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A race weekend, such as this one at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, is work for Carl Haas, a Chicago importer of Lola race cars who runs the team for which Mario Andretti drives.
"The fun, the only real fun, in racing is winning," said Haas between puffs of the expensive cigar that has become his trademark. "Racing is a business, totally, and finishing second is nothing. You still lost. If you win, Sunday night is fun and it might even carry over to Monday morning. Then it's work again."
Haas, 55, has had more fun Sundays over the last 12 years than anyone else in racing. His drivers have won nine national championships, driving Lolas in Formula 5000, Can-Am, Super Vee and Indy-car competition. There have been 51 wins and 17 seconds in 114 races.
Last year, with Andretti driving, the team Haas and actor Paul Newman own together won the Indy-car championship in only its third year on the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) circuit.
So what is Haas doing for an encore?
He put together a racing sponsorship package for Beatrice Companies, Inc., of Chicago, that will finance his team in CART and Formula One for the next five years to the tune of an estimated $80 million. The figure is only a rough guess, but it definitely is the most lucrative deal in U.S. racing history.
"Like I've said all along, the numbers themselves aren't important," Haas said while relaxing in the lobby of his hotel. "It could be 80, or 50, or 100 million. I'm not saying, but I will say that it is adequate. We are well-financed."
Beatrice, like Haas, is headquartered in Chicago. It is the largest food products company in the United States, and also operates Avis, Samsonite luggage, Culligan water treatment and Max Factor cosmetics.
About two-thirds of the sponsorship money will go toward establishing a Lola team in Formula One. Former world champion Alan Jones of Australia is coming out of retirement to drive, although the new car will not be ready until the last five races this year. Next season, there will be two drivers-Jones and perhaps Michael Andretti, Mario's oldest son.
"Formula One is so expensive, probably three or four...