| XenoWolf | 11-28-2006 01:47 PM |
Champ Car 2007 - News, Notes and Rants.
�
�
2007 Schedule:
[QUOTE="ChampCar.ws"]Las Vegas - April 8th
Long Beach - April 15th
Houston - April 22nd
Zhuhai, China - May 20th
Portland - June 10th
Cleveland - June 24th
St. Jovite, Canada - July 1st
Toronto, Canada - July 8th
Edmonton, Canada - July 22nd
San Jose - July 29th
Elkhart Lake - August 12th
Denver - August 19th
Surfers Paradise - October 21st
Mexico City - November 11th
Phoenix - December 2nd[/QUOTE]
[URL="http://www.champcarworldseries.com/oneof/2006/chassis/"]DP01 Information[/URL]
[URL="http://www.champcarworldseries.com/Teams/TeamIndex.asp?LanguageID=1"]Latest Team Line-Ups[/URL]
[B]Back on ESPN for the next two years![/B] :banana:
[URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/cart/news;_ylt=AoQ_WPJa.cKJ2WhaYnKm1.G0v7YF?slug=ap-champcar-espn&prov=ap&type=lgns"]Story[/URL]
[Quote="Yahoo News"]INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The Champ Car World Series will air on ESPN beginning in 2007, returning to the network that used to broadcast its races.
ESPN announced the multiyear agreement with the open-wheel racing series on Thursday. At least 11 Champ Car races in 2007 and the full series in 2008 will be aired on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC.
ESPN's schedule will start with the April 22 race in Houston.
The first race ever aired live on ESPN was a Champ Car event in 1981. ESPN televised Champ Car races through the 2001 season.
Champ Car is moving into a bright new era in 2007 with four new venues and a newly developed car for the series, and this new television agreement gives us even more reason to be optimistic about the future,'' Champ Car president Steve Johnson said in a statement.[/QUOTE]
Caught yet another memorable PT quote in [URL="http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=11044"]this[/URL] article:
[Quote="Paul Tracy"]I�m disappointed for the Team, it�s been a long and unsuccessful season and we wanted to end it on a high note.[/QUOTE]
Maybe Tracy didn't man up, but A.J. and the 'team' did just fine. It's still a shame to see Champ Car (and Forsythe, one of my favorite teams) lose Allmendinger. :(
[QUOTE="ChampCar.ws"]Las Vegas - April 8th
Long Beach - April 15th
Houston - April 22nd
Zhuhai, China - May 20th
Portland - June 10th
Cleveland - June 24th
St. Jovite, Canada - July 1st
Toronto, Canada - July 8th
Edmonton, Canada - July 22nd
San Jose - July 29th
Elkhart Lake - August 12th
Denver - August 19th
Surfers Paradise - October 21st
Mexico City - November 11th
Phoenix - December 2nd[/QUOTE]
[URL="http://www.champcarworldseries.com/oneof/2006/chassis/"]DP01 Information[/URL]
[URL="http://www.champcarworldseries.com/Teams/TeamIndex.asp?LanguageID=1"]Latest Team Line-Ups[/URL]
[B]Back on ESPN for the next two years![/B] :banana:
[URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/cart/news;_ylt=AoQ_WPJa.cKJ2WhaYnKm1.G0v7YF?slug=ap-champcar-espn&prov=ap&type=lgns"]Story[/URL]
[Quote="Yahoo News"]INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The Champ Car World Series will air on ESPN beginning in 2007, returning to the network that used to broadcast its races.
ESPN announced the multiyear agreement with the open-wheel racing series on Thursday. At least 11 Champ Car races in 2007 and the full series in 2008 will be aired on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC.
ESPN's schedule will start with the April 22 race in Houston.
The first race ever aired live on ESPN was a Champ Car event in 1981. ESPN televised Champ Car races through the 2001 season.
Champ Car is moving into a bright new era in 2007 with four new venues and a newly developed car for the series, and this new television agreement gives us even more reason to be optimistic about the future,'' Champ Car president Steve Johnson said in a statement.[/QUOTE]
Caught yet another memorable PT quote in [URL="http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=11044"]this[/URL] article:
[Quote="Paul Tracy"]I�m disappointed for the Team, it�s been a long and unsuccessful season and we wanted to end it on a high note.[/QUOTE]
Maybe Tracy didn't man up, but A.J. and the 'team' did just fine. It's still a shame to see Champ Car (and Forsythe, one of my favorite teams) lose Allmendinger. :(
| AndyRoo | 11-28-2006 02:10 PM |
Yeah, who needs races on the east coast US?
:(
- Andrew
:(
- Andrew
| XenoWolf | 11-28-2006 02:16 PM |
[QUOTE=AndyRoo;16138575]Yeah, who needs races on the east coast US?
:(
- Andrew[/QUOTE]
Good point, but it's not like I have much interest in going to a race anyways. I'd rather watch it on T.V. Nazareth isn't very far from me, but I still never went to catch them when they were in town. Probably more due to the fact that I never had the cash though when I was a wee lad.
:(
- Andrew[/QUOTE]
Good point, but it's not like I have much interest in going to a race anyways. I'd rather watch it on T.V. Nazareth isn't very far from me, but I still never went to catch them when they were in town. Probably more due to the fact that I never had the cash though when I was a wee lad.
| MarkA | 11-28-2006 02:42 PM |
I just hope Champ Car doesn�t stretch themselves too thin with the pay for ESPN deal: [url]http://www.speedtv.com/commentary/34136/[/url]
Unless you don�t get Speed, that�s where I�d rather see them � especially since it would keep the Bubbas off the air for another couple of hours�
Unless you don�t get Speed, that�s where I�d rather see them � especially since it would keep the Bubbas off the air for another couple of hours�
| ptclaus98 | 11-28-2006 06:27 PM |
Is Road America the only U.S. Road Course? If so, not cool. :mad:
| psg | 11-28-2006 06:30 PM |
[QUOTE=ptclaus98;16142139]Is Road America the only U.S. Road Course? If so, not cool. :mad:[/QUOTE]
Plus Portland.
At least they're ending the season in the US for a change. The deal with ESPN still boggles my mind, as now they're going to be fighting for recognition with [B]NASCAR and the IRL ON THE SAME NETWORK![/B] More incentive (and an easier transition) for a open wheel merger, I suppose.
Only reason I'm happy with the ESPN deal is that it hopefully gets Derek Daly out of the commentary booth.
Plus Portland.
At least they're ending the season in the US for a change. The deal with ESPN still boggles my mind, as now they're going to be fighting for recognition with [B]NASCAR and the IRL ON THE SAME NETWORK![/B] More incentive (and an easier transition) for a open wheel merger, I suppose.
Only reason I'm happy with the ESPN deal is that it hopefully gets Derek Daly out of the commentary booth.
| nKoan | 11-28-2006 06:38 PM |
[QUOTE=ptclaus98;16142139]Is Road America the only U.S. Road Course? If so, not cool. :mad:[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I thought there were a lot of street courses on the calendar.
Yeah, I thought there were a lot of street courses on the calendar.
| XenoWolf | 11-28-2006 10:31 PM |
The Phoenix street course looks rather... boring, to be honest.
| XenoWolf | 12-12-2006 11:16 PM |
Standing starts next season! :banana:
Other changes for 2007 as well. [url=http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=11159]linkage[/url]
[Quote="ChampCar.ws"]In 2007, all Champ Car races will be timed races. The event will begin and will run to a set time limit. As the elapsed time of the race approaches, a signal indicating one lap to go will be displayed to the field, with the race ending upon the next time the leader crosses the start/finish line. The white flag will not be shown from the starter's stand and will be used more in line with international FIA guidelines around the course.[/quote]
[quote="ChampCar.ws"]The use of spare cars by the teams has been changed as well. Teams now have the sole discretion to use their backup cars, but can only use one car in any practice or qualifying session. In addition, going to a spare car after the primary car has been qualified will result in the forfeiture of the qualifying time for that entry, meaning that a change after warmup on race day will result in that entry starting from the rear of the field.[/quote]
Other changes for 2007 as well. [url=http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=11159]linkage[/url]
[Quote="ChampCar.ws"]In 2007, all Champ Car races will be timed races. The event will begin and will run to a set time limit. As the elapsed time of the race approaches, a signal indicating one lap to go will be displayed to the field, with the race ending upon the next time the leader crosses the start/finish line. The white flag will not be shown from the starter's stand and will be used more in line with international FIA guidelines around the course.[/quote]
[quote="ChampCar.ws"]The use of spare cars by the teams has been changed as well. Teams now have the sole discretion to use their backup cars, but can only use one car in any practice or qualifying session. In addition, going to a spare car after the primary car has been qualified will result in the forfeiture of the qualifying time for that entry, meaning that a change after warmup on race day will result in that entry starting from the rear of the field.[/quote]
| artkevin | 12-12-2006 11:53 PM |
Interesting with the timed races thing. I think I will like that more then the pot luck you get now if a race ends up running long. Sometimes you can be gifted the win just by having pitted late.
I'm all for the standing start. As long as they can control themselves it should be amazing.
I'm all for the standing start. As long as they can control themselves it should be amazing.
| XenoWolf | 12-19-2006 01:19 AM |
Paul Stoddart takes the reigns of CTE Racing (which will now be known as Minardi Team USA). [url=http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=11170]LINKAGE[/url]
Verstappen and Doornbos are possible drivers mentioned... interesting!
Verstappen and Doornbos are possible drivers mentioned... interesting!
| artkevin | 12-19-2006 12:47 PM |
Am I only only one that doesn't like Jos the Boss?
I wonder what Minardi/Stoddarts ties to the Dutch are. Seems odd to mention Jos but at least Doornbos has Red Bull backing.
I wonder what Minardi/Stoddarts ties to the Dutch are. Seems odd to mention Jos but at least Doornbos has Red Bull backing.
| GarySheehan | 12-19-2006 01:53 PM |
HOLY CRAP!!! Champ Car at Le Circuit Mont Tremblant?! That is going to be AMAZING!
Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
[url]www.garysheehan.com[/url]
Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
[url]www.garysheehan.com[/url]
| wrxin8or | 12-19-2006 02:37 PM |
well this is an interesting link for yall
a local suby guy in atlanta posted this up from his place of work
[URL="http://www.wrxatlanta.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10854"]http://www.wrxatlanta.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10854[/URL]
a local suby guy in atlanta posted this up from his place of work
[URL="http://www.wrxatlanta.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10854"]http://www.wrxatlanta.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10854[/URL]
| tdm74 | 12-19-2006 03:02 PM |
[QUOTE=wrxin8or;16377861]well this is an interesting link for yall
a local suby guy in atlanta posted this up from his place of work
[URL="http://www.wrxatlanta.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10854"]http://www.wrxatlanta.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10854[/URL][/QUOTE]
very cool :D
a local suby guy in atlanta posted this up from his place of work
[URL="http://www.wrxatlanta.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10854"]http://www.wrxatlanta.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10854[/URL][/QUOTE]
very cool :D
| elseed | 12-19-2006 03:16 PM |
[QUOTE=tdm74;16378220]very cool :D[/QUOTE]
+1 No need for paint. Keep 'em in cf batman.
I'm on the (underwhelming) info email list for the Phoenix race scheduled about this time next year. Hate those monster gaps in the last three races in the schedule, think it messes up championship excitement and momentum.
Standing starts is gonna be crazy and a little strange/out of character. But I guess with abandoning the ovals it's part of the deal. Also thinking the standing start gives equal opportunity to the field smashers at Turn 1? No way to jump the start and avoid the carnage, even for the row 1 guys. Thinking about all the past Cleveland starts -- old days, 11 wide, ambition exceeding physics, etc.
+1 No need for paint. Keep 'em in cf batman.
I'm on the (underwhelming) info email list for the Phoenix race scheduled about this time next year. Hate those monster gaps in the last three races in the schedule, think it messes up championship excitement and momentum.
Standing starts is gonna be crazy and a little strange/out of character. But I guess with abandoning the ovals it's part of the deal. Also thinking the standing start gives equal opportunity to the field smashers at Turn 1? No way to jump the start and avoid the carnage, even for the row 1 guys. Thinking about all the past Cleveland starts -- old days, 11 wide, ambition exceeding physics, etc.
| GarySheehan | 12-19-2006 03:41 PM |
[QUOTE=elseed;16378422]Standing starts is gonna be crazy and a little strange/out of character. But I guess with abandoning the ovals it's part of the deal. Also thinking the standing start gives equal opportunity to the field smashers at Turn 1? No way to jump the start and avoid the carnage, even for the row 1 guys. Thinking about all the past Cleveland starts -- old days, 11 wide, ambition exceeding physics, etc.[/QUOTE]
If the rest of the racing world can do it, I think it will work out just fine for Champ Car.
Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
[url]www.garysheehan.com[/url]
If the rest of the racing world can do it, I think it will work out just fine for Champ Car.
Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
[url]www.garysheehan.com[/url]
| cooleyjb | 12-19-2006 03:54 PM |
[QUOTE=GarySheehan;16378770]If the rest of the racing world can do it, I think it will work out just fine for Champ Car.
Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
[url]www.garysheehan.com[/url][/QUOTE]
I think they should make even tougher and instead of lining them up after the start/finish line at Road America have them line up behind it like they will everywhere else. It would be quite interesting to see them at a standstill on the hill.
Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
[url]www.garysheehan.com[/url][/QUOTE]
I think they should make even tougher and instead of lining them up after the start/finish line at Road America have them line up behind it like they will everywhere else. It would be quite interesting to see them at a standstill on the hill.
| rupertberr | 12-19-2006 03:55 PM |
[QUOTE=artkevin;16376302]Am I only only one that doesn't like Jos the Boss?
[/QUOTE]
Maybe.:D Jos dominated European F3 and went straight to F1 as Schumachers teammate. A bit of a rough baptism of fire. May have screwed his F1 career. At least Hamilton has had some experience with higher HP cars before taking on Alonso.
Jan Lammers was/is my favorite Dutch driver. In 1980 he qualified on the 2nd row at Long Beach in an ATS!! Broken drive shaft into corner one...:( Almost took over for Nelson Piquet at Brabham when Piquet crashed hard at Silverstone. Piquet made it to the next race. What could have been. Winning LeMans for Jaguar must be his career highlight.
[/QUOTE]
Maybe.:D Jos dominated European F3 and went straight to F1 as Schumachers teammate. A bit of a rough baptism of fire. May have screwed his F1 career. At least Hamilton has had some experience with higher HP cars before taking on Alonso.
Jan Lammers was/is my favorite Dutch driver. In 1980 he qualified on the 2nd row at Long Beach in an ATS!! Broken drive shaft into corner one...:( Almost took over for Nelson Piquet at Brabham when Piquet crashed hard at Silverstone. Piquet made it to the next race. What could have been. Winning LeMans for Jaguar must be his career highlight.
| AndyRoo | 12-19-2006 04:05 PM |
[QUOTE=GarySheehan;16378770]If the rest of the racing world can do it, I think it will work out just fine for Champ Car.
Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
[url]www.garysheehan.com[/url][/QUOTE]
Except for Paul Tracy....:)
- Andrew
Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
[url]www.garysheehan.com[/url][/QUOTE]
Except for Paul Tracy....:)
- Andrew
| elseed | 12-19-2006 04:34 PM |
[QUOTE=AndyRoo;16379131]Except for Paul Tracy....:)
- Andrew[/QUOTE]
Yeah, this is really what I meant -- the current CC field of "personalities" is more of the issue. A few guys (and gals :rolleyes: ) seem to struggle with testosterone at certain points, at the expense of car survival. Universal to racing, but might take a few races to work this out.
- Andrew[/QUOTE]
Yeah, this is really what I meant -- the current CC field of "personalities" is more of the issue. A few guys (and gals :rolleyes: ) seem to struggle with testosterone at certain points, at the expense of car survival. Universal to racing, but might take a few races to work this out.
| AndyRoo | 12-19-2006 04:37 PM |
Well, still, I think they'll be fine. Even PT will learn.
- Andrew
- Andrew
| GarySheehan | 12-19-2006 04:52 PM |
[QUOTE=AndyRoo;16379131]Except for Paul Tracy....:) [/QUOTE]
That caveat is pretty much included for every topic relating to Champ Car...
Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
[url]www.garysheehan.com[/url]
That caveat is pretty much included for every topic relating to Champ Car...
Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
[url]www.garysheehan.com[/url]
| StuBeck | 12-19-2006 05:01 PM |
First season in a while without South Korea on the schedule, hehe.
I think the new scheduel looks good. ESPN is a lot better than Speed channel for the races too. I think this is half the reason the IRL is still around, they are usually on network tv, it shouldn't hurt viewership numbers either.
