The Omega Speedmaster “CART” Gifted by Paul Newman and Carl Haas
By Logan Baker
Before it went to the Moon, the Speedmaster was built for the track – this 1997 “CART” edition brings that story full circle with provenance from Paul Newman.
Few watches bridge the worlds of cinema, racing, and watchmaking as effortlessly as this one. The Omega Speedmaster “CART” Ref. ST 175.0032 is a time capsule from one of the 20th century's defining American icons.
This particular example was presented to Bill Mann, a body engineer for the Newman/Haas Racing Team, as a Christmas gift in 1997 from the team’s co-owners: Paul Newman and Carl Haas. Engraved “Newman Haas Racing 1997” on the caseback, it celebrates the team’s success and camaraderie during one of its golden years.
A 1997 Omega Speedmaster "CART," gifted to Bill Mann from Paul Newman and Carl Haas, that's available for immediate purchase from Phillips Perpetual in London. Price: CHF 58,759
Newman’s passion for racing began after filming Winning in 1969, a role that evolved into a lifelong pursuit. By the early 1980s, he and Haas had built one of the most successful teams in American open-wheel racing, capturing multiple championships in the CART series. To commemorate the 1997 season, they ordered several examples of this Omega Speedmaster “CART” edition to gift to their crew members.
A 1997 Omega Speedmaster "CART," gifted to Bill Mann from Paul Newman and Carl Haas, that's available for immediate purchase from Phillips Perpetual in London. Price: CHF 58,759
The Speedmaster’s connection to motorsport runs deep. Before its association with NASA and the Moon, Omega designed the model in 1957 as a racing chronograph, complete with a tachymeter bezel and robust manual-wind movement. Over the decades, it became a symbol of precision, endurance, and adventure – qualities that resonate perfectly with the spirit of Newman/Haas Racing. The “CART” edition from 1997 carried that legacy forward, linking Omega’s racing roots to the pinnacle of American open-wheel competition.
A 1997 Omega Speedmaster "CART," gifted to Bill Mann from Paul Newman and Carl Haas, that's available for immediate purchase from Phillips Perpetual in London. Price: CHF 58,759
Phillips has had the privilege of offering some of Paul Newman’s most iconic timepieces, including the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 6239 – universally known as the “Paul Newman Daytona” – which sold in 2017 for a record-breaking $17.8 million, and the “Big Red” Daytona, which followed in 2020. Both watches embodied Newman’s enduring connection to racing and style, and this Omega Speedmaster continues that story from a more personal, behind-the-scenes perspective.
Bill Mann’s watch remains unworn, complete with its original accessories and, most remarkably, a letter signed by both Newman and Haas. Originally featured in a Hodinkee article in 2016, it stands as a rare convergence of mechanical craftsmanship, Hollywood legend, and racing history.
No other Speedmaster connects Hollywood, racing, and horology quite like this one.
Logan has spent the past decade reporting on every aspect of the watch business. He joined Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo at the start of 2023 as the department's Senior Editorial Manager. He's based in Geneva.
