Harbaugh Is Panther’s Touchdown Man

January 10th, 2011

Jim Harbaugh, one of six original ownership members of Panther Racing, remains involved with the team today. (IMS Photo)

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – While Jim Harbaugh was a big name in both college and professional football last week as the head coach left Stanford University to become head coach of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, Harbaugh has strong ties to one of the most successful teams in the early days of the IndyCar Series.

Harbaugh was one of six original ownership members of Panther Racing. The team’s IndyCar entry has always been No. 4 because it was Harbaugh’s jersey number in his National Football League career. When he was a member of the Indianapolis Colts, Harbaugh came within a “Hail Mary” pass on the final play of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers that could have sent the Colts to the Super Bowl. The pass was on target to wide receiver Aaron Bailey, but dropped and the Steelers went on to meet the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX.

Harbaugh remains part of Panther Racing, although his coaching career has limited his involvement.

“I’ve come to the Indianapolis 500 since 1994 and only missed one year,” Harbaugh said. “For me it’s great to be a part of this with John Barnes, who’s the heart and soul of Panther Racing. If anybody can get that car into victory lane it’s John and for all of us this is all about that dream of someday seeing Panther Racing win the Indy 500. Hopefully this is the year.”

Harbaugh was quoted at a recent team sponsor dinner as saying, “I love the Indianapolis 500. It’s better than Christmas.”

It was during Harbaugh’s time playing for the Indianapolis Colts that he developed a passion for IndyCar racing and joined the team’s original ownership group of John Barnes, Mike Griffin, Gary Pedigo, Doug Boles and Terry Lingner to form Panther Racing.

“We couldn’t be happier for him,” Panther owner John Barnes said. “He was a great NFL player, spent 15 years in the NFL, and ultimately he wanted to get back into that arena and we’re happy to see he’s joined the 49ers. I’ve been asked many times how Jim would react to NFL players, but I’m more interested in how they’re going to react to him. Jim has an unbelievable amount of integrity, he’s a leader, he’s a winner, and the San Francisco 49ers just hired the best coach in the country.

“Jim has taught our team a lot about professionalism and work ethic, and the way he goes about the preparation for his sport is phenomenal. He’s a ‘Harbaugh’ and by that I mean his father Jack set the standards for those kids and he set it very high. Their entire family has done incredible things in their careers because of how they prepare and how they were raised. We’re glad he’s part of our family.”

Harbaugh already has a fan in the cockpit of the Panther Racing IndyCar this season as rookie J.R. Hildebrand takes over the ride that has included such stars as Sam Hornish, Jr., Scott Goodyear and most recently Vitor Meira and Dan Wheldon. Hildebrand is from Sausalito, Calif. – just over the Golden Gate Bridge and is a huge 49ers fan.

“It’s awesome, I grew up in the Steve Young and Jerry Rice era and we were all 49ers fans,” Hildebrand said. “I always loved the 49ers and now it’s great to have that tie-in. The feeling for Bay Area sports fans is that the 49ers are talented enough to be in the playoffs, and if they find a QB, good enough to advance in the playoffs. It was already cool when Jim was at Stanford, but now he’s truly the coach of my hometown team.”