I think the new scheduel looks good. ESPN is a lot better than Speed channel for the races too. I think this is half the reason the IRL is still around, they are usually on network tv, it shouldn't hurt viewership numbers either.
| Bonzo | 12-19-2006 07:08 PM |
I'm just happy RdAm is still on the sced as it's one of the few road courses these cars can be exploited to the fullest.
champcar and forsythe made a big mistake by not re-signing AJ as he made last season. Unfortunately they thought with a business mind as did AJ. He's a professional race car driver and has entered a job that will give him a great work opportunity for a long time.
fwiw AJ is just as fast in a compy race car as he is in real life. :D
champcar and forsythe made a big mistake by not re-signing AJ as he made last season. Unfortunately they thought with a business mind as did AJ. He's a professional race car driver and has entered a job that will give him a great work opportunity for a long time.
fwiw AJ is just as fast in a compy race car as he is in real life. :D
| XenoWolf | 12-20-2006 12:35 PM |
Teams have taken delivery of the DP01. [url=http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=11172]LINKAGE[/url]
| XenoWolf | 01-24-2007 11:53 PM |
Ford bows out...
[url]http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=11216[/url]
[quote]"Today's decision was made from a business standpoint on both sides and in no way should tarnish the long legacy of success that the Ford Motor Company has established in Champ Car competition. We thank Ford for what it has done for the series, but we are continuing building a bright future for the series and are exploring a number of other options for a manufacturer partner."[/quote]
[url]http://www.fordracing.com/news/detail/index.asp?article=31977[/url]
[quote]Dearborn, Mich. � Ford Motor Company announced today that it would no longer serve as an official sponsor of the Champ Car World Series. Ford had participated in Champ Car and its predecessor, Championship Auto Racing Teams, since re-entering open-wheel racing in 1992.
�We evaluate all of our racing programs on an annual basis and have decided that this sponsorship does not align with our current business objectives,� said Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology.
�Although we are leaving open wheel racing at this time, we�re proud of our long relationship with Champ Car, its teams and drivers, and we wish them well as they try to grow the sport.�
Ford�s withdrawal from Champ Car will not affect the other racing programs the company currently supports, including NASCAR�s three major national touring series, the National Hot Rod Association PowerAde Drag Racing Series, both the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car and Koni Challenge Series and several series sanctioned by United States Auto Club. [/quote]
I'm confused, are they (Ford/Cosworth) going to stop supplying engines as well?
[url]http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=11216[/url]
[quote]"Today's decision was made from a business standpoint on both sides and in no way should tarnish the long legacy of success that the Ford Motor Company has established in Champ Car competition. We thank Ford for what it has done for the series, but we are continuing building a bright future for the series and are exploring a number of other options for a manufacturer partner."[/quote]
[url]http://www.fordracing.com/news/detail/index.asp?article=31977[/url]
[quote]Dearborn, Mich. � Ford Motor Company announced today that it would no longer serve as an official sponsor of the Champ Car World Series. Ford had participated in Champ Car and its predecessor, Championship Auto Racing Teams, since re-entering open-wheel racing in 1992.
�We evaluate all of our racing programs on an annual basis and have decided that this sponsorship does not align with our current business objectives,� said Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology.
�Although we are leaving open wheel racing at this time, we�re proud of our long relationship with Champ Car, its teams and drivers, and we wish them well as they try to grow the sport.�
Ford�s withdrawal from Champ Car will not affect the other racing programs the company currently supports, including NASCAR�s three major national touring series, the National Hot Rod Association PowerAde Drag Racing Series, both the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car and Koni Challenge Series and several series sanctioned by United States Auto Club. [/quote]
I'm confused, are they (Ford/Cosworth) going to stop supplying engines as well?
| Ferg | 02-14-2007 02:22 PM |
Some preseason testing reports for you diehard Champ Car fans.
[QUOTE][B][U]Wilson fastest at wet Houston
[/U][/B]
Tuesday, February 13th 2007, 10:14 GMT
Briton Justin Wilson topped the times in the first of a two-day testing session at the Houston road course.
The test took place in wet conditions following continuous rain, and last year's runner-up Wilson showed his speed, beating three-time champion Sebastien Bourdais to the top of the times.
Despite the poor weather, Wilson was pleased with his day's work.
"I think it's very important for us to test in the rain, any miles you can get in the wet in these cars are a big help in the learning process," Wilson said. "We really learned a lot today, the car was reliable and ran all day with no problems and we got a lot done.
"We still have a lot of ground to cover to be ready for the opener, and hopefully it will be dry tomorrow so we can get more done."
Canadian Paul Tracy was third on the timesheets behind Bourdais and in front of Minardi Team USA driver Robert Doornbos, who continued with his acclimation to the demands of a Champ Car machine.
"After the rain we had during the first test, at Sebring, and now with what we've encountered here today, I'm beginning to think we're jinxed with the weather," said Doornbos.
"The track was damp and slippery first thing, but once we had some proper rain, it cleaned the surface up and we were able to start working on chassis set-up.
"It's fun getting to know everyone on the team, and I'm really enjoying myself in the car, although I have to keep reminding myself that I'm in a Champ car, not a Formula One car, and there aren't all the driver aids available to help out - you just have to get on and drive it."
Nelson Philippe got a last-minute call-up to test for Conquest Racing, and the one-time race winner showed good form by setting the fifth quickest time of the day, ahead of Graham Rahal.
The teams spent an hour practising standing starts following the rule changes that will come into play this year.
Monday's times:
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Justin Wilson CDW-RuSPORT 1:30.162 59
2. Sebastien Bourdais Newman-Haas Racing 1:30.378 56
3. Paul Tracy Forsythe 1:32.063 14
4. Robert Doornbos Minardi Team USA 1:32.286 48
5. Nelson Philippe Conquest Racing 1:32.847 26
6. Graham Rahal Newman-Haas Racing 1:33.163 54
7. Neel Jani PKV Racing 1:33.168 8
8. Alex Figge Pacific Coast Motorsports 1:33.981 25
9. Will Power Team Australia 1:34.256 8
10. Andreas Wirth Dale Coyne Racing 1:34.314 51
11. Oriol Servia RuSPORT 1:34.989 83
12. Ryan Dalziel Pacific Coast Motorsports 1:35.573 33
13. Alex Tagliani Rocketsports Racing 1:35.714 19
14. Simon Pagenaud Team Australia 1:35.719 9
15. Katherine Legge Dale Coyne Racing 1:36.215 40[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][B][U]Power fastest on second day[/U][/B]
By Glenn Freeman Wednesday, February 14th 2007, 11:31 GMT
Will Power set the fastest time during the final day of Champ Car testing at MSR Houston on Tuesday.
The 2006 rookie of the year was followed by Graham Rahal and Neel Jani, who have not made a single Champ Car start between them.
The weather conditions were much better for the second day, and the dry running enabled the teams to learn a lot more about the new Panoz DP01 chassis.
"The fact that we understand the car and how to make it fast is the most important thing we got out of today," said Power. "But it is nice to be fastest."
Jani, who was also third quickest at the Sebring test last month, believes that there is still more to come from himself and his PKV crew.
"I'm impressed with how high the level of talent is here in Champ Car," he said. "It's good to know that we can run with the top guys and we are not too far off the pace.
"But we are not here to finish third, so we have a lot more to do."
2003 champion Paul Tracy finished the day with the 11th fastest time, and he was disappointed to be 1.5 seconds slower than Power.
"Nothing went right for us today and we are so far behind right now," he said. "Everybody is pretty frustrated, but we have to go to work on being ready for the first race."
Reigning champion Sebastien Bourdais was fourth quickest for Newman-Haas, while Bruno Junqueira completed the top five driving for Dale Coyne.
Today's times:
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Will Power Team Australia 1:10.040 111
2. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas Racing 1:10:079 151
3. Neel Jani Red Bull PKV Racing 1:10:168 119
4. Sebastien Bourdais Newman/Haas Racing 1:10:333 156
5. Bruno Junqueira Dale Coyne Racing 1:10.560 87
6. Simon Pagenaud Team Australia 1:10:776 91
7. Nelson Philippe Conquest Racing 1:11:035 116
8. Justin Wilson CDW/RuSPORT 1:11:179 157
9. Robert Doornbos Minardi Team USA 1:11:216 135
10. Oriol Servia RuSPORT 1:11:257 191
11. Paul Tracy Forsythe 1:11:591 79
12. Katherine Legge Dale Coyne Racing 1:11:607 93
13. Ryan Dalziel Pacific Coast Motorsports 1:11:658 118
14. Alex Tagliani Rocketsports Racing 1:12:161 98
15. Alex Figge Pacific Coast Motorsports 1:13:567 115
All Timing Unofficial
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][B][U]Wilson fastest at wet Houston
[/U][/B]
Tuesday, February 13th 2007, 10:14 GMT
Briton Justin Wilson topped the times in the first of a two-day testing session at the Houston road course.
The test took place in wet conditions following continuous rain, and last year's runner-up Wilson showed his speed, beating three-time champion Sebastien Bourdais to the top of the times.
Despite the poor weather, Wilson was pleased with his day's work.
"I think it's very important for us to test in the rain, any miles you can get in the wet in these cars are a big help in the learning process," Wilson said. "We really learned a lot today, the car was reliable and ran all day with no problems and we got a lot done.
"We still have a lot of ground to cover to be ready for the opener, and hopefully it will be dry tomorrow so we can get more done."
Canadian Paul Tracy was third on the timesheets behind Bourdais and in front of Minardi Team USA driver Robert Doornbos, who continued with his acclimation to the demands of a Champ Car machine.
"After the rain we had during the first test, at Sebring, and now with what we've encountered here today, I'm beginning to think we're jinxed with the weather," said Doornbos.
"The track was damp and slippery first thing, but once we had some proper rain, it cleaned the surface up and we were able to start working on chassis set-up.
"It's fun getting to know everyone on the team, and I'm really enjoying myself in the car, although I have to keep reminding myself that I'm in a Champ car, not a Formula One car, and there aren't all the driver aids available to help out - you just have to get on and drive it."
Nelson Philippe got a last-minute call-up to test for Conquest Racing, and the one-time race winner showed good form by setting the fifth quickest time of the day, ahead of Graham Rahal.
The teams spent an hour practising standing starts following the rule changes that will come into play this year.
Monday's times:
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Justin Wilson CDW-RuSPORT 1:30.162 59
2. Sebastien Bourdais Newman-Haas Racing 1:30.378 56
3. Paul Tracy Forsythe 1:32.063 14
4. Robert Doornbos Minardi Team USA 1:32.286 48
5. Nelson Philippe Conquest Racing 1:32.847 26
6. Graham Rahal Newman-Haas Racing 1:33.163 54
7. Neel Jani PKV Racing 1:33.168 8
8. Alex Figge Pacific Coast Motorsports 1:33.981 25
9. Will Power Team Australia 1:34.256 8
10. Andreas Wirth Dale Coyne Racing 1:34.314 51
11. Oriol Servia RuSPORT 1:34.989 83
12. Ryan Dalziel Pacific Coast Motorsports 1:35.573 33
13. Alex Tagliani Rocketsports Racing 1:35.714 19
14. Simon Pagenaud Team Australia 1:35.719 9
15. Katherine Legge Dale Coyne Racing 1:36.215 40[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][B][U]Power fastest on second day[/U][/B]
By Glenn Freeman Wednesday, February 14th 2007, 11:31 GMT
Will Power set the fastest time during the final day of Champ Car testing at MSR Houston on Tuesday.
The 2006 rookie of the year was followed by Graham Rahal and Neel Jani, who have not made a single Champ Car start between them.
The weather conditions were much better for the second day, and the dry running enabled the teams to learn a lot more about the new Panoz DP01 chassis.
"The fact that we understand the car and how to make it fast is the most important thing we got out of today," said Power. "But it is nice to be fastest."
Jani, who was also third quickest at the Sebring test last month, believes that there is still more to come from himself and his PKV crew.
"I'm impressed with how high the level of talent is here in Champ Car," he said. "It's good to know that we can run with the top guys and we are not too far off the pace.
"But we are not here to finish third, so we have a lot more to do."
2003 champion Paul Tracy finished the day with the 11th fastest time, and he was disappointed to be 1.5 seconds slower than Power.
"Nothing went right for us today and we are so far behind right now," he said. "Everybody is pretty frustrated, but we have to go to work on being ready for the first race."
Reigning champion Sebastien Bourdais was fourth quickest for Newman-Haas, while Bruno Junqueira completed the top five driving for Dale Coyne.
Today's times:
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Will Power Team Australia 1:10.040 111
2. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas Racing 1:10:079 151
3. Neel Jani Red Bull PKV Racing 1:10:168 119
4. Sebastien Bourdais Newman/Haas Racing 1:10:333 156
5. Bruno Junqueira Dale Coyne Racing 1:10.560 87
6. Simon Pagenaud Team Australia 1:10:776 91
7. Nelson Philippe Conquest Racing 1:11:035 116
8. Justin Wilson CDW/RuSPORT 1:11:179 157
9. Robert Doornbos Minardi Team USA 1:11:216 135
10. Oriol Servia RuSPORT 1:11:257 191
11. Paul Tracy Forsythe 1:11:591 79
12. Katherine Legge Dale Coyne Racing 1:11:607 93
13. Ryan Dalziel Pacific Coast Motorsports 1:11:658 118
14. Alex Tagliani Rocketsports Racing 1:12:161 98
15. Alex Figge Pacific Coast Motorsports 1:13:567 115
All Timing Unofficial
[/QUOTE]
| John__Gotti | 02-14-2007 03:57 PM |
[QUOTE=XenoWolf;16800825]
I'm confused, are they (Ford/Cosworth) going to stop supplying engines as well?[/QUOTE]
Ford doesn't own Cosworth anymore.
Wikipedia
[QUOTE]
In September 2004, Ford announced that it was selling Cosworth Racing, along with its Jaguar Formula One team. On November 15, 2004, the sale of Cosworth was completed, to Champ Car World Series owners Gerald Forsythe and Kevin Kalkhoven, who renamed Cosworth Racing to Cosworth.
[/QUOTE]
Thanks for some testing on Champ Car aswell Ferg. You are already a very busy keeping us all up to date on F1. Actually looking forward to seeing the new cars in action this year. They have been using that old chassis (most if not all were Lola I believe) forever and think the new chassis will be a nice addition.
I'm confused, are they (Ford/Cosworth) going to stop supplying engines as well?[/QUOTE]
Ford doesn't own Cosworth anymore.
Wikipedia
[QUOTE]
In September 2004, Ford announced that it was selling Cosworth Racing, along with its Jaguar Formula One team. On November 15, 2004, the sale of Cosworth was completed, to Champ Car World Series owners Gerald Forsythe and Kevin Kalkhoven, who renamed Cosworth Racing to Cosworth.
[/QUOTE]
Thanks for some testing on Champ Car aswell Ferg. You are already a very busy keeping us all up to date on F1. Actually looking forward to seeing the new cars in action this year. They have been using that old chassis (most if not all were Lola I believe) forever and think the new chassis will be a nice addition.
| ptclaus98 | 02-14-2007 08:52 PM |
Go Team OZ!!!!!
| ptclaus98 | 02-14-2007 08:54 PM |
[QUOTE=John__Gotti;17053510]Ford doesn't own Cosworth anymore.[/QUOTE]
I was just about to comment on that.:lol:
I was just about to comment on that.:lol:
| Yack Attack | 03-09-2007 07:29 PM |
Wow! This hasn't been updated in a while. Testing today in Laguna. PT topped the charts with a 1:06.707 on the first day followed by Bourdais with a 1:06.737 , Jani (1:06.749), Power (1:06.939) and Doornbos (1:07.237) rounding out the top 5. For comparison Toyota's F1 car piloted by Zonta posted a 1:06.309 last August. Not bad considering the cost to play.
Also, I've heard mention that Champ Car would like to be at Road Atlanta and Road Atlanta would like to have a Champ Car race. They need to figure out that last turn as it would need to be modified or reconfigured. I've got my fingers crossed for some East Coast races. Road Atlanta would be sweet!
Also, I've heard mention that Champ Car would like to be at Road Atlanta and Road Atlanta would like to have a Champ Car race. They need to figure out that last turn as it would need to be modified or reconfigured. I've got my fingers crossed for some East Coast races. Road Atlanta would be sweet!
| pio!pio! | 03-09-2007 09:08 PM |
[url]http://www.longbeachgp.com/track/press/article.php?dir=200703&id=352[/url]
For the Pro Celebrity Race, Chris Klein's first billing is as somebody's ex gf! hahaha
For the Pro Celebrity Race, Chris Klein's first billing is as somebody's ex gf! hahaha
| Yack Attack | 03-10-2007 03:57 PM |
[QUOTE=pio!pio!;17305315]
For the Pro Celebrity Race, Chris Klein's first billing is as somebody's ex gf! hahaha[/QUOTE]
Time for him to work on the old resume.
