rule out pursuing Francis. And his addition could be good for Red Bull even beyond 2011 – and obviously if the organization goes to three teams, it definitely makes sense to add him.

An intriguing thing I heard yesterday during the announcement is Red Bull’s reasoning for signing Kahne to a one-year deal. Sure, you can come up with plenty of negatives for having a “loan” driver, but as Frye explained, “Why would the Minnesota Vikings only sign Brett Favre for one year?” One year is better than no year. Frye said that his team has proven it can win races, sit on pole positions and qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup, and if they can get somebody in their cars that can help them get back to those levels even just for one year then shame on us for not taking advantage of that.

I think it’s a great call for everybody. It’s a good move for Kasey because his future is very much known beyond 2011, and now he knows what he’ll be doing next year so that erases any doubts. And let’s face it, Team Red Bull needs something. They are at the bottom of the pile right now with both teams, so they need something.

Now I’ll be honest folks, I am shocked that Kasey isn’t going to be driving the No. 5 car next year. But team owner Rick Hendrick is living up to his commitment to Mark Martin for 2011. That’s an honorable thing to do, especially when you factor in the slight drop in performance this year for Martin's No. 5 team – even though with four races to go they are potential Chasers.

The No. 5 team isn’t as bad as the sister No. 88 team of Dale Earnhardt Jr., but also is not as good as fellow teammates Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson's teams.