Hand is also expected to play a significant role with the Blue Oval as the legendary brand prepares for an international racing program that could debut in 2016.

The acquisition of Hand would provide Ganassi with a road map for its future in sports car racing. Pruett, who turns 55 next year, wants to race for one or two more years, and with Hand in a position to take the torch from Pruett when he retires, the team appears to have the makings of a new foundation with Hand.

Along with 19-year-old open-wheel and sports car phenom Sage Karam, Ganassi now has three of America's finest or most promising road racers under contract.

Rumors of other projects in the works by Ford could also fit Hand's background as a Global Racing Engine is reportedly under development. Whether a Ford GRE would move beyond the development phase or stays behind the scenes is unknown, but provided it does emerge, a GRE would fit the new path taken by the DTM and Japan's Super GT category and the future direction for the P2 class.