For the Pro Celebrity Race, Chris Klein's first billing is as somebody's ex gf! hahaha[/QUOTE]
Time for him to work on the old resume.
| Yack Attack | 03-10-2007 06:59 PM |
Seabass lapped Laguna today in the new DP01 in 1:05.880 thus breaking the mark set last August by Zonta, who was running slicks at the time.
| Ferg | 03-10-2007 10:20 PM |
Who was on slicks, Zonta? Grooved rubber on an F1 machine and Zonta admitted he wasn't exactly "on it" for his demonstration runs.
That being said I wouldn't be suprised if a Champ Car chassis proved to be faster around Laguna than an F1 car. It's way too small a track for a Grand Prix car to really hit it's stride...
[QUOTE]Bourdais beats F1 mark on day two
By David Malsher Sunday, March 11th 2007, 01:11 GMT
Sebastien Bourdais blitzed the Laguna Seca track record on his way to fastest time of the day on the final day of Spring Training.
The Frenchman lapped the 2.238-mile circuit in 1:05.880, beating the previous record, established by Ricardo Zonta in a Toyota Formula 1 car in 2006, by a substantial 0.429 seconds. The Newman/Haas/Lanigan driver's average speed was 122.295mph, and he was rewarded with a surprise $5,000 cheque from series owner Kevin Kalkhoven.
Bourdais' lap put him over half a second quicker than his nearest challenger Team Australia's Will Power, and six tenths of a second quicker than PKV Racing's Neel Jani, who just pipped the second Newman/Haas/Lanigan car of Graham Rahal.
The times were not entirely representative, as a major off by Bruno Junqueira in the Dale Coyne Racing car ended the session prematurely, but through the day, only Power had looked a consistent threat to Bourdais.
Paul Tracy, yesterday's pacesetter, missed a lot of set-up time as his Forsythe Championship Racing team needed to change his differential in the morning. All the drivers have been practising standing starts, both with and without launch control, hence the excessive strains on the diffs.
Atlantic champion Simon Pagenaud did an excellent job to back up Power's pace for Team Australia, finishing the day ahead of Tracy, and the RuSPORT and Rocketsports drivers Justin Wilson and Alex Tagliani. The Canadian and the Briton finished just 0.005 seconds apart.
Matt Halliday continued to impress with his pace in the Conquest Racing car, as ninth fastest driver (though 10th fastest car as Wilson set a quick time in both his race car and his spare). Halliday was just a second off Bourdais despite a number of mechanical niggles.
Robert Doornbos of Team Minardi USA had been fast in the morning, but a crash in the daunting Turn 6 (where temporary team mate Zsolt Baumgartner crashed yesterday) ended his hopes of getting into the top six.
Tristan Gommendy got much closer to PKV Racing team-mate Neel Jani's pace this morning, but admits he is physically out of shape and had to go home at lunch time after struggling to turn the steering wheel.
Day two combined times:
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Sebastien Bourdais Newman/Haas/Lanigan 1:05.880
2. Will Power Team Australia 1:06.424
3. Neel Jani PKV Racing 1:06.516
4. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan 1:06.561
5. Simon Pagenaud Team Australia 1:06.699
6. Justin Wilson RuSPORT 1:06.755
7. Alex Tagliani Rocketsports 1:06.760
8. Matt Halliday Conquest Racing 1:06.930
9. Robert Doornbos Minardi USA 1:06.959
10. Bruno Junqueira Dale Coyne Racing 1:07.048
11. Paul Tracy Forsythe 1:07.067
12. Katherine Legge Dale Coyne Racing 1:07.727
13. Tristan Gommendy PKV Racing 1:08.325
14. Alex Figge Pacific Coast 1:08.521
15. Ryan Dalziel Pacific Coast 1:08.825[/QUOTE]
That being said I wouldn't be suprised if a Champ Car chassis proved to be faster around Laguna than an F1 car. It's way too small a track for a Grand Prix car to really hit it's stride...
[QUOTE]Bourdais beats F1 mark on day two
By David Malsher Sunday, March 11th 2007, 01:11 GMT
Sebastien Bourdais blitzed the Laguna Seca track record on his way to fastest time of the day on the final day of Spring Training.
The Frenchman lapped the 2.238-mile circuit in 1:05.880, beating the previous record, established by Ricardo Zonta in a Toyota Formula 1 car in 2006, by a substantial 0.429 seconds. The Newman/Haas/Lanigan driver's average speed was 122.295mph, and he was rewarded with a surprise $5,000 cheque from series owner Kevin Kalkhoven.
Bourdais' lap put him over half a second quicker than his nearest challenger Team Australia's Will Power, and six tenths of a second quicker than PKV Racing's Neel Jani, who just pipped the second Newman/Haas/Lanigan car of Graham Rahal.
The times were not entirely representative, as a major off by Bruno Junqueira in the Dale Coyne Racing car ended the session prematurely, but through the day, only Power had looked a consistent threat to Bourdais.
Paul Tracy, yesterday's pacesetter, missed a lot of set-up time as his Forsythe Championship Racing team needed to change his differential in the morning. All the drivers have been practising standing starts, both with and without launch control, hence the excessive strains on the diffs.
Atlantic champion Simon Pagenaud did an excellent job to back up Power's pace for Team Australia, finishing the day ahead of Tracy, and the RuSPORT and Rocketsports drivers Justin Wilson and Alex Tagliani. The Canadian and the Briton finished just 0.005 seconds apart.
Matt Halliday continued to impress with his pace in the Conquest Racing car, as ninth fastest driver (though 10th fastest car as Wilson set a quick time in both his race car and his spare). Halliday was just a second off Bourdais despite a number of mechanical niggles.
Robert Doornbos of Team Minardi USA had been fast in the morning, but a crash in the daunting Turn 6 (where temporary team mate Zsolt Baumgartner crashed yesterday) ended his hopes of getting into the top six.
Tristan Gommendy got much closer to PKV Racing team-mate Neel Jani's pace this morning, but admits he is physically out of shape and had to go home at lunch time after struggling to turn the steering wheel.
Day two combined times:
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Sebastien Bourdais Newman/Haas/Lanigan 1:05.880
2. Will Power Team Australia 1:06.424
3. Neel Jani PKV Racing 1:06.516
4. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan 1:06.561
5. Simon Pagenaud Team Australia 1:06.699
6. Justin Wilson RuSPORT 1:06.755
7. Alex Tagliani Rocketsports 1:06.760
8. Matt Halliday Conquest Racing 1:06.930
9. Robert Doornbos Minardi USA 1:06.959
10. Bruno Junqueira Dale Coyne Racing 1:07.048
11. Paul Tracy Forsythe 1:07.067
12. Katherine Legge Dale Coyne Racing 1:07.727
13. Tristan Gommendy PKV Racing 1:08.325
14. Alex Figge Pacific Coast 1:08.521
15. Ryan Dalziel Pacific Coast 1:08.825[/QUOTE]
| STi/AE86 | 03-11-2007 06:26 PM |
[QUOTE=AndyRoo;16138575]Yeah, who needs races on the east coast US?
:(
- Andrew[/QUOTE]
Hey, you get NASCAR, embrace it. :lol:
:(
- Andrew[/QUOTE]
Hey, you get NASCAR, embrace it. :lol:
| Yack Attack | 03-12-2007 11:51 PM |
[QUOTE=Ferg;17313082]Who was on slicks, Zonta? Grooved rubber on an F1 machine and Zonta admitted he wasn't exactly "on it" for his demonstration runs.
That being said I wouldn't be suprised if a Champ Car chassis proved to be faster around Laguna than an F1 car. It's way too small a track for a Grand Prix car to really hit it's stride...[/QUOTE]
My bad. You're right. I saw an article where Zonta mentioned putting slicks on, but it appears they never did. Not that Toyota is Ferrari, Renault or McLaren. I'm still pretty impressed with the speed of the DP01. Too bad they didn't reduce the weight like they set out to do.
[QUOTE]ZONTA SETS NEW TRACK RECORD AT MAZDA RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA
Fast Lap Comes On Opening Day Of Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races Presented by Toyota
Monterey, Calif. (August 18, 2006) � After one installation lap today on the 11-turn, 2.238 mile Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Panasonic Toyota F1 driver Ricardo Zonta easily set a new track record on his second flying lap with at 1:07:587 at119.206 mph. This time and speed edges the previous record of 1:07.722 set by Helio Castroneves at the CART Honda Grand Prix of Monterey in 2000. Castroneves� speed was 118.969.
�The team made some adjustments after our test laps yesterday that helped the car run smoother on the track today and I had a feeling the car could go much quicker than yesterday,� said Zonta after the session ended early in the third lap with an electrical short. �[B]We had used tires on today and planned to change to new slicks in the second session, but we never got the chance.[/B] I am looking forward to new, slick tires tomorrow.�
The plan for today called for one installation lap, three flying laps, a tire change to new tires, then a final three flying laps. On Saturday, the car will be making flying laps at 12:45 and 3:40 p.m. and on Sunday at 12:35 and 3:25 p.m.
Zonta last drove at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in 1998 when he won the FIA GT Championships behind the wheel of a Mercedes.
Tickets are on sale now for the remaining events of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca�s 50th Season of Racing including the 33rd Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races presented by Toyota August 18-20 and the Monterey Sports Car Championships featuring the American Le Mans Series October 20-22. [/QUOTE]
That being said I wouldn't be suprised if a Champ Car chassis proved to be faster around Laguna than an F1 car. It's way too small a track for a Grand Prix car to really hit it's stride...[/QUOTE]
My bad. You're right. I saw an article where Zonta mentioned putting slicks on, but it appears they never did. Not that Toyota is Ferrari, Renault or McLaren. I'm still pretty impressed with the speed of the DP01. Too bad they didn't reduce the weight like they set out to do.
[QUOTE]ZONTA SETS NEW TRACK RECORD AT MAZDA RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA
Fast Lap Comes On Opening Day Of Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races Presented by Toyota
Monterey, Calif. (August 18, 2006) � After one installation lap today on the 11-turn, 2.238 mile Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Panasonic Toyota F1 driver Ricardo Zonta easily set a new track record on his second flying lap with at 1:07:587 at119.206 mph. This time and speed edges the previous record of 1:07.722 set by Helio Castroneves at the CART Honda Grand Prix of Monterey in 2000. Castroneves� speed was 118.969.
�The team made some adjustments after our test laps yesterday that helped the car run smoother on the track today and I had a feeling the car could go much quicker than yesterday,� said Zonta after the session ended early in the third lap with an electrical short. �[B]We had used tires on today and planned to change to new slicks in the second session, but we never got the chance.[/B] I am looking forward to new, slick tires tomorrow.�
The plan for today called for one installation lap, three flying laps, a tire change to new tires, then a final three flying laps. On Saturday, the car will be making flying laps at 12:45 and 3:40 p.m. and on Sunday at 12:35 and 3:25 p.m.
Zonta last drove at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in 1998 when he won the FIA GT Championships behind the wheel of a Mercedes.
Tickets are on sale now for the remaining events of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca�s 50th Season of Racing including the 33rd Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races presented by Toyota August 18-20 and the Monterey Sports Car Championships featuring the American Le Mans Series October 20-22. [/QUOTE]
| Ferg | 03-13-2007 11:22 AM |
Keep in mind that when an F1 driver talks about "slicks" he's still talking about grooved tires. It's just habit.
In Champ Car news, I'm disappointed they're pushing back the standing starts..
[QUOTE][B][U]Standing start introduction delayed[/U][/B]
By Matt Beer Tuesday, March 13th 2007, 14:57 GMT
The Champ Car World Series has delayed its switch to standing starts and will now retain the traditional rolling start procedure for at least the first three rounds of the 2007 championship.
The series announced in late 2006 that standing starts would henceforth be adopted 'at venues where the starting procedure can be accommodated in a safe manner' after being successfully used in several Champ Car Atlantic races last season.
But after the drivers practised standing starts with mixed results at last weekend's Spring Training event at Laguna Seca, officials decided to postpone the introduction of the new procedure.
"Safety is our concern and we feel we need to fine-tune our standing-start process before we implement it," said Champ Car's vice-president of operations Tony Cotman.
"We will continue to work with the teams and the manufacturers to find the safest and most reliable option for the standing-start process with an eye toward using them at Portland (in June) if possible."
Engine supplier Cosworth's Ken Daigle said at Laguna that some drivers were taking to the tricky standing start procedure better than others.
"Several guys figured it out quite well. Graham Rahal really nailed it, Sebastien (Bourdais) figured it out and so did Paul (Tracy) and some others," Daigle told speedtv.com.
"The trick is not to rev the engine to the max, but to keep it a couple of hundred RPMs below the max until right before the green light, then dump the clutch and floor it. If you keep it revved to the max, the ECU is trying to control the fuel mixture, the turbo speed for an extended period of time and everything goes wonky."[/QUOTE]
In Champ Car news, I'm disappointed they're pushing back the standing starts..
[QUOTE][B][U]Standing start introduction delayed[/U][/B]
By Matt Beer Tuesday, March 13th 2007, 14:57 GMT
The Champ Car World Series has delayed its switch to standing starts and will now retain the traditional rolling start procedure for at least the first three rounds of the 2007 championship.
The series announced in late 2006 that standing starts would henceforth be adopted 'at venues where the starting procedure can be accommodated in a safe manner' after being successfully used in several Champ Car Atlantic races last season.
But after the drivers practised standing starts with mixed results at last weekend's Spring Training event at Laguna Seca, officials decided to postpone the introduction of the new procedure.
"Safety is our concern and we feel we need to fine-tune our standing-start process before we implement it," said Champ Car's vice-president of operations Tony Cotman.
"We will continue to work with the teams and the manufacturers to find the safest and most reliable option for the standing-start process with an eye toward using them at Portland (in June) if possible."
Engine supplier Cosworth's Ken Daigle said at Laguna that some drivers were taking to the tricky standing start procedure better than others.
"Several guys figured it out quite well. Graham Rahal really nailed it, Sebastien (Bourdais) figured it out and so did Paul (Tracy) and some others," Daigle told speedtv.com.
"The trick is not to rev the engine to the max, but to keep it a couple of hundred RPMs below the max until right before the green light, then dump the clutch and floor it. If you keep it revved to the max, the ECU is trying to control the fuel mixture, the turbo speed for an extended period of time and everything goes wonky."[/QUOTE]
| artkevin | 03-13-2007 12:16 PM |
I'm dissapointed to but considering I am actually going to that race, I would hate to see 8 cars stall at the green light. GP2 went through the same teething problems and I would rather see them race then start if they are having too many issues to get it right.
That being said, they have an effing month to get it right.
That being said, they have an effing month to get it right.
| Ferg | 04-04-2007 01:08 PM |
Bump for Vegas...
| artkevin | 04-04-2007 04:48 PM |
Anyone here actually going to the race? If so, PM me. I'm just buying general admin. tix.
| Jonathan | 04-06-2007 12:53 AM |
Current driver lineup is for seventeen cars:[list]
42 Matt Halliday New Zealand New Zealand Conquest Racing
19 Bruno Junqueira Brazil Brazil Dale Coyne Racing
11 Katherine Legge England England Dale Coyne Racing
7 Mario Dominguez Mexico Mexico Forsythe Championship Racing
3 Paul Tracy Canada Canada Forsythe Championship Racing
4 Dan Clarke England England Minardi Team USA
14 Robert Doornbos Netherlands Netherlands Minardi Team USA
1 Sebastien Bourdais France France Newman/ Haas/ Lanigan Racing
2 Graham Rahal USA USA Newman/ Haas/ Lanigan Racing
28 Ryan Dalziel Scotland Scotland Pacific Coast Motorsports
29 Alex Figge USA USA Pacific Coast Motorsports
22 Tristan Gommendy France France PKV Racing
21 Neel Jani Switzerland Switzerland PKV Racing
8 Alex Tagliani Canada Canada RSPORTS
9 Justin Wilson United Kingdom United Kingdom RSPORTS
15 Simon Pagenaud France France Team Australia
5 Will Power Australia Australia Team Australia[/list]
42 Matt Halliday New Zealand New Zealand Conquest Racing
19 Bruno Junqueira Brazil Brazil Dale Coyne Racing
11 Katherine Legge England England Dale Coyne Racing
7 Mario Dominguez Mexico Mexico Forsythe Championship Racing
3 Paul Tracy Canada Canada Forsythe Championship Racing
4 Dan Clarke England England Minardi Team USA
14 Robert Doornbos Netherlands Netherlands Minardi Team USA
1 Sebastien Bourdais France France Newman/ Haas/ Lanigan Racing
2 Graham Rahal USA USA Newman/ Haas/ Lanigan Racing
28 Ryan Dalziel Scotland Scotland Pacific Coast Motorsports
29 Alex Figge USA USA Pacific Coast Motorsports
22 Tristan Gommendy France France PKV Racing
21 Neel Jani Switzerland Switzerland PKV Racing
8 Alex Tagliani Canada Canada RSPORTS
9 Justin Wilson United Kingdom United Kingdom RSPORTS
15 Simon Pagenaud France France Team Australia
5 Will Power Australia Australia Team Australia[/list]
| Ferg | 04-06-2007 02:21 PM |
Here's the opening session times.
