2005 Champ Car Preview and Season Thread

[TLK]

2005 Champ Car Schedule

Date		Event	Type	Television	Time (EST)		2004 Winner
04/10/05		Long Beach	Street	NBC	04:00 pm		Paul Tracy
05/22/05		Monterrey	Road	TBA			Sebastien Bourdais
06/04/05		Milwaukee	Oval	CBS	01:00 pm		Ryan Hunter-Reay
06/19/05		Portland	Road	CBS	03:30 pm		Sebastien Bourdais
06/26/05		Cleveland	Airport	CBS	01:30 pm		Sebastien Bourdais
07/10/05		Toronto	Street	CBS	12:30 pm		Sebastien Bourdais
07/17/05		Edmonton	Airport	Speed	03:00 pm		-New Event-
07/31/05		San Jose	Street	Speed	04:00 pm		-New Event-
08/14/05		Denver	Street	Speed	03:30 pm		Sebastien Bourdais
08/28/05		Montreal	Road	NBC	01:30 pm		Bruno Junqueira
09/24/05		Las Vegas	Oval	Speed	03:00 pm		Sebastien Bourdais
10/16/05		Korea	Road	Speed	04:30 pm		-New Event-
10/23/05		Surfers Paradise	Street	Speed	04:30 pm		Bruno Junqueira
11/06/04		Mexico City	Road	Speed	03:30 pm		Sebastien Bourdais

[TLK]

2005 Champ Car Driver Preview

(All drivers are listed numerically. Everyone in the field, will race with the Ford/Lola/Bridgestone package. Photos were lifted from Speedsport.de)




#1. Sebastien Bourdais

Team- Newman/Hass Racing
Country- France
Age- 25
Champ Car Experience- 2 years (32 starts, 10 wins, 13 poles)
Sponsor- McDonald's and Centrix

Past Achievements-
2004 Champ Car Series Champion
2003 Champ Car Rookie of The Year
2002 F-3000 Series Champion

Strength- Returning champion on the premier team in Champ Car
Weakness- Pressure to repeat as champion


#2. Bruno Junqueira

Team- Newman/Hass Racing
Country- Brazil
Age- 27
Champ Car Experience- 4 years (71 starts, 7 wins, 8 poles)
Sponsor- Pacific Care and Centrix

Past Achievements-
Three Time Champ Car Series Runner-up (2002-2004)
2000 F-3000 Champion

Strength- Stability with Newman/Hass
Weakness- A bit emotional, lets it effect his driving


#3. Paul Tracy

Team- Forsythe Championship Racing
Country- Canada
Age- 35
Champ Car Experience- 14 years (223 starts, 28 wins, 22 poles)
Sponsor- Indeck

Past Achievements-
2003 Champ Car Series Champion
Current Active Leader in Wins and Poles
2002 Indianapolis 500 Champion

Strength- Past series champion, knows how to get it done, fast and very familiar with most tracks
Weakness- Brain fades coupled with rumors of this being his last year in Champ Car before NASCAR




#4. Björn Wirdheim

Team- HVM Racing (formally Herdez Competition)
Country- Sweden
Age- 25
Champ Car Experience- Rookie
Sponsor- Eurosport

Past Achievements-
2003 F3000 Series Champion
Jaguar Test Driver in 2004

Strength- Rookie, but fast in testing. Has more CC time than any other rookie in the field
Weakness- Has never drove the HVM car (Wirdheim tested with Coyne, Patrick and PKV)


#5. Marcus Marshall

Team- Team Australia Racing (formally Walker Racing)
Country- Australia
Age- 26
Champ Car Experience- Rookie
Sponsor- Aussie Vineyards

Past Achievements-
Veteran competitor of British and Australia F3

Strength- New ownership has past success in V8 Supercars... will it translate to Champ Car success
Weakness- Complete unknown at this point, a few top tens would exceed expectations


#7. Mario Dominguez

Team- Forsythe Championship Racing
Country- Mexico
Age- 28
Champ Car Experience- 3 years (51 starts, 2 wins)
Sponsor- Roshfrans and Telmex

Past Achievements-
2002 Champ Car Series Rookie of The Year
2 Champ Car Victories

Strength- New team, but one of the best in Champ Car and will now have Paul Tracy as a teammate
Weakness- Didn't earn the nickname "Stoopid Dominguez" for nothing




#8. Timo Glock

Team- Rocketsports Racing
Country- Germany
Age- 23
Champ Car Experience- Rookie
Sponsor- DHL

Past Achievements-
2004 Jordan F-1 Driver
Graduate of Deutsch Post’s "Speed Academy"

Strength- Cool and fast. Should be a treat to watch on road courses. Could be the surprise of 05'
Weakness- Can the team gain the consistency they need to run for the title?


