Knapp leaves Kelley.

Engineer Thomas Knapp left the Kelley Racing team after the Firestone Indy 225 last week by mutual agreement with team boss Tom Kelley.

Knapp had been the engineer for the #7 Corteco Dallara-Chevrolet driven by two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr, but he and team owner Tom Kelley agreed to part company after a series of poor results.

"I wish every future success to Kelley Racing and Al Unser Jr," Knapp said magnanimously, "The results we have posted in the first three events of the season may have been modest in comparison to our hopes, but this was not the issue on either side of the equation. I believe Tom Kelley, and I agree, that neither the best interests of the team nor of TKM [Thomas Knapp Motorsports] would be served by continuing this relationship at this time."

Knapp has a long history of working with 1999 IRL champion Greg Ray, as the two entered the Indy Racing League together in 1997. Ray made twelve of his first 14 IRL starts for TKM, as they stunned the motorsports world by qualifying second for the 1998 Indianapolis 500 despite a very limited budget. Ray had been due to race with Kelley this season, but was released in favour of Unser when he failed to come up with the necessary sponsorship to guarantee his seat.

The Texan has since signed with AJ Foyt Racing through the 2003 season, starting with the Indianapolis 500, but Knapp has indicated that he will work on other projects and with clients of TKM rather than his former charge.

"Part of the rationale for making the separation now was to allow everyone adequate time to properly prepare for our biggest race of the year, the Indianapolis 500," Knapp said.