[QUOTE]Usual names top Vegas practice
By David Malsher Friday, April 6th 2007, 18:03 GMT
Sebastien Bourdais, Paul Tracy and Justin Wilson gave the timesheet a familiar look at the start of Champ Car's new era, as they finished opening practice in Las Vegas 1-2-3 respectively.
Triple champion Bourdais drove the Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing-run DP01 round the 2.44-mile street course at an average speed 104.096mph to go a little over a tenth of a second faster than Tracy's Forsythe Championship Racing entry.
Wilson's RSPORT was a further 0.3 seconds down.
Rookies starred too, with Simon Pagenaud of Team Australia clocking fourth, Neel Jani of PKV Racing fifth, both ahead of series veteran Alex Tagliani in the second RSPORT car.
Graham Rahal snatched seventh in the second Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing entry.
Matt Halliday flung the lone Conquest Racing entry to ninth, while Bruno Junqueira impressed with tenth until he ended the session prematurely with a minor strike of the Turn 9 tyres.
Dan Clarke, who has had no seat time in the DP01, was slowest in the Minardi USA car - 4.7 seconds off Bourdais's pace.
The Briton had a harmless slide into an escape road at Turn 4, but Alex Figge of Pacific Coast Motorsports was not so lucky, making contact with the wall in Turn 3.
Nonetheless, the American's fastest lap put him 11th quickest of the session.
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Sebastien Bourdais Newman/Haas/Lanigan 1:24.384
2. Paul Tracy Forsythe Championship 1:24.460 + 0.076
3. Justin Wilson RSPORTS 1:24.768 + 0.384
4. Simon Pagenaud Team Australia 1:24.999 + 0.615
5. Neel Jani PKV 1:25.463 + 1.079
6. Alex Tagliani RSPORTS 1:25.559 + 1.175
7. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan 1:25.682 + 1.298
8. Will Power Team Australia 1:26.064 + 1.680
9. Matthew Halliday Conquest 1:26.161 + 1.777
10. Bruno Junqueira Dale Coyne 1:26.230 + 1.846
11. Alex Figge Pacific Coast Motorsports 1:26.402 + 2.018
12. Tristan Gommendy PKV 1:26.494 + 2.110
13. Mario Dominguez Forsythe Championship 1:27.099 + 2.715
14. Robert Doornbos Minardi Team USA 1:27.542 + 3.158
15. Ryan Dalziel Pacific Coast Motorsports 1:28.629 + 4.245
16. Katherine Legge Dale Coyne 1:29.121 + 4.737
17. Dan Clarke Minardi Team USA 1:29.180 + 4.796
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Usual names top Vegas practice
By David Malsher Friday, April 6th 2007, 18:03 GMT
Sebastien Bourdais, Paul Tracy and Justin Wilson gave the timesheet a familiar look at the start of Champ Car's new era, as they finished opening practice in Las Vegas 1-2-3 respectively.
Triple champion Bourdais drove the Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing-run DP01 round the 2.44-mile street course at an average speed 104.096mph to go a little over a tenth of a second faster than Tracy's Forsythe Championship Racing entry.
Wilson's RSPORT was a further 0.3 seconds down.
Rookies starred too, with Simon Pagenaud of Team Australia clocking fourth, Neel Jani of PKV Racing fifth, both ahead of series veteran Alex Tagliani in the second RSPORT car.
Graham Rahal snatched seventh in the second Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing entry.
Matt Halliday flung the lone Conquest Racing entry to ninth, while Bruno Junqueira impressed with tenth until he ended the session prematurely with a minor strike of the Turn 9 tyres.
Dan Clarke, who has had no seat time in the DP01, was slowest in the Minardi USA car - 4.7 seconds off Bourdais's pace.
The Briton had a harmless slide into an escape road at Turn 4, but Alex Figge of Pacific Coast Motorsports was not so lucky, making contact with the wall in Turn 3.
Nonetheless, the American's fastest lap put him 11th quickest of the session.
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Sebastien Bourdais Newman/Haas/Lanigan 1:24.384
2. Paul Tracy Forsythe Championship 1:24.460 + 0.076
3. Justin Wilson RSPORTS 1:24.768 + 0.384
4. Simon Pagenaud Team Australia 1:24.999 + 0.615
5. Neel Jani PKV 1:25.463 + 1.079
6. Alex Tagliani RSPORTS 1:25.559 + 1.175
7. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan 1:25.682 + 1.298
8. Will Power Team Australia 1:26.064 + 1.680
9. Matthew Halliday Conquest 1:26.161 + 1.777
10. Bruno Junqueira Dale Coyne 1:26.230 + 1.846
11. Alex Figge Pacific Coast Motorsports 1:26.402 + 2.018
12. Tristan Gommendy PKV 1:26.494 + 2.110
13. Mario Dominguez Forsythe Championship 1:27.099 + 2.715
14. Robert Doornbos Minardi Team USA 1:27.542 + 3.158
15. Ryan Dalziel Pacific Coast Motorsports 1:28.629 + 4.245
16. Katherine Legge Dale Coyne 1:29.121 + 4.737
17. Dan Clarke Minardi Team USA 1:29.180 + 4.796
[/QUOTE]
| artkevin | 04-06-2007 03:20 PM |
[B]The 2007 Champ Car Season Preview [/B]
[I]As Champ Car heads to Las Vegas for the 2007 season opener, David Malsher looks at this year's changes and analyses the teams and drivers who could make a mark this season [/I]
By David Malsher
autosport.com's Champ Car correspondent
The wait is almost over. The Champ Cars have arrived in Las Vegas for the series' inaugural race through the streets of Bugsy Siegel's Nevada oasis. It's the start of a 16-race schedule that stretches right through to December. There is plenty of change for 2007 - a new car, new regulations, new venues, new schedules and new drivers - so here is a synopsis of what to expect.
[B]New Car[/B]
The Lola B2K has gone to be replaced by the Panoz-built DP01. (We're not allowed to call it the Panoz DP01 apparently). It needed another six months development time with an assortment of current engineers to get its bugs ironed out.
[B]The Panoz DP01 � LAT [/B]
Instead there have been just seven days of testing (to slow down the progress of the Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing's over new boys like Pacific Coast Motorsports) and so the new car's growing pains have been executed rather too publicly.
The DP01's chief designer Simon Marshall has confessed that quality control is not what it should be, and that the company is working to remedy that. In the meantime, resolving a leaking fuel cell problem and building enough spares is the priority. After all, three races on consecutive weekends, all three of them street courses with half the field as rookies suggests spare parts might be in high demand...
Oh, the news isn't all bad: for one thing, the DP01 is fast, it's probably the safest single-seater in the world right now in the event of an impact, and it also looks fantastic - modern, but still retaining the classic Champ Car low line rear bodywork.
[B]New Regulations[/B]
Standing starts looked more like stranding starts when the drivers practised using launch control in Laguna Seca. So why can't a driver rely on his own clutch control, as he does departing every pitstop? I have no idea. I don't remember that many drivers getting left on the grid at the start of Formula One races in the 1980s manual gearbox/turbo era. Whatever, the introduction of standing starts has been delayed until at least Portland.
In quite an unusual change, all races will be run to a set time limit, and as that time approaches, a signal indicating one lap to go will be displayed to the field, with the race ending the next time the leader crosses the start-finish line.
The rules on tyre usage have been changed too. Rather than being restricted to four sets of tyres in a practice or qualifying session, teams can use any of their weekend allotment in a given session.
They are also allowed to use only one car per driver in the course of a session - and switching to a back-up car mid-session is not permitted. Anyone who switches to a back-up car after he has qualified his primary car will have to start the race from the back of the grid. So expect drivers to leave quite a margin of error in Sunday morning warm-up. Some of them, anyway...
[B]New Venues, New Schedule[/B]
There are six new venues on the 2007 Champ Car schedule. In date order, they are: Las Vegas, NV (street course); Mont-Tremblant, CDN; (roadcourse); Zolder, Belgium (roadcourse); Assen, Holland (roadcourse); Zhuhai, China (roadcourse); and Phoenix, AZ (streetcourse).
Axed are Monterrey, Milwaukee, Montreal and Denver.
Having originally been scheduled for May, the Chinese race will end up on the weekend either immediately before or immediately after Surfers Paradise, leaving a six week gap between rounds three and four. And before you ask, this is not to allow Champ Car teams to go and compete in the Indy 500. It would be interesting to see (a) who would, (b) what Champ Car's reaction would be, and (c) whether IndyCar would allow them to do well. Paul Tracy's got an interesting story about that...
[B]Oriol Servia � LAT [/B]
Farewell to 'old' drivers
The eight rookies in the series are discussed in detail below, but it is the absence of familiar names that has been the talk of the series in the off-season.
Mario Dominguez got a last-minute (temporary for now) reprieve at Forsythe and Bruno Junqueira has won over Dale Coyne, but two of the most promotable previous race-winners in the series - Nelson Philippe and Oriol Servia - are currently without a ride.
Nelson has refused to bring family funding for a fourth season (fair enough) figuring he now deserves to be paid. Given that he won the last-but-one Champ Car race, and starred all year, he has a legitimate point.
He has, however, misjudged the market. Which team manager is going to turn away drivers with as strong if not stronger CVs (albeit outside this series) when they also bring a pot of gold? One can't help feel the Frenchman is being hung out to dry as an example to others, which is unpleasant, but it would be a shame too if his own stubbornness meant that his huge commitment, car control and charming personality were put to waste for a year.
The same is largely true of Oriol Servia, who spent eight years in the series and as recently as 2005 finished runner-up in the championship. The Miami-based Catalan still has lot to give in terms of pace - he set the quickest time at Sebring in January, driving the PKV Racing car.
But why has he not got funding? Is he too relaxed away from the track when he should be hunting and foraging for sponsors? Do companies just not give a damn about open-wheel racing in the US any more? Do potential sponsors figure Oriol has plateaued?
Probably a combination of all three perceptions - accurate or inaccurate - is why he's counting flowers on the wall at the moment. I don't think we've seen the last of Servia in this series (though Philippe may have gone for good), but right now there are three apparently funded drivers - Jan Heylen, Andreas Wirth and Nicky Pastorelli - ahead of him in the queue for the next ride that becomes available.
[B]Team by Team[/B]
[B]Graham Rahal, Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing � LAT
NEWMAN/HAAS/LANIGAN RACING[/B]
The name has altered in recognition of Mike Lanigan of Mi-Jack coming in as third partner, but expect the excellence to shine through like always. No team will learn the new car quicker, or prepare it better, and it is rare indeed for the squad to fumble pit strategy or for the drivers/engineers to be slow to hit the right set-up at a new track (of which there are six this year).
[B]Sebastien Bourdais (F); Graham Rahal (USA)[/B]
He may not be everyone's glass of Orangina, but Sebastien Bourdais is a hell of a driver. Twenty wins in the last 41 Champ Car races proves that, and although now a daddy, he appears not to have slowed down a tenth. He can be entertaining company because in the right mood (or wrong mood) he can be as outspoken as his long-time nemesis Paul Tracy.
He can be utterly charmless on the rare occasions he is thwarted by a rival, Race Control or lady luck, but if Bourdais misses out on pole or victory because of a failure somewhere within the team, he shrugs it off and defends them, in the same way as he is unstinting in his praise when it all works out.
Quite how he gets on with fellow Formula One aspirant Rahal will be one of the more interesting sideshows in Champ Car this year, for this may prove Bourdais' toughest intra-team challenge yet. Neither Bruno Junqueira nor Oriol Servia - previous team-mates at Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing - has Bourdais' natural talent, but in Bruno's case he compounded that by letting his head go down. As for Servia, he came in mid-season in 2005 and well knew his role of second lieutenant.
Rahal, by contrast is on a learning curve and wherever he is in terms of pace compared to Bourdais right now is as far away as he's going to get. Most of the circuits Champ Car visit this year Rahal has visited before in his hugely impressive Atlantic season (five wins, ultimately runner-up in the championship), and the new ones on the schedule are new to everyone. So Sebastien will have little advantage in terms of circuit familiarity.
Given that at age 18, Rahal is 10 years Bourdais' junior, and is a rookie, if the American gets within an average of 0.3sec in qualifying, suddenly he will look like the more enticing prospect for F1 teams. Bourdais is smart and will have worked this out; Rahal is very self-analytical and he will do anything required to make his season a success, which for him means a victory or two, and pole positions.
[B]Paul Tracy, Forsythe Championship Racing � LAT
FORSYTHE CHAMPIONSHIP RACING[/B]
Still the only team currently in the series to have beaten Newman/Haas/Lanigan to the Champ Car title, Forsythe have looked predictably swift in pre-season testing, with all the focus on star driver Paul Tracy. Switching back to a two car entry at the last minute will not have helped in the short term, but should aid PT's championship quest in terms of double the feedback. So long, that is, as his new team-mate behaves himself on opening laps...
[B]Paul Tracy (CDN); Mario Dominguez (MEX)[/B]
Entering his 16th year in the series, there's still no question mark over Paul Tracy's commitment to winning or his race fitness. Some have queried his pace following his partnership with AJ Allmendinger last year, but then one-lap qualifying pace has never been Tracy's forte as he'll admit to anyone.
His strength has been his ability to string a series of qualifying-style laps together to set a formidable race pace and he can still do that, have no doubts. Generally he doesn't crack if someone's pressuring him from behind, and he's relentless in his pursuit of the guy in front.
What he does do is get overambitious when it comes to overtaking: not only will he dive into 50/50 situations, he'll try on 30/70s against. That works on certain drivers, but not on Bourdais, hence their spats over the last four seasons. Still, up against the mighty machine that is Newman/Haas/Lanigan, Tracy's reasoning is that you have to both take and make opportunities.
For the first three races at least, Paul's new team-mate is an old team-mate, Mario Dominguez. Sometimes Mario's on it, and his style is one very much suited to street circuits with their proliferation of 90 degree corners.
Don't be surprised if he occasionally out-qualifies Tracy. In testing for RuSPORT at Sebring this year, Dominguez's pace suggested that he and the new DP01 get along rather well, and at Houston last year he took the only pole position of his Champ Car career.
He might have won too, but cracked under pressure from Bourdais - and that's the problem. He can be a liability, as team-owner Jerry Forsythe knows only too well - which is why he got booted out four races into last season. You never know what you're going to get with Mario: mediocre and steady, quick and wild or, on occasion, both composed and quick.
The important thing is for him to now show his good side. If within these opening three rounds the Mexican gets a podium or two - of which he is eminently capable - then hopefully the sponsors will agree to a full term. However, if he goes on to win the championship, this author promises to attend the end of season Champ Car Banquet wearing a sombrero. Only a sombrero.
[B]
Neel Jani, PKV Racing � LAT
PKV RACING[/B]
This team has changed faces in a big way over the off-season. Gone are 2006 drivers Oriol Servia and Katherine Legge, gone is co-owner Dan Pettit (more later) and arriving on the scene are Red Bull, Neel Jani and Tristan Gommendy.
Mark Johnson remains Team Manager - possibly the most inspired move that remaining co-owners Jimmy Vasser and Kevin Kalkhoven have made. And also newly arrived is a sense of optimism that they can add to the victory Cristiano da Matta scored back in June 2005. Their testing pace has looked that good.
[B]Neel Jani (CH); Tristan Gommendy (F)[/B]
Jani has proven in off-season testing that he will be the man to beat in the 'Rookie of the Year' honours. The ex-GP2 ace doesn't make many mistakes while going very fast indeed, and he is not one to be intimidated, as anyone who witnessed his practice standing starts alongside Paul Tracy at MSR Houston will attest. He describes the Champ Car as "completely different from GP2 but great fun because of the power", yet not once has he looked intimidated by that power.