#9. Justin Wilson

Team- RuSPORT
Country- England
Age- 25
Champ Car Experience- 1 year (14 starts)
Sponsor- Sandisk

Past Achievements-
2001 F-3000 Series Champion
1998 Formula Audi Champion
2003 Minardi and Jordan F-1 Driver

Strength- Road & Street courses. With a new team, that will have better equipment.
Weakness- Team is still relatively new, and he'll be the #2 driver behind Allmendinger


#10. AJ Allmendinger

Team- RuSPORT
Country- United States
Age- 23
Champ Car Experience- 1 year (14 starts, 2 podiums)
Sponsor- Red Bull

Past Achievements-
2004 Champ Car Rookie of The Year
2003 Toyota Atlantic Champion
2002 Barber Dodge Champion
2001 Formula Dodge National Championship Runner-up

Strength- Brightest young star in American open-wheel racing with team showing a commitment that the potential
Weakness- Didn't pull off a win last year, needs to get the "monkey off his back"


#11. Ricardo Sperafico

Team- Dale Coyne Racing
Country- Brazil
Age- 25
Champ Car Experience- Rookie
Sponsor- TBA

Past Achievements-
2003 F-3000 Runner-up
2001 Italian Formula 3000 Champion

Strength- Unlike his relatives, Ricardo can race.
Weakness- He's stuck in a Coyne car




#12. Jimmy Vasser

Team- PKV Racing
Country- United States
Age- 39
Champ Car Experience- 13 years (218 starts, 10 wins, 8 poles)
Sponsor- Gulfstream

Past Achievements-
1996 CART/Champ Car Champion
Owns Record for Most Consecutive Champ Car starts (197+)
Fastest Driver ever in a Champ Car race (197.995mph in Fontana)
Part Owner of PKV Racing

Strength- Experience. Should gel well with da Matta
Weakness- Hasn't won in two seasons, might be the end of the road here


#15. Alex Tagliani

Team- Team Australia Racing (formally Walker Racing)
Country- Canada
Age- 32
Champ Car Experience- 5 years (91 races, 1 win, 4 poles)
Sponsor- WPS

Past Achievements-
Veteran of both Champ Car and Toyota Atlantic Series'
Won first Champ Car race in 2004

Strength- Good qualifier and out to prove he can win. Wife is smoking hot
Weakness- Had rough off-season, getting dumped from Rocketsports. Will have to recover with a team that hasn't performed up to speed over recent years




#19. Oriol Servia

Team- Dale Coyne Racing
Country- Spain
Age- 31
Champ Car Experience- 5 years (86 starts, 5 podiums)
Sponsor- American Medical Response

Past Achievements-
2000 Runner-up for ChampCar Rookie of The Year
1999 Dayton Indy Lights Champion

Strength- Nothing short of amazing in the Coyne car last year, gets the best out of subpar equipment. Fast and aggressive.
Weakness- Couldn't parlay last years success into a better ride. Will have to make the best out of the situation with Coyne


#21. Christiano da Matta

Team- PKV Racing
Country- Brazil
Age- 31
Champ Car Experience- 4 years (79 races, 11 wins, 7 poles)
Sponsor- Bell Micro

Past Achievements-
2002 Champ Car Series Champion
1998 Dayton Indy Lights Champion
2003 Toyota F-1 Driver

Strength- Extremely fast with a team that needs to prove themselves
Weakness- Can he go back to his championship ways? A win early would be a step in that direction




#27. Andrew Ranger

Team- Mi-Jack Conquest Racing
Country- Canada
Age- 18 (yes... 18)
Champ Car Experience- Rookie
Sponsor- Tide and Kodak

Past Achievements-
2002 FranAm Champion

Strength- The next great Canadian OW driver.... people want him to succeed
Weakness- Young, very little experience