That's hardly surprising: he has tested Formula One cars with aplomb - in terms of both pace and feedback - and he has serious aspirations to return there. That should give his battles with fellow Formula One hopefuls Sebastien Bourdais and Graham Rahal an extra edge - for being Red Bull-backed, Jani wants to be top of Christian Horner's list to drive a Renault-powered Adrian Newey-designed car in the future.
Where Jani might lose out is in terms of his team-mate's feedback. No question, he would have benefited enormously had he been paired with series veteran Oriol Servia. Instead, he has to rely on a fellow rookie. That's not to knock Gommendy, whose CV boasts a French F3 Championship and a Macau GP win. It's just that Tristan only drove the car for the first time in Laguna Seca, so he was all about getting himself up to speed rather than improving the car.
Meanwhile, his fitness - given his lack of single-seater action in the last nine months - was way off where it should be, and it is unlikely to have improved to the necessary degree in just a month.
However, there is good talent there and podiums are possible by season's end if PKV look as sharp as they have in pre-season testing.
[B]Paul Gentilozzi, Alex Tagliani, Justin Wilson � LAT
RSPORTS[/B]
Right, a quick summary. Last autumn, Dan Pettit - formerly the 'P' of PKV - purchased RuSPORT from team founder Carl Russo. After testing both Mario Dominguez and Oriol Servia in pre-season testing, he elected to cut the squad back to a one-car effort.
Meanwhile, Rocketsports Racing's owner Paul Gentilozzi had already elected to follow that route (his squad always operated best running just one car), and these two series co-owners, being friends, elected to form a technical partnership.
Now they've elected to put on a united front which makes a lot of sense from the marketing point of view, but could get tricky considering one half of the team is based in Loveland, Colorado and the other finds home in Lansing, Michigan.
[I]As Champ Car heads to Las Vegas for the 2007 season opener, David Malsher looks at this year's changes and analyses the teams and drivers who could make a mark this season [/I]
By David Malsher
autosport.com's Champ Car correspondent
The wait is almost over. The Champ Cars have arrived in Las Vegas for the series' inaugural race through the streets of Bugsy Siegel's Nevada oasis. It's the start of a 16-race schedule that stretches right through to December. There is plenty of change for 2007 - a new car, new regulations, new venues, new schedules and new drivers - so here is a synopsis of what to expect.
[B]New Car[/B]
The Lola B2K has gone to be replaced by the Panoz-built DP01. (We're not allowed to call it the Panoz DP01 apparently). It needed another six months development time with an assortment of current engineers to get its bugs ironed out.
[B]The Panoz DP01 � LAT [/B]
Instead there have been just seven days of testing (to slow down the progress of the Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing's over new boys like Pacific Coast Motorsports) and so the new car's growing pains have been executed rather too publicly.
The DP01's chief designer Simon Marshall has confessed that quality control is not what it should be, and that the company is working to remedy that. In the meantime, resolving a leaking fuel cell problem and building enough spares is the priority. After all, three races on consecutive weekends, all three of them street courses with half the field as rookies suggests spare parts might be in high demand...
Oh, the news isn't all bad: for one thing, the DP01 is fast, it's probably the safest single-seater in the world right now in the event of an impact, and it also looks fantastic - modern, but still retaining the classic Champ Car low line rear bodywork.
[B]New Regulations[/B]
Standing starts looked more like stranding starts when the drivers practised using launch control in Laguna Seca. So why can't a driver rely on his own clutch control, as he does departing every pitstop? I have no idea. I don't remember that many drivers getting left on the grid at the start of Formula One races in the 1980s manual gearbox/turbo era. Whatever, the introduction of standing starts has been delayed until at least Portland.
In quite an unusual change, all races will be run to a set time limit, and as that time approaches, a signal indicating one lap to go will be displayed to the field, with the race ending the next time the leader crosses the start-finish line.
The rules on tyre usage have been changed too. Rather than being restricted to four sets of tyres in a practice or qualifying session, teams can use any of their weekend allotment in a given session.
They are also allowed to use only one car per driver in the course of a session - and switching to a back-up car mid-session is not permitted. Anyone who switches to a back-up car after he has qualified his primary car will have to start the race from the back of the grid. So expect drivers to leave quite a margin of error in Sunday morning warm-up. Some of them, anyway...
[B]New Venues, New Schedule[/B]
There are six new venues on the 2007 Champ Car schedule. In date order, they are: Las Vegas, NV (street course); Mont-Tremblant, CDN; (roadcourse); Zolder, Belgium (roadcourse); Assen, Holland (roadcourse); Zhuhai, China (roadcourse); and Phoenix, AZ (streetcourse).
Axed are Monterrey, Milwaukee, Montreal and Denver.
Having originally been scheduled for May, the Chinese race will end up on the weekend either immediately before or immediately after Surfers Paradise, leaving a six week gap between rounds three and four. And before you ask, this is not to allow Champ Car teams to go and compete in the Indy 500. It would be interesting to see (a) who would, (b) what Champ Car's reaction would be, and (c) whether IndyCar would allow them to do well. Paul Tracy's got an interesting story about that...
[B]Oriol Servia � LAT [/B]
Farewell to 'old' drivers
The eight rookies in the series are discussed in detail below, but it is the absence of familiar names that has been the talk of the series in the off-season.
Mario Dominguez got a last-minute (temporary for now) reprieve at Forsythe and Bruno Junqueira has won over Dale Coyne, but two of the most promotable previous race-winners in the series - Nelson Philippe and Oriol Servia - are currently without a ride.
Nelson has refused to bring family funding for a fourth season (fair enough) figuring he now deserves to be paid. Given that he won the last-but-one Champ Car race, and starred all year, he has a legitimate point.
He has, however, misjudged the market. Which team manager is going to turn away drivers with as strong if not stronger CVs (albeit outside this series) when they also bring a pot of gold? One can't help feel the Frenchman is being hung out to dry as an example to others, which is unpleasant, but it would be a shame too if his own stubbornness meant that his huge commitment, car control and charming personality were put to waste for a year.
The same is largely true of Oriol Servia, who spent eight years in the series and as recently as 2005 finished runner-up in the championship. The Miami-based Catalan still has lot to give in terms of pace - he set the quickest time at Sebring in January, driving the PKV Racing car.
But why has he not got funding? Is he too relaxed away from the track when he should be hunting and foraging for sponsors? Do companies just not give a damn about open-wheel racing in the US any more? Do potential sponsors figure Oriol has plateaued?
Probably a combination of all three perceptions - accurate or inaccurate - is why he's counting flowers on the wall at the moment. I don't think we've seen the last of Servia in this series (though Philippe may have gone for good), but right now there are three apparently funded drivers - Jan Heylen, Andreas Wirth and Nicky Pastorelli - ahead of him in the queue for the next ride that becomes available.
[B]Team by Team[/B]
[B]Graham Rahal, Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing � LAT
NEWMAN/HAAS/LANIGAN RACING[/B]
The name has altered in recognition of Mike Lanigan of Mi-Jack coming in as third partner, but expect the excellence to shine through like always. No team will learn the new car quicker, or prepare it better, and it is rare indeed for the squad to fumble pit strategy or for the drivers/engineers to be slow to hit the right set-up at a new track (of which there are six this year).
[B]Sebastien Bourdais (F); Graham Rahal (USA)[/B]
He may not be everyone's glass of Orangina, but Sebastien Bourdais is a hell of a driver. Twenty wins in the last 41 Champ Car races proves that, and although now a daddy, he appears not to have slowed down a tenth. He can be entertaining company because in the right mood (or wrong mood) he can be as outspoken as his long-time nemesis Paul Tracy.
He can be utterly charmless on the rare occasions he is thwarted by a rival, Race Control or lady luck, but if Bourdais misses out on pole or victory because of a failure somewhere within the team, he shrugs it off and defends them, in the same way as he is unstinting in his praise when it all works out.
Quite how he gets on with fellow Formula One aspirant Rahal will be one of the more interesting sideshows in Champ Car this year, for this may prove Bourdais' toughest intra-team challenge yet. Neither Bruno Junqueira nor Oriol Servia - previous team-mates at Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing - has Bourdais' natural talent, but in Bruno's case he compounded that by letting his head go down. As for Servia, he came in mid-season in 2005 and well knew his role of second lieutenant.
Rahal, by contrast is on a learning curve and wherever he is in terms of pace compared to Bourdais right now is as far away as he's going to get. Most of the circuits Champ Car visit this year Rahal has visited before in his hugely impressive Atlantic season (five wins, ultimately runner-up in the championship), and the new ones on the schedule are new to everyone. So Sebastien will have little advantage in terms of circuit familiarity.
Given that at age 18, Rahal is 10 years Bourdais' junior, and is a rookie, if the American gets within an average of 0.3sec in qualifying, suddenly he will look like the more enticing prospect for F1 teams. Bourdais is smart and will have worked this out; Rahal is very self-analytical and he will do anything required to make his season a success, which for him means a victory or two, and pole positions.
[B]Paul Tracy, Forsythe Championship Racing � LAT
FORSYTHE CHAMPIONSHIP RACING[/B]
Still the only team currently in the series to have beaten Newman/Haas/Lanigan to the Champ Car title, Forsythe have looked predictably swift in pre-season testing, with all the focus on star driver Paul Tracy. Switching back to a two car entry at the last minute will not have helped in the short term, but should aid PT's championship quest in terms of double the feedback. So long, that is, as his new team-mate behaves himself on opening laps...
[B]Paul Tracy (CDN); Mario Dominguez (MEX)[/B]
Entering his 16th year in the series, there's still no question mark over Paul Tracy's commitment to winning or his race fitness. Some have queried his pace following his partnership with AJ Allmendinger last year, but then one-lap qualifying pace has never been Tracy's forte as he'll admit to anyone.
His strength has been his ability to string a series of qualifying-style laps together to set a formidable race pace and he can still do that, have no doubts. Generally he doesn't crack if someone's pressuring him from behind, and he's relentless in his pursuit of the guy in front.
What he does do is get overambitious when it comes to overtaking: not only will he dive into 50/50 situations, he'll try on 30/70s against. That works on certain drivers, but not on Bourdais, hence their spats over the last four seasons. Still, up against the mighty machine that is Newman/Haas/Lanigan, Tracy's reasoning is that you have to both take and make opportunities.
For the first three races at least, Paul's new team-mate is an old team-mate, Mario Dominguez. Sometimes Mario's on it, and his style is one very much suited to street circuits with their proliferation of 90 degree corners.
Don't be surprised if he occasionally out-qualifies Tracy. In testing for RuSPORT at Sebring this year, Dominguez's pace suggested that he and the new DP01 get along rather well, and at Houston last year he took the only pole position of his Champ Car career.
He might have won too, but cracked under pressure from Bourdais - and that's the problem. He can be a liability, as team-owner Jerry Forsythe knows only too well - which is why he got booted out four races into last season. You never know what you're going to get with Mario: mediocre and steady, quick and wild or, on occasion, both composed and quick.
The important thing is for him to now show his good side. If within these opening three rounds the Mexican gets a podium or two - of which he is eminently capable - then hopefully the sponsors will agree to a full term. However, if he goes on to win the championship, this author promises to attend the end of season Champ Car Banquet wearing a sombrero. Only a sombrero.
[B]
Neel Jani, PKV Racing � LAT
PKV RACING[/B]
This team has changed faces in a big way over the off-season. Gone are 2006 drivers Oriol Servia and Katherine Legge, gone is co-owner Dan Pettit (more later) and arriving on the scene are Red Bull, Neel Jani and Tristan Gommendy.
Mark Johnson remains Team Manager - possibly the most inspired move that remaining co-owners Jimmy Vasser and Kevin Kalkhoven have made. And also newly arrived is a sense of optimism that they can add to the victory Cristiano da Matta scored back in June 2005. Their testing pace has looked that good.
[B]Neel Jani (CH); Tristan Gommendy (F)[/B]
Jani has proven in off-season testing that he will be the man to beat in the 'Rookie of the Year' honours. The ex-GP2 ace doesn't make many mistakes while going very fast indeed, and he is not one to be intimidated, as anyone who witnessed his practice standing starts alongside Paul Tracy at MSR Houston will attest. He describes the Champ Car as "completely different from GP2 but great fun because of the power", yet not once has he looked intimidated by that power.
That's hardly surprising: he has tested Formula One cars with aplomb - in terms of both pace and feedback - and he has serious aspirations to return there. That should give his battles with fellow Formula One hopefuls Sebastien Bourdais and Graham Rahal an extra edge - for being Red Bull-backed, Jani wants to be top of Christian Horner's list to drive a Renault-powered Adrian Newey-designed car in the future.
Where Jani might lose out is in terms of his team-mate's feedback. No question, he would have benefited enormously had he been paired with series veteran Oriol Servia. Instead, he has to rely on a fellow rookie. That's not to knock Gommendy, whose CV boasts a French F3 Championship and a Macau GP win. It's just that Tristan only drove the car for the first time in Laguna Seca, so he was all about getting himself up to speed rather than improving the car.
Meanwhile, his fitness - given his lack of single-seater action in the last nine months - was way off where it should be, and it is unlikely to have improved to the necessary degree in just a month.
However, there is good talent there and podiums are possible by season's end if PKV look as sharp as they have in pre-season testing.
[B]Paul Gentilozzi, Alex Tagliani, Justin Wilson � LAT
RSPORTS[/B]
Right, a quick summary. Last autumn, Dan Pettit - formerly the 'P' of PKV - purchased RuSPORT from team founder Carl Russo. After testing both Mario Dominguez and Oriol Servia in pre-season testing, he elected to cut the squad back to a one-car effort.
Meanwhile, Rocketsports Racing's owner Paul Gentilozzi had already elected to follow that route (his squad always operated best running just one car), and these two series co-owners, being friends, elected to form a technical partnership.
Now they've elected to put on a united front which makes a lot of sense from the marketing point of view, but could get tricky considering one half of the team is based in Loveland, Colorado and the other finds home in Lansing, Michigan.
| artkevin | 04-06-2007 03:20 PM |
con't
[B]Justin Wilson (GB); Alex Tagliani (CDN)[/B]
Third in the championship in 2005, second last year, there's only one way for Wilson to go, right? Hmm... It hasn't looked so good for him in winter testing. Paul Tracy, in his most recent Paul Position here on Autosport.com, wondered aloud whether the Briton's wring-the-car-by-the-neck driving style is not suited to the new DP01, but added that Justin is too good to not overcome this.
Justin disagrees with the first part (presumably wholeheartedly agreeing with the second) and says he likes the feel of the new car. However, he agrees that the team don't look like race-winners at the moment.
The inevitable disruptions within the squad over the last five months have been unsettling, and he and new engineer Mike Talbott (ex-Wilson engineer Todd Malloy has joined Newman/Haas/Lanigan) are still settling into their relationship, with Talbott taking the race engineer role for the first time.
And there is also a weight problem. Yes, Justin is tall and by race-driver standards, heavy, but there have been strange weight disparities from chassis to chassis so how much ballast and where to use it has been a moveable target for Justin's half of the team. Champ Car has raised the minimum weight limit by 10lbs, but by the law of diminishing returns, that gives the light guys even more ballast to play with.
This writer recommended Tagliani as Wilson's team-mate over six months ago, though the twists and turns by which it came to be were fairly unpredictable. On the other hand, I can't claim to have endorsed the Canadian's return to Rocketsports; it's a harsh regime there and Tag gives his best in a team where he knows he's loved.
But having seen Champ Car veterans like himself struggling to find seats in this new era, one has to conclude he was eminently sensible to jump at the opportunity of a paid ride with a team he knows. Team owner Paul Gentilozzi has said before that letting Tagliani go was one of the two biggest mistakes of his motorsport career. (Sorry to be a tease, but the second one is off the record). The chance to remedy that has not only fulfilled Gentilozzi's ambition, it has also boosted Tagliani's confidence.
Being able to measure himself against Wilson is also very handy for Alex's reputation within the paddock, and the fact that he matched the Briton in testing at Laguna will send him into this season brimming with self-confidence.
No driver works harder out of the cockpit on the engineering side than Alex, and if that makes him high maintenance, it also makes his feedback invaluable. He and Wilson could be the best pairing in the series this year. But will that be enough to push them up into Newman/Haas/Lanigan territory?
[B]Will Power, Team Australia � LAT
TEAM AUSTRALIA[/B]
If not quite the form team at the end of 2006 (that's always Newman/Haas, isn't it?), this was the squad that made the most progress through the season. Will Power's pole in Surfers Paradise and third place finish in Mexico City were perhaps less than the team deserved.
That was the Lola B2K era, of which these Reynard-faithful only caught the tail end. Now Derrick Walker, Craig Gore and the squad have to do it all over again with the DP01, but if testing performances are accurate it looks like they're well on the way.
[B]Will Power (AUS); Simon Pagenaud (F)[/B]
Here is a pair of drivers surrounded by questions, but those questions are all of the positive kind. Can Will Power win races? Can Simon Pagenaud win the Rookie of the Year title? The answer to both is yes. In fact, you might get worthwhile odds on Power taking the championship; it's not out of the question, and neither is Pagenaud winning a race.
Power has looked as superb in pre-season testing as he did in most of the latter half of last year. And as his pace has increased, the mistakes have also become fewer. One gets the impression he lacks a little imagination - he can look pretty lurid when making his cars dance between concrete walls, but what the hell? It hasn't done Paul Tracy any harm, has it? May have cost him a title or two, but it has also made him a hit with the fans.
Remember that new level Power appeared to reach in front of his home crowd in Surfers Paradise last year? Well should he repeat the process across North America, he should not only get wins but also end up in the top five in the championship.
More than a few pondered whether Pagenaud was the worthy champion of Atlantics last year, having racked up only one win to Graham Rahal's five - a harsh if predictable summation of someone who plays it smart and does just enough. Just as well Simon did it though. Rahal was graduating to Champ Cars for 2007, title or no title.
Pagenaud, by contrast, needed that $2m. Which team would have gone out of its way to bring another talented but penniless Frenchman into the series? Jeez, nobody did the same for Jon Fogarty and he scored two Atlantic championships, and he was American.
Pagenaud, however, was tested by Forsythe in the Lolas pre-Christmas and outperformed higher profile names - and his momentum has continued now that Team Australia (with whom he won the Atlantic title) have done the obvious and kept hold of him in his graduation.
There is still a question mark over Simon's aggression in a wheel-to-wheel situation, but that can be worked on. The fundamental pace is there, which could be enough to frequently put him ahead of fellow rookies Neel Jani and old rival Graham Rahal.
[B]Robert Doornbos, Team Minardi USA � LAT
TEAM MINARDI USA[/B]
Paul Stoddart has purchased a majority ownership of what was CTE Racing-HVM and has brought the Minardi name (and the two-seat F1 cars) with him. He has simultaneously increased the profile of the team, increased the profile of the series as a whole, and thanks to employing his former Formula One employee Robert Doornbos, increased the marketability of the races in Assen and Zolder. Credit all round.
In his wisdom, 'Stoddy' has also let co-owner Keith Wiggins get on with the day to day running of the team. The fact that Michael Cannon has returned from his brief sojourn at Forsythe can only be a boost too.
[B]Robert Doornbos (NL); Dan Clarke (GB)[/B]
Robert Doornbos arrives in the series with a reputation for being fast if a little wild. That's fine; he's come to the right place. Everyone expects errors from a rookie, and Wiggins is more tolerant than most (as Dan Clarke discovered last year). To paraphrase Mario Andretti, 'you can teach a fast driver to be calm, you can't teach a calm driver to be fast.' Doornbos will blow hot and cold this year, but in a bumper year for rookies, expect Robert's light to burn brightly on several occasions.
What can we say about Dan Clarke that hasn't been said before? 'He's Britain's answer to Fernando Alonso' would be an obvious place to start. In all seriousness, Clarke did a lot of growing up through his rookie season, and that wasn't just a result of Wiggins' brow-beating. Not only did the British driver equal his more experienced team-mate Nelson Philippe in qualifying (7-7) despite being new to all the circuits except Portland, he also reduced the number of mistakes he was making.
Considering he leapt straight from 220bhp Formula Three cars to 750bhp Champ Cars, it was inevitable that initially the car would be driving him. The fact that in between incidents he was impressive enough to retain his ride speaks volumes for his talent. He was a deserved runner-up in the rookie standings.
Now he has a new mountain to climb, because the first time he drives the new car will be in free practice in Las Vegas, a circuit new to everyone. But Clarke constantly has the capacity to surprise, and that goes for his out-of-cockpit behaviour too.
While some colleagues bitched and moaned in the off-season about how and why they had missed out on rides, and how the series had shafted them, Clarke remained positive, he and his manager set about finding funding and didn't once denigrate Champ Cars. Such things count in the end.
[B]Katherine Legge, Dale Coyne Racing � LAT
DALE COYNE RACING[/B]
Here's the team that should stand to benefit most from the introduction of the new car - and certainly the pace shown by both cars in testing suggests regular top six finishes are possible. Dale Coyne brings out the best in his drivers whether they're on the way up or the way down, and if the squad can overcome its principal problem from last year - tardy pitstops - there is no reason why podium finishes should not be possible.
[B]Bruno Junqueira (BR); Katherine Legge (GB)[/B]
Junqueira has to accept that he is just one of those drivers whose head goes down too easily when things are running against him. However, that has been amplified while partnering Sebastien Bourdais, because even at his best, Bruno could barely beat the Frenchman's 'regular' mode. Yes that's harsh - but it's also true. That would still put him in the top six drivers in the series, but there are fresh faces coming on stream now - Power, Jani, Rahal - who can knock the nine-time Champ Car race-winner out of a position of prominence.
Yet Junqueira, on form, is still bewitching to behold. If he finds a set-up that suits him, he has silky skills that can extract great pace while apparently putting in the minimum effort and extracting the minimum out of his tyres. That may yet prove a boon in the DP01. In addition, joining a team that relies largely on his input to guide its developmental path is an ego boost.
At Newman/Haas, the team was largely governed by Bourdais' wishes, with unsurprising results to Junqueira's motivation. It's a frequent occurrence in motorsport that Junqueira may gain more credit from helping a smaller outfit reach the top six than by reaching the podium several times with the best team.
Legge has it all to prove. Her fairy godfather Kevin Kalkhoven has ensured she has a Champ Car seat for a second year, and considering she was often a second or more slower than PKV team-mate Oriol Servia in qualifying last year and the Catalan doesn't have a drive this year, she is going to face accusations that she's only there because she's a girl. But that is only a third of the story.
Considering she graduated from Atlantics a year too early (everyone involved admits that) PKV understandably largely based their set-ups around what Servia wanted last year, and he likes to flick a car into a corner and catch the tail. That's emphatically not going to suit Legge, who likes to caress the car on turn in and lean on the rear.
Coyne - who has now worked with both - reckons there is no way you could hit a set up that suited both, and Legge has said the new car is far more to her style than the Lola. Testing times would appear to verify that. She's not the next Nigel Mansell (thank God - the facial hair would prove a huge problem for those marketing her), but if she fulfils her potential, she could retain her place in the series in 2008 for reasons other than Kalkhoven's chequebook.
For any remaining resentful Servia fans, let's point out that Katherine has ended up in a Dale Coyne Racing car - an opportunity Servia spurned in pre-season testing, because he felt it would harm his chances with PKV and RuSPORT.
[B]Alex Figge and Ryan Dalziel, Pacific Coast Motorsports � LAT
PACIFIC COAST MOTORSPORTS[/B]
"Every time we're struggling with a technical problem, I don't get mad about it. I just think, 'We're in Champ Cars, man!'" Those words come from Champ Car's newest team chief Tyler Tadevic, whose enthusiasm strikes a warm note when counterparts from other teams are bitching about sundry aspects of the series.
Graduating from Grand Am, the team has a lot to learn about Champ Cars, but coming in at the start of a new era at least puts them on the same learning curve as everyone else. Naturally they are the slowest to resolve technical difficulties, but PCM is realistically happy to learn baby steps before attempting to run.
[B]Ryan Dalziel (GB); Alex Figge (USA)[/B]
The drivers who need the most track time have unfortunately had the least in the ratio of 'track days:laps recorded'. The combination of new car problems and rookie team problems has been hard to overcome. But if this had to happen to anyone, it's as well that it happened to two of the better balanced figures within the sport.
Ryan Dalziel, of course, is not entirely new to this, having made his race debut for Coyne back in mid-2005. But that was inconclusive.
Neither he nor team-mate and friend Alex Figge are new to all the circuits, either, having a combined total of five years in the Atlantic championship. But a Champ Car is an animal, even if the DP01 is slightly tamer than its predecessor, and both need a consistent machine before they can start fine-tuning its set-up and start hurling it with brio between concrete walls.
Dalziel is a natural; Figge has to work harder at it and takes longer to build up his confidence. By year's end, the Scot should be able to get top six finishes, the American top eight.
[B]Matt Halliday, Conquest Racing � LAT
CONQUEST RACING[/B]
This team has had more downs than ups in the off-season, and a lack of money prevented Eric Bachelart's squad from even attending the first test. His use of Nelson Philippe in the second test at MSR Houston angered Minardi top brass, who were in negotiations with the Frenchman at the time, but Nelson and his manager said he was a free agent, and needs must. Since then, Bachelart has found a driver of similar talent with a promising sponsor, and suddenly the world looks bright again in the Belgian outpost of Indianapolis.
[B]Matt Halliday (NZ)[/B]
Forget that he has one of the most impressively varied resumes, which includes A1GP, V8 Supercars, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, and Renault World Series. Forget that he tested for Conquest in 2005 at Sebring.
Forget that he took pole at the Monaco Formula Renault V6 Eurocup in his first visit to this most demanding of circuits...actually, don't forget that last one, because therein lies the clue to his impressive pace in his first encounter with the DP01 last month, and therein also lies the reasoning behind Eric Bachelart's employment of him.
Matt just gets in, quickly figures out the limits of his car, and nails it - which differentiates him from one of Conquest's drivers last year, namely Charles Zwolsman, who took too long to build up his confidence. Halliday also works hard outside the cockpit, which distinguishes him from Conquest's other driver for the last two years, Andrew Ranger.
The end result is that this marriage of convenience could also be a match made in heaven. Don't be surprised to see Halliday drive Conquest to the podium this year.
[B]Justin Wilson (GB); Alex Tagliani (CDN)[/B]
Third in the championship in 2005, second last year, there's only one way for Wilson to go, right? Hmm... It hasn't looked so good for him in winter testing. Paul Tracy, in his most recent Paul Position here on Autosport.com, wondered aloud whether the Briton's wring-the-car-by-the-neck driving style is not suited to the new DP01, but added that Justin is too good to not overcome this.
Justin disagrees with the first part (presumably wholeheartedly agreeing with the second) and says he likes the feel of the new car. However, he agrees that the team don't look like race-winners at the moment.
The inevitable disruptions within the squad over the last five months have been unsettling, and he and new engineer Mike Talbott (ex-Wilson engineer Todd Malloy has joined Newman/Haas/Lanigan) are still settling into their relationship, with Talbott taking the race engineer role for the first time.
And there is also a weight problem. Yes, Justin is tall and by race-driver standards, heavy, but there have been strange weight disparities from chassis to chassis so how much ballast and where to use it has been a moveable target for Justin's half of the team. Champ Car has raised the minimum weight limit by 10lbs, but by the law of diminishing returns, that gives the light guys even more ballast to play with.
This writer recommended Tagliani as Wilson's team-mate over six months ago, though the twists and turns by which it came to be were fairly unpredictable. On the other hand, I can't claim to have endorsed the Canadian's return to Rocketsports; it's a harsh regime there and Tag gives his best in a team where he knows he's loved.
But having seen Champ Car veterans like himself struggling to find seats in this new era, one has to conclude he was eminently sensible to jump at the opportunity of a paid ride with a team he knows. Team owner Paul Gentilozzi has said before that letting Tagliani go was one of the two biggest mistakes of his motorsport career. (Sorry to be a tease, but the second one is off the record). The chance to remedy that has not only fulfilled Gentilozzi's ambition, it has also boosted Tagliani's confidence.
Being able to measure himself against Wilson is also very handy for Alex's reputation within the paddock, and the fact that he matched the Briton in testing at Laguna will send him into this season brimming with self-confidence.
No driver works harder out of the cockpit on the engineering side than Alex, and if that makes him high maintenance, it also makes his feedback invaluable. He and Wilson could be the best pairing in the series this year. But will that be enough to push them up into Newman/Haas/Lanigan territory?
[B]Will Power, Team Australia � LAT
TEAM AUSTRALIA[/B]
If not quite the form team at the end of 2006 (that's always Newman/Haas, isn't it?), this was the squad that made the most progress through the season. Will Power's pole in Surfers Paradise and third place finish in Mexico City were perhaps less than the team deserved.
That was the Lola B2K era, of which these Reynard-faithful only caught the tail end. Now Derrick Walker, Craig Gore and the squad have to do it all over again with the DP01, but if testing performances are accurate it looks like they're well on the way.
[B]Will Power (AUS); Simon Pagenaud (F)[/B]
Here is a pair of drivers surrounded by questions, but those questions are all of the positive kind. Can Will Power win races? Can Simon Pagenaud win the Rookie of the Year title? The answer to both is yes. In fact, you might get worthwhile odds on Power taking the championship; it's not out of the question, and neither is Pagenaud winning a race.
Power has looked as superb in pre-season testing as he did in most of the latter half of last year. And as his pace has increased, the mistakes have also become fewer. One gets the impression he lacks a little imagination - he can look pretty lurid when making his cars dance between concrete walls, but what the hell? It hasn't done Paul Tracy any harm, has it? May have cost him a title or two, but it has also made him a hit with the fans.
Remember that new level Power appeared to reach in front of his home crowd in Surfers Paradise last year? Well should he repeat the process across North America, he should not only get wins but also end up in the top five in the championship.
More than a few pondered whether Pagenaud was the worthy champion of Atlantics last year, having racked up only one win to Graham Rahal's five - a harsh if predictable summation of someone who plays it smart and does just enough. Just as well Simon did it though. Rahal was graduating to Champ Cars for 2007, title or no title.
Pagenaud, by contrast, needed that $2m. Which team would have gone out of its way to bring another talented but penniless Frenchman into the series? Jeez, nobody did the same for Jon Fogarty and he scored two Atlantic championships, and he was American.
Pagenaud, however, was tested by Forsythe in the Lolas pre-Christmas and outperformed higher profile names - and his momentum has continued now that Team Australia (with whom he won the Atlantic title) have done the obvious and kept hold of him in his graduation.
There is still a question mark over Simon's aggression in a wheel-to-wheel situation, but that can be worked on. The fundamental pace is there, which could be enough to frequently put him ahead of fellow rookies Neel Jani and old rival Graham Rahal.
[B]Robert Doornbos, Team Minardi USA � LAT
TEAM MINARDI USA[/B]
Paul Stoddart has purchased a majority ownership of what was CTE Racing-HVM and has brought the Minardi name (and the two-seat F1 cars) with him. He has simultaneously increased the profile of the team, increased the profile of the series as a whole, and thanks to employing his former Formula One employee Robert Doornbos, increased the marketability of the races in Assen and Zolder. Credit all round.
In his wisdom, 'Stoddy' has also let co-owner Keith Wiggins get on with the day to day running of the team. The fact that Michael Cannon has returned from his brief sojourn at Forsythe can only be a boost too.
[B]Robert Doornbos (NL); Dan Clarke (GB)[/B]
Robert Doornbos arrives in the series with a reputation for being fast if a little wild. That's fine; he's come to the right place. Everyone expects errors from a rookie, and Wiggins is more tolerant than most (as Dan Clarke discovered last year). To paraphrase Mario Andretti, 'you can teach a fast driver to be calm, you can't teach a calm driver to be fast.' Doornbos will blow hot and cold this year, but in a bumper year for rookies, expect Robert's light to burn brightly on several occasions.
What can we say about Dan Clarke that hasn't been said before? 'He's Britain's answer to Fernando Alonso' would be an obvious place to start. In all seriousness, Clarke did a lot of growing up through his rookie season, and that wasn't just a result of Wiggins' brow-beating. Not only did the British driver equal his more experienced team-mate Nelson Philippe in qualifying (7-7) despite being new to all the circuits except Portland, he also reduced the number of mistakes he was making.
Considering he leapt straight from 220bhp Formula Three cars to 750bhp Champ Cars, it was inevitable that initially the car would be driving him. The fact that in between incidents he was impressive enough to retain his ride speaks volumes for his talent. He was a deserved runner-up in the rookie standings.
Now he has a new mountain to climb, because the first time he drives the new car will be in free practice in Las Vegas, a circuit new to everyone. But Clarke constantly has the capacity to surprise, and that goes for his out-of-cockpit behaviour too.