#31. Ryan Hunter-Reay

Team- Rocketsports Racing
Country- United States
Age- 24
Champ Car Experience- 2 years (32 starts, 2 wins, 1 pole)
Sponsor- Johnson Controls

Past Achievements-
One win in each of the past two seasons
Three Toyota Atlantic wins in 2002
1999 Formula Barber Dodge Champion (East)

Strength- Excellent on ovals, Rookie teammate, but a quick one at that
Weakness- Three teams in three years


#34. Nelson Philippe

Team- Mi-Jack Conquest Racing
Country- France
Age- 18
Champ Car Experience- 1 year (10 starts)
Sponsor- Hollywood

Past Achievements-
Skipped from Barber Dodge straight to Champ Car in 2004

Strength- Showed improvement last season from start to finish.... hopefully it'll continue this year
Weakness- Age and won't get any help from his teammate who is a 18 year-old rookie




#41. Fabrizio del Monte

Team- Eric Jensen Racing
Country- Italy
Age- 24
Champ Car Experience- Rookie
Sponser- TBA

Past Achievements-
Euro 3000 Series Runner-up (2003 & 2004)

Strength- Impressive in the Euro 3000 Series.
Weakness- Where to start? The team is brand new and didn't have any testing. Fabrizio hasn't had any seat time in Champ Car.


#55. Ronnie Bremer

Team- HVM Racing (formally Herdez Competition)
Country- Denmark
Age- 26
Champ Car Experience- Rookie
Sponsor- TBA

Past Achievements-
6th in Toyota Atlantics in 2004 despite splitting the season with two teams
4 years of British Formula Ford Experience

Strength- Has been fast in Toyota Atlantics and in Europe
Weakness- Team has yet to announce a sponsor, and they will need all the funding they can get. Ride may only be a one race deal with Jos Verstappen looking for a ride.

.

[TLK]

My Series Championship odds and predictions....

#	Driver	Team	Odds	Comment
1	Sebastien Bourdais	Newman/Hass Racing	3:2	Won't win as many races as last year, but enough to win the title
2	Bruno Junqueira	Newman/Hass Racing	2:1	He's finished in second the past three years... How can I put anyone else here?
3	Paul Tracy	Forsythe Racing	3:1	Unlike last year, Tracy should outscore his teammate
10	AJ Allmendinger	RuSPORT	8:1	Breakthrough year upcoming
21	Cristiano da Matta	PKV Racing	8:1	No doubt he'll be fast, but fast enough?
7	Mario Dominguez	Forsythe Racing	10:1	Best team Mario has raced on.... a win is not out of the question
9	Justin Wilson	RuSPORT	12:1	Justin opened a lot of eyes in 04'. A win and a few podiums sounds possible
8	Timo Glock	Rocketsports Racing	15:1	My front-runner for Rookie of The Year
31	Ryan Hunter-Reay	Rocketsports Racing	15:1	Real question this year is if he can beat his teammate...
4	Björn Wirdheim	HVM Racing	20:1	Glock's competiton for ROY
15	Alex Tagliani	Team Australia Racing	25:1	Might sneak in a podium or two, but I can't see a win this year
12	Jimmy Vasser	PKV Racing	25:1	It would be nice to see him leave with a win or two, but it probably won't happen
19	Oriol Servia	Dale Coyne Racing	50:1	Would be in the Top 10, if he was with another team. A podium or two isn't out of the question
27	Andrew Ranger	Mi-Jack Conquest Racing	100:1	Will be fast, but his inexperience will catch up to him
11	Ricardo Sperafico	Dale Coyne Racing	150:1	Has talent, but due to the nature of the Coyne operation, may not make it through the season
55	Ronnie Bremer	HVM Racing	200:1	Isn't going to set the world on fire, but won't be horrible either
41	Fabrizio del Monte	Jensen Motorsport	200:1	del Monte won't be the problem... Jensen had no testing, equaling a long year
34	Nelson Philippe	Mi-Jack Conquest Racing	250:1	Didn't finish any higher than 9th last season. Will be lucky to do it this year...
5	Marcus Marshall	Team Australia Racing	300:1	Anything besides a few Top 10's, should be considered a bonus

[Ryan S]

I like Paul Tracy's bio.