While some colleagues bitched and moaned in the off-season about how and why they had missed out on rides, and how the series had shafted them, Clarke remained positive, he and his manager set about finding funding and didn't once denigrate Champ Cars. Such things count in the end.
[B]Katherine Legge, Dale Coyne Racing � LAT
DALE COYNE RACING[/B]
Here's the team that should stand to benefit most from the introduction of the new car - and certainly the pace shown by both cars in testing suggests regular top six finishes are possible. Dale Coyne brings out the best in his drivers whether they're on the way up or the way down, and if the squad can overcome its principal problem from last year - tardy pitstops - there is no reason why podium finishes should not be possible.
[B]Bruno Junqueira (BR); Katherine Legge (GB)[/B]
Junqueira has to accept that he is just one of those drivers whose head goes down too easily when things are running against him. However, that has been amplified while partnering Sebastien Bourdais, because even at his best, Bruno could barely beat the Frenchman's 'regular' mode. Yes that's harsh - but it's also true. That would still put him in the top six drivers in the series, but there are fresh faces coming on stream now - Power, Jani, Rahal - who can knock the nine-time Champ Car race-winner out of a position of prominence.
Yet Junqueira, on form, is still bewitching to behold. If he finds a set-up that suits him, he has silky skills that can extract great pace while apparently putting in the minimum effort and extracting the minimum out of his tyres. That may yet prove a boon in the DP01. In addition, joining a team that relies largely on his input to guide its developmental path is an ego boost.
At Newman/Haas, the team was largely governed by Bourdais' wishes, with unsurprising results to Junqueira's motivation. It's a frequent occurrence in motorsport that Junqueira may gain more credit from helping a smaller outfit reach the top six than by reaching the podium several times with the best team.
Legge has it all to prove. Her fairy godfather Kevin Kalkhoven has ensured she has a Champ Car seat for a second year, and considering she was often a second or more slower than PKV team-mate Oriol Servia in qualifying last year and the Catalan doesn't have a drive this year, she is going to face accusations that she's only there because she's a girl. But that is only a third of the story.
Considering she graduated from Atlantics a year too early (everyone involved admits that) PKV understandably largely based their set-ups around what Servia wanted last year, and he likes to flick a car into a corner and catch the tail. That's emphatically not going to suit Legge, who likes to caress the car on turn in and lean on the rear.
Coyne - who has now worked with both - reckons there is no way you could hit a set up that suited both, and Legge has said the new car is far more to her style than the Lola. Testing times would appear to verify that. She's not the next Nigel Mansell (thank God - the facial hair would prove a huge problem for those marketing her), but if she fulfils her potential, she could retain her place in the series in 2008 for reasons other than Kalkhoven's chequebook.
For any remaining resentful Servia fans, let's point out that Katherine has ended up in a Dale Coyne Racing car - an opportunity Servia spurned in pre-season testing, because he felt it would harm his chances with PKV and RuSPORT.
[B]Alex Figge and Ryan Dalziel, Pacific Coast Motorsports � LAT
PACIFIC COAST MOTORSPORTS[/B]
"Every time we're struggling with a technical problem, I don't get mad about it. I just think, 'We're in Champ Cars, man!'" Those words come from Champ Car's newest team chief Tyler Tadevic, whose enthusiasm strikes a warm note when counterparts from other teams are bitching about sundry aspects of the series.
Graduating from Grand Am, the team has a lot to learn about Champ Cars, but coming in at the start of a new era at least puts them on the same learning curve as everyone else. Naturally they are the slowest to resolve technical difficulties, but PCM is realistically happy to learn baby steps before attempting to run.
[B]Ryan Dalziel (GB); Alex Figge (USA)[/B]
The drivers who need the most track time have unfortunately had the least in the ratio of 'track days:laps recorded'. The combination of new car problems and rookie team problems has been hard to overcome. But if this had to happen to anyone, it's as well that it happened to two of the better balanced figures within the sport.
Ryan Dalziel, of course, is not entirely new to this, having made his race debut for Coyne back in mid-2005. But that was inconclusive.
Neither he nor team-mate and friend Alex Figge are new to all the circuits, either, having a combined total of five years in the Atlantic championship. But a Champ Car is an animal, even if the DP01 is slightly tamer than its predecessor, and both need a consistent machine before they can start fine-tuning its set-up and start hurling it with brio between concrete walls.
Dalziel is a natural; Figge has to work harder at it and takes longer to build up his confidence. By year's end, the Scot should be able to get top six finishes, the American top eight.
[B]Matt Halliday, Conquest Racing � LAT
CONQUEST RACING[/B]
This team has had more downs than ups in the off-season, and a lack of money prevented Eric Bachelart's squad from even attending the first test. His use of Nelson Philippe in the second test at MSR Houston angered Minardi top brass, who were in negotiations with the Frenchman at the time, but Nelson and his manager said he was a free agent, and needs must. Since then, Bachelart has found a driver of similar talent with a promising sponsor, and suddenly the world looks bright again in the Belgian outpost of Indianapolis.
[B]Matt Halliday (NZ)[/B]
Forget that he has one of the most impressively varied resumes, which includes A1GP, V8 Supercars, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, and Renault World Series. Forget that he tested for Conquest in 2005 at Sebring.
Forget that he took pole at the Monaco Formula Renault V6 Eurocup in his first visit to this most demanding of circuits...actually, don't forget that last one, because therein lies the clue to his impressive pace in his first encounter with the DP01 last month, and therein also lies the reasoning behind Eric Bachelart's employment of him.
Matt just gets in, quickly figures out the limits of his car, and nails it - which differentiates him from one of Conquest's drivers last year, namely Charles Zwolsman, who took too long to build up his confidence. Halliday also works hard outside the cockpit, which distinguishes him from Conquest's other driver for the last two years, Andrew Ranger.
The end result is that this marriage of convenience could also be a match made in heaven. Don't be surprised to see Halliday drive Conquest to the podium this year.
| Ferg | 04-06-2007 09:07 PM |
PT on provisional pole.
And what's this crap about all races being timed? Who thought that was a good idea?
[QUOTE]Tracy sets provisional Vegas pole
By David Malsher Saturday, April 7th 2007, 00:41 GMT
Paul Tracy guaranteed himself a front-row slot with a superb soft-tyre run to provisional pole on the streets of his home city.
The Forsythe Championship Racing driver recorded a lap time of 1:19.784 to set an average of 110.097mph around the 2.44-mile course, beating a stunning performance by rookie Simon Pagenaud.
The Frenchman put on red-walled soft tyres on his Team Australia car to set a time just two tenths of a second shy of Tracy.
"I've gotta thank the whole team and my personal sponsors," Tracy said. "This was a great performance by everyone, because they worked so hard over the winter.
"But some people outside the team thought our progress would get disrupted by taking on a second car in the last week.
"In fact, the fly-in crew working on Mario's [Dominguez, teammate] car have all pitched in really well. And we've just worked hard."
Regarding the track, the Canadian commented: "I like it, it's a real challenge and it's really fast and wide.
"Chris Kneifel (track designer) has made a really nice job of it. But it's a typical street track - it's slippery off line. You can't put the car in the wrong place on the track and think you can get away with it."
Pagenaud was thrilled with his performance. He said: "It's really, really great to be here. It's kind of a relief too, because at least I know now we're on the pace.
"There are still things I need to work on, on both myself and the car, but it is a good start."
The Frenchman's efforts were particularly notable considering he had never run the soft-compound tyres before, as they had not been used in testing.
He said: "I put the reds on because we felt we might have a shot at pole, but when I tried to brake later, I locked up. So we only managed to get one good lap on them."
Pagenaud's mood was in stark contrast to his countryman Sebastien Bourdais, who was left frustrated by another burnt out ignition coil, which lost him a lot of track time.
In the circumstances, the Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing driver did a remarkable job on the hard compound black tyres to claw himself back through the field to clock third fastest.
His teammate Graham Rahal had a dreadful session, blighted by gear-shifting problems, and he is languishing in 15th.
At the same time, Will Power ruined his chances of a shot at pole when he pushed too hard on the exit of a left-hander and swiped the wall with his right-rear wheel having completed only five laps.
Justin Wilson and Alex Tagliani clocked fourth and fifth fastest for RSPORTS, 0.12 seconds apart, just ahead of Robert Doornbos of Minardi Team USA.
PKV Racing, by contrast, struggled to eighth and ninth - Tristan Gommendy pipping Neel Jani but also earning the displeasure of Dale Coyne Racing by rear-ending Bruno Junqueira's car and breaking its wishbone before the Brazilian even had a chance to set a lap.
Dan Clarke rounded up the top ten, 1.1 seconds behind Minardi teammate Doornbos.
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Paul Tracy Forsythe Championship 1:19.784 10
2. Simon Pagenaud Team Australia 1:19.998 + 0.214 12
3. Sebastien Bourdais Newman/Haas/Lanigan 1:20.197 + 0.413 8
4. Justin Wilson RSPORTS 1:20.310 + 0.526 11
5. Alex Tagliani RSPORTS 1:20.437 + 0.653 11
6. Robert Doornbos Minardi Team USA 1:20.991 + 1.207 15
7. Will Power Team Australia 1:21.007 + 1.223 5
8. Tristan Gommendy PKV 1:21.565 + 1.781 10
9. Neel Jani PKV 1:21.618 + 1.834 11
10. Dan Clarke Minardi Team USA 1:22.123 + 2.339 11
11. Ryan Dalziel Pacific Coast 1:22.202 + 2.418 12
12. Mario Dominguez Forsythe Championship 1:22.384 + 2.600 13
13. Katherine Legge Dale Coyne 1:22.420 + 2.636 13
14. Alex Figge Pacific Coast 1:22.788 + 3.004 12
15. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan 1:23.307 + 3.523 9
16. Matt Halliday Conquest No Time 2
17. Bruno Junqueira Dale Coyne No Time 1
[/QUOTE]
And what's this crap about all races being timed? Who thought that was a good idea?
[QUOTE]Tracy sets provisional Vegas pole
By David Malsher Saturday, April 7th 2007, 00:41 GMT
Paul Tracy guaranteed himself a front-row slot with a superb soft-tyre run to provisional pole on the streets of his home city.
The Forsythe Championship Racing driver recorded a lap time of 1:19.784 to set an average of 110.097mph around the 2.44-mile course, beating a stunning performance by rookie Simon Pagenaud.
The Frenchman put on red-walled soft tyres on his Team Australia car to set a time just two tenths of a second shy of Tracy.
"I've gotta thank the whole team and my personal sponsors," Tracy said. "This was a great performance by everyone, because they worked so hard over the winter.
"But some people outside the team thought our progress would get disrupted by taking on a second car in the last week.
"In fact, the fly-in crew working on Mario's [Dominguez, teammate] car have all pitched in really well. And we've just worked hard."
Regarding the track, the Canadian commented: "I like it, it's a real challenge and it's really fast and wide.
"Chris Kneifel (track designer) has made a really nice job of it. But it's a typical street track - it's slippery off line. You can't put the car in the wrong place on the track and think you can get away with it."
Pagenaud was thrilled with his performance. He said: "It's really, really great to be here. It's kind of a relief too, because at least I know now we're on the pace.
"There are still things I need to work on, on both myself and the car, but it is a good start."
The Frenchman's efforts were particularly notable considering he had never run the soft-compound tyres before, as they had not been used in testing.
He said: "I put the reds on because we felt we might have a shot at pole, but when I tried to brake later, I locked up. So we only managed to get one good lap on them."
Pagenaud's mood was in stark contrast to his countryman Sebastien Bourdais, who was left frustrated by another burnt out ignition coil, which lost him a lot of track time.
In the circumstances, the Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing driver did a remarkable job on the hard compound black tyres to claw himself back through the field to clock third fastest.
His teammate Graham Rahal had a dreadful session, blighted by gear-shifting problems, and he is languishing in 15th.
At the same time, Will Power ruined his chances of a shot at pole when he pushed too hard on the exit of a left-hander and swiped the wall with his right-rear wheel having completed only five laps.
Justin Wilson and Alex Tagliani clocked fourth and fifth fastest for RSPORTS, 0.12 seconds apart, just ahead of Robert Doornbos of Minardi Team USA.
PKV Racing, by contrast, struggled to eighth and ninth - Tristan Gommendy pipping Neel Jani but also earning the displeasure of Dale Coyne Racing by rear-ending Bruno Junqueira's car and breaking its wishbone before the Brazilian even had a chance to set a lap.
Dan Clarke rounded up the top ten, 1.1 seconds behind Minardi teammate Doornbos.
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Paul Tracy Forsythe Championship 1:19.784 10
2. Simon Pagenaud Team Australia 1:19.998 + 0.214 12
3. Sebastien Bourdais Newman/Haas/Lanigan 1:20.197 + 0.413 8
4. Justin Wilson RSPORTS 1:20.310 + 0.526 11
5. Alex Tagliani RSPORTS 1:20.437 + 0.653 11
6. Robert Doornbos Minardi Team USA 1:20.991 + 1.207 15
7. Will Power Team Australia 1:21.007 + 1.223 5
8. Tristan Gommendy PKV 1:21.565 + 1.781 10
9. Neel Jani PKV 1:21.618 + 1.834 11
10. Dan Clarke Minardi Team USA 1:22.123 + 2.339 11
11. Ryan Dalziel Pacific Coast 1:22.202 + 2.418 12
12. Mario Dominguez Forsythe Championship 1:22.384 + 2.600 13
13. Katherine Legge Dale Coyne 1:22.420 + 2.636 13
14. Alex Figge Pacific Coast 1:22.788 + 3.004 12
15. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan 1:23.307 + 3.523 9
16. Matt Halliday Conquest No Time 2
17. Bruno Junqueira Dale Coyne No Time 1
[/QUOTE]
| OnTheGas | 04-07-2007 07:55 PM |
Just talking to a friend of mine who lives in Vegas... he said agreed w/Tracy, it's a nice track for a street lay-out. He said Will Power grabbed the pole today! All the Aussies in the crowd were pretty stoked. Sebastien Bourdais had some mechanical issues... or some problem(s), and he's way down in the field. He didn't know who was on the second row, or anything, as they didn't have a jumbotron.
He said something interesting... he was sitting in a grandstand on an overpass, where the cars are passing underneath them. When they come up the otherside, some of the cars were getting all 4 tires off the ground! And this despite putting a chicane on the entrance to the underpass...
He said something interesting... he was sitting in a grandstand on an overpass, where the cars are passing underneath them. When they come up the otherside, some of the cars were getting all 4 tires off the ground! And this despite putting a chicane on the entrance to the underpass...
| Ferg | 04-07-2007 08:00 PM |
Don't know about the final qualifying session (never could figure out how Champ Car works that) but here's the result from the third session.
[QUOTE][B]Power tops third Vegas practice[/B]
By David Malsher Saturday, April 7th 2007, 19:12 GMT
Will Power nabbed top time with his final lap of Saturday morning practice on the streets of Las Vegas.
The Team Australia driver pipped Sebastien Bourdais by two tenths of a second, setting an average of speed of 110.609mph and revealing that his pace yesterday was masked by problems.
The hot ambient conditions and the improvements to the bumps exiting the penultimate corner have contributed to Power's fastest time on the hard compound black tyres proving quicker than Paul Tracy's provisional pole time set on soft rubber.
While Bourdais looked his impressive best, his Newman/Haas/Lanigan teammate Graham Rahal was doing well until he hit the kerbing chicane too, driving into a wall.
With Rahal's car in an irreparable state for this afternoon's qualifying, the young American will compete in that session in his spare, which has not yet turned a wheel.
The man who beat Rahal to the Atlantic crown last year, Simon Pagenaud, completed just 14 laps due to a faulty gearshift, which meant he was able to change down only on an intermittent basis.
His Team Australia crew face a struggle before final qualifying if there is to be any chance of the Frenchman replicating his stunning effort from yesterday, when he was headed only by Tracy.
The Canadian Forsythe Championship Racing clocked third fastest ahead of the remarkable Bruno Junqueira, who overcame engine electrical issues to set fourth fastest in the Dale Coyne Racing car.
His teammate Katherine Legge had similar gearshift issues to Pagenaud, and her intended full-fuel run turned into a farce due to the preponderance of red flags through the 75-minute session.
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Will Power Team Australia 1:19.415
2. Sebastien Bourdais Newman/Haas/Lanigan 1:19.629 + 0.214
3. Paul Tracy Forsythe Championship 1:20.202 + 0.787
4. Bruno Junqueira Dale Coyne 1:20.391 + 0.976
5. Justin Wilson RSPORTS 1:20.828 + 1.413
6. Neel Jani PKV 1:20.926 + 1.511
7. Alex Tagliani RSPORTS 1:20.940 + 1.525
8. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan 1:20.966 + 1.551
9. Tristan Gommendy PKV 1:21.047 + 1.632
10. Ryan Dalziel Pacific Coast Motorsports 1:21.165 + 1.750
11. Simon Pagenaud Team Australia 1:21.446 + 2.031
12. Dan Clarke Minardi Team USA 1:21.628 + 2.213
13. Mario Dominguez Forsythe Championship 1:21.748 + 2.333
14. Robert Doornbos Minardi Team USA 1:22.021 + 2.606
15. Katherine Legge Dale Coyne 1:22.094 + 2.679
16. Matthew Halliday Conquest 1:22.156 + 2.741
17. Alex Figge Pacific Coast Motorsports 1:22.804 + 3.389[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][B]Power tops third Vegas practice[/B]
By David Malsher Saturday, April 7th 2007, 19:12 GMT
Will Power nabbed top time with his final lap of Saturday morning practice on the streets of Las Vegas.
The Team Australia driver pipped Sebastien Bourdais by two tenths of a second, setting an average of speed of 110.609mph and revealing that his pace yesterday was masked by problems.
The hot ambient conditions and the improvements to the bumps exiting the penultimate corner have contributed to Power's fastest time on the hard compound black tyres proving quicker than Paul Tracy's provisional pole time set on soft rubber.
While Bourdais looked his impressive best, his Newman/Haas/Lanigan teammate Graham Rahal was doing well until he hit the kerbing chicane too, driving into a wall.
With Rahal's car in an irreparable state for this afternoon's qualifying, the young American will compete in that session in his spare, which has not yet turned a wheel.
The man who beat Rahal to the Atlantic crown last year, Simon Pagenaud, completed just 14 laps due to a faulty gearshift, which meant he was able to change down only on an intermittent basis.
His Team Australia crew face a struggle before final qualifying if there is to be any chance of the Frenchman replicating his stunning effort from yesterday, when he was headed only by Tracy.
The Canadian Forsythe Championship Racing clocked third fastest ahead of the remarkable Bruno Junqueira, who overcame engine electrical issues to set fourth fastest in the Dale Coyne Racing car.
His teammate Katherine Legge had similar gearshift issues to Pagenaud, and her intended full-fuel run turned into a farce due to the preponderance of red flags through the 75-minute session.
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Will Power Team Australia 1:19.415
2. Sebastien Bourdais Newman/Haas/Lanigan 1:19.629 + 0.214
3. Paul Tracy Forsythe Championship 1:20.202 + 0.787
4. Bruno Junqueira Dale Coyne 1:20.391 + 0.976
5. Justin Wilson RSPORTS 1:20.828 + 1.413
6. Neel Jani PKV 1:20.926 + 1.511
7. Alex Tagliani RSPORTS 1:20.940 + 1.525
8. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan 1:20.966 + 1.551
9. Tristan Gommendy PKV 1:21.047 + 1.632
10. Ryan Dalziel Pacific Coast Motorsports 1:21.165 + 1.750
11. Simon Pagenaud Team Australia 1:21.446 + 2.031
12. Dan Clarke Minardi Team USA 1:21.628 + 2.213
13. Mario Dominguez Forsythe Championship 1:21.748 + 2.333
14. Robert Doornbos Minardi Team USA 1:22.021 + 2.606
15. Katherine Legge Dale Coyne 1:22.094 + 2.679
16. Matthew Halliday Conquest 1:22.156 + 2.741
17. Alex Figge Pacific Coast Motorsports 1:22.804 + 3.389[/QUOTE]
| Ferg | 04-07-2007 08:08 PM |
Here's the break down on quali...
[QUOTE]6.18.3A. The fastest qualifier from each qualifying session is guaranteed a
front row starting position. The fastest overall time will determine the
polesitter. All remaining starting positions will be determined using a driver�s
best single lap time obtained during either qualification session.[/QUOTE]
And here's the starting grid.
[URL=http://www.champcarworldseries.com/Results/SessionResults.asp?ID=1677&Combined=1]->Combined Q1 & Q2 times<-[/URL]
[QUOTE]6.18.3A. The fastest qualifier from each qualifying session is guaranteed a
front row starting position. The fastest overall time will determine the
polesitter. All remaining starting positions will be determined using a driver�s
best single lap time obtained during either qualification session.[/QUOTE]
And here's the starting grid.
[URL=http://www.champcarworldseries.com/Results/SessionResults.asp?ID=1677&Combined=1]->Combined Q1 & Q2 times<-[/URL]
| OnTheGas | 04-07-2007 08:27 PM |
Champ cars floating thru the air...
�
�
[QUOTE=OnTheGas;17642139]...overpass, where the cars are passing underneath... When they come up the otherside, some of the cars were getting all 4 tires off the ground! And this despite putting a chicane on the entrance to the underpass...[/QUOTE][URL="http://www.motorsport.com/photos/select.asp?S=CHAMPCAR&E=Las_Vegas/Friday_qualifying&Y=2007&O=48"]Here we go![/URL]
[IMG]http://www.motorsport.com/photos/champcar/2007/lv/champcar-lv-kd-2007-0294.jpg[/IMG]
Mario Dominguez airs it out!
Reminds me a little of the old course at Long Beach, when the F1 cars ran there, and they were grabbing air coming down off of Ocean Avenue... those were the days... (see user show his age).
[IMG]http://www.motorsport.com/photos/champcar/2007/lv/champcar-lv-kd-2007-0294.jpg[/IMG]
Mario Dominguez airs it out!
Reminds me a little of the old course at Long Beach, when the F1 cars ran there, and they were grabbing air coming down off of Ocean Avenue... those were the days... (see user show his age).
| StuBeck | 04-07-2007 09:23 PM |
The reason for timed races is because most were becoming timed anyways. They also want it to be timed for the television audiences.
| ptclaus98 | 04-08-2007 05:42 PM |
C'mon Legge.
| bemani | 04-08-2007 05:53 PM |
[QUOTE=StuBeck;17642823]The reason for timed races is because most were becoming timed anyways. They also want it to be timed for the television audiences.[/QUOTE]
Stupid NBC ... if it is a timed race, show us the remaining time on the display! :furious:
Stupid NBC ... if it is a timed race, show us the remaining time on the display! :furious:
| artkevin | 04-10-2007 12:12 AM |
My Vegas pics
[url]http://s66.photobucket.com/albums/h241/artkevin_4/Vegas%2007/[/url]
[IMG]http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h241/artkevin_4/Vegas%2007/PowerBurnoutII.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h241/artkevin_4/Vegas%2007/Minardisback.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h241/artkevin_4/Vegas%2007/McLarenBlur.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h241/artkevin_4/Vegas%2007/Bourdaispits.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h241/artkevin_4/Vegas%2007/StreetsofVegas-1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h241/artkevin_4/Vegas%2007/DP01Halliday.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h241/artkevin_4/Vegas%2007/MinadriF1X2II.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h241/artkevin_4/Vegas%2007/MsLegge.jpg[/IMG]
[url]http://s66.photobucket.com/albums/h241/artkevin_4/Vegas%2007/[/url]
[IMG]http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h241/artkevin_4/Vegas%2007/PowerBurnoutII.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h241/artkevin_4/Vegas%2007/Minardisback.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h241/artkevin_4/Vegas%2007/McLarenBlur.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h241/artkevin_4/Vegas%2007/Bourdaispits.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h241/artkevin_4/Vegas%2007/StreetsofVegas-1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h241/artkevin_4/Vegas%2007/DP01Halliday.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h241/artkevin_4/Vegas%2007/MinadriF1X2II.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h241/artkevin_4/Vegas%2007/MsLegge.jpg[/IMG]
| ptclaus98 | 04-10-2007 07:54 AM |
I lied. I support the CCWS. **** Tony George, this race was alot more exciting than St Pete, and I only got to see 30 min. of it.
| Yack Attack | 04-13-2007 11:04 PM |
[QUOTE=ptclaus98;17668016]I support the CCWS. **** Tony George, this race was alot more exciting than St Pete, and I only got to see 30 min. of it.[/QUOTE]
Yes, I agree. FTG!
Yes, I agree. FTG!
| Jonathan | 04-21-2007 08:29 PM |
[list]Pos Driver # Team Lap Time Mph km/h Leader Previous
1 S. Bourdais 1 Newman/ Haas/ Lanigan Racing 57.242 105.845 170.341
2 W. Power 5 Team Australia 57.405 105.545 169.858 0.163
3 J. Wilson 9 RSPORTS 57.533 105.310 169.480 0.291 0.128
4 N. Jani 21 PKV Racing 57.753 104.909 168.834 0.511 0.220
5 O. Servia 3 Forsythe Championship Racing 57.790 104.842 168.726 0.548 0.037
6 G. Rahal 2 Newman/ Haas/ Lanigan Racing 57.896 104.650 168.417 0.654 0.106
7 S. Pagenaud 15 Team Australia 57.929 104.590 168.321 0.687 0.033
8 T. Gommendy 22 PKV Racing 58.026 104.415 168.039 0.784 0.097
9 M. Dominguez 7 Forsythe Championship Racing 58.079 104.320 167.886 0.837 0.053
10 B. Junqueira 19 Dale Coyne Racing 58.169 104.159 167.627 0.927 0.090
11 A. Tagliani 8 RSPORTS 58.198 104.107 167.544 0.956 0.029
12 D. Clarke 4 Minardi Team USA 58.355 103.827 167.093 1.113 0.157
13 R. Doornbos 14 Minardi Team USA 58.569 103.447 166.481 1.327 0.214
14 M. Halliday 42 Conquest Racing 58.577 103.433 166.459 1.335 0.008
15 R. Dalziel 28 Pacific Coast Motorsports 58.835 102.980 165.730 1.593 0.258
16 R. Moreno 29 Pacific Coast Motorsports 59.231 102.291 164.621 1.989 0.396
17 K. Legge 11 Dale Coyne Racing 59.257 102.246 164.549 2.015 0.026 [/list]
Will Power will be starting from Pole, because Team Australia protested against Seabass (even though Seabass had quicker times) and accused him of "blocking" during qualifing. Not having seen the "incident" I dont know if this was a good call or not.
1 S. Bourdais 1 Newman/ Haas/ Lanigan Racing 57.242 105.845 170.341
2 W. Power 5 Team Australia 57.405 105.545 169.858 0.163
3 J. Wilson 9 RSPORTS 57.533 105.310 169.480 0.291 0.128
4 N. Jani 21 PKV Racing 57.753 104.909 168.834 0.511 0.220
5 O. Servia 3 Forsythe Championship Racing 57.790 104.842 168.726 0.548 0.037
6 G. Rahal 2 Newman/ Haas/ Lanigan Racing 57.896 104.650 168.417 0.654 0.106
7 S. Pagenaud 15 Team Australia 57.929 104.590 168.321 0.687 0.033
8 T. Gommendy 22 PKV Racing 58.026 104.415 168.039 0.784 0.097
9 M. Dominguez 7 Forsythe Championship Racing 58.079 104.320 167.886 0.837 0.053
10 B. Junqueira 19 Dale Coyne Racing 58.169 104.159 167.627 0.927 0.090
11 A. Tagliani 8 RSPORTS 58.198 104.107 167.544 0.956 0.029
12 D. Clarke 4 Minardi Team USA 58.355 103.827 167.093 1.113 0.157
13 R. Doornbos 14 Minardi Team USA 58.569 103.447 166.481 1.327 0.214
14 M. Halliday 42 Conquest Racing 58.577 103.433 166.459 1.335 0.008
15 R. Dalziel 28 Pacific Coast Motorsports 58.835 102.980 165.730 1.593 0.258
16 R. Moreno 29 Pacific Coast Motorsports 59.231 102.291 164.621 1.989 0.396
17 K. Legge 11 Dale Coyne Racing 59.257 102.246 164.549 2.015 0.026 [/list]
Will Power will be starting from Pole, because Team Australia protested against Seabass (even though Seabass had quicker times) and accused him of "blocking" during qualifing. Not having seen the "incident" I dont know if this was a good call or not.
| Jonathan | 04-22-2007 06:46 PM |
Practice 1 Practice 2 Qualifying 1 Practice 3 Practice 4 Qualifying 2 Warm-Up Race
FP SP # Driver Team LC Time Mph km/h Lag Status [list]
1 1 1 S. Bourdais Newman/ Haas/ Lanigan Racing 93 1:45:32.136 89.356 143.804 Active
2 6 2 G. Rahal Newman/ Haas/ Lanigan Racing 93 1:45:36.955 89.288 143.695 4.818 Active
3 13 14 R. Doornbos Minardi Team USA 93 1:45:39.197 89.256 143.644 7.060 Active
4 5 3 O. Servia Forsythe Championship Racing 93 1:45:40.886 89.232 143.606 8.749 Active
5 7 15 S. Pagenaud Team Australia 93 1:45:41.590 89.222 143.590 9.453 Active
6 9 7 M. Dominguez Forsythe Championship Racing 93 1:45:51.215 89.087 143.372 19.078 Active
7 10 19 B. Junqueira Dale Coyne Racing 93 1:45:51.917 89.077 143.356 19.780 Active
8 15 28 R. Dalziel Pacific Coast Motorsports 93 1:45:52.465 89.070 143.344 20.329 Active
9 11 8 A. Tagliani RSPORTS 93 1:45:57.199 89.003 143.237 25.062 Active
10 3 9 J. Wilson RSPORTS 93 1:46:00.676 88.955 143.159 28.539 Active
11 2 5 W. Power Team Australia 92 1:46:17.127 87.771 141.254 1 Lap Active
12 16 29 R. Moreno Pacific Coast Motorsports 90 1:46:07.054 85.999 138.402 3 Laps Active
13 8 22 T. Gommendy PKV Racing 85 1:37:39.309 88.260 142.040 Mechanical
14 14 42 M. Halliday Conquest Racing 77 1:45:56.062 73.704 118.615 16 Laps Active
15 4 21 N. Jani PKV Racing 67 1:15:39.947 89.787 144.498 40.838 Contact
16 0 11 K. Legge Dale Coyne Racing 67 1:15:40.266 89.781 144.488 41.156 Contact
17 12 4 D. Clarke Minardi Team USA 67 1:21:33.964 83.292 134.045 4 Laps Contact[/list]
Newman/ Haas/ Lanigan Racing ran away an hid from everyone else. Oh well.
FP SP # Driver Team LC Time Mph km/h Lag Status [list]
1 1 1 S. Bourdais Newman/ Haas/ Lanigan Racing 93 1:45:32.136 89.356 143.804 Active
2 6 2 G. Rahal Newman/ Haas/ Lanigan Racing 93 1:45:36.955 89.288 143.695 4.818 Active
3 13 14 R. Doornbos Minardi Team USA 93 1:45:39.197 89.256 143.644 7.060 Active
4 5 3 O. Servia Forsythe Championship Racing 93 1:45:40.886 89.232 143.606 8.749 Active
5 7 15 S. Pagenaud Team Australia 93 1:45:41.590 89.222 143.590 9.453 Active
6 9 7 M. Dominguez Forsythe Championship Racing 93 1:45:51.215 89.087 143.372 19.078 Active
7 10 19 B. Junqueira Dale Coyne Racing 93 1:45:51.917 89.077 143.356 19.780 Active
8 15 28 R. Dalziel Pacific Coast Motorsports 93 1:45:52.465 89.070 143.344 20.329 Active
9 11 8 A. Tagliani RSPORTS 93 1:45:57.199 89.003 143.237 25.062 Active
10 3 9 J. Wilson RSPORTS 93 1:46:00.676 88.955 143.159 28.539 Active
11 2 5 W. Power Team Australia 92 1:46:17.127 87.771 141.254 1 Lap Active
12 16 29 R. Moreno Pacific Coast Motorsports 90 1:46:07.054 85.999 138.402 3 Laps Active
13 8 22 T. Gommendy PKV Racing 85 1:37:39.309 88.260 142.040 Mechanical
14 14 42 M. Halliday Conquest Racing 77 1:45:56.062 73.704 118.615 16 Laps Active
15 4 21 N. Jani PKV Racing 67 1:15:39.947 89.787 144.498 40.838 Contact
16 0 11 K. Legge Dale Coyne Racing 67 1:15:40.266 89.781 144.488 41.156 Contact
17 12 4 D. Clarke Minardi Team USA 67 1:21:33.964 83.292 134.045 4 Laps Contact[/list]
Newman/ Haas/ Lanigan Racing ran away an hid from everyone else. Oh well.
| wvallwheeldrive | 04-22-2007 07:16 PM |
it was a good race even if PT wasn't there
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