[Northwood_DK]

and i like Nelson Philippes hair !!!

[RendeR]

They still have a Champ Car circuit????? I thought go kart racing had finally died in America.

[TLK]

CHAMP CAR TEAM OWNER PAUL NEWMAN TO RACE TONIGHT SHOW HOST JAY LENO ON FRIDAY NIGHT'S SHOW ON NBC
Thursday, April 7, 2005

Champ Car Team Owner Paul Newman To Race Tonight Show Host Jay Leno on Friday Night's Show on NBC

BURBANK, Calif. (April 7, 2005) - Long-time Champ Car team owner and legendary actor Paul Newman will carry the Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford flag into battle Friday night as he appears on NBC's famed Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Newman, who co-owns the 2004 series championship-winning Newman/Haas Racing team, will appear on the NBC late-night program Friday night at 11:30 p.m., talking with host Jay Leno about his movie career as well as the Champ Car World Series, which opens its season on the streets of Long Beach this weekend.



After their discussion, the scene will shift to the parking lot where Newman will square off against Leno in a go-kart race, with play-by-play commentary provided by Champ Car television announcer Derek Daly. Newman and former Champ Car driver Memo Gidley will then leave the set in the 750 hp two-seat Champ Car.

The 2005 Champ Car World Series season will open at this weekend's Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, and can be seen live on NBC beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Qualifying for the season opener begins on Friday with a final session coming Saturday afternoon.

The strangest thing about this deal, is that ChampCar selected a driver who is no longer in the series to drive the two-seater tonight.... just strange

[Galaxy]

It is strange, but it's publicity (and not bad) for ChampCar. Letterman has the IRL, maybe Leno can back the ChampCars.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by RendeR

I thought go kart racing had finally died in America.

I guess American open-wheel racing deserves slams like this these days.

[cartman]

A bit surprising that there is both a Laguna Seca and a San Jose event this season. And some strange scheduling that Long Beach is this weekend, then a month and a half until the second event at Laguna Seca.

[TLK]

Laguna Seca was taken off the schedule this year, to accommodate the San Jose event. The Monterrey listed, is Monterrey, Mexico.

[TLK]

Originally Posted by RendeR

They still have a Champ Car circuit????? I thought go kart racing had finally died in America.

"What struck me was that da Matta and Wheldon were as much racers as the NASCAR guys, and much easier to talk to. The primary problem in any NASCAR-vs.-the world debate is that “we don’t know the people.” Well, damn it, if you’d just take time out from your NASCAR to watch…."

Ben Blake

[cartman]

Originally Posted by TheLionKing

Laguna Seca was taken off the schedule this year, to accommodate the San Jose event. The Monterrey listed, is Monterrey, Mexico.

Ah, ok. That's too bad, since Laguna Seca was my favorite CART track.

[TLK]

The Leno show was pretty good last night. Newman was on for three segments of the show, causing Sandra Oh to get bumped . He got a lot of plugs in for Champ Car and even a dig or two at the IRL. Amazingly though, they didn't promote the fact that the race was on NBC. Newman then defeated Leno in the race through the studio and then left in the Champ Car 2-seater. All-in-all an excellent showing. I hope when I'm 80 years old, I can be in half the shape than PLN is..... truly amazing guy....

[TLK]

Starting Lineup  Long Beach
SP 	# 	Driver 		Residence 		Sponsor 			LT 		Mph 		
1 	3 	P. Tracy 	Las Vegas, NV 		Indeck (F/L/B) 			1:07.485 	104.983 		
2 	2 	B. Junqueira 	Miami, FL 		PacifiCare/TBA (F/L/B) 		1:07.644 	104.737 		

3 	7 	M. Dominguez 	Mexico City 		Indeck (F/L/B) 			1:07.803 	104.491 		
4 	1 	S. Bourdais 	Temple Terrace, Florida McDonald's (F/L/B) 		1:07.821 	104.463 		

5 	9 	J. Wilson 	Northampton, England 	SanDisk (F/L/B) 		1:07.919 	104.312 		
6 	8 	T. Glock 	Wersau, Germany 	Rocketsports (F/L/B) 		1:08.274 	103.770 		

7 	15 	A. Tagliani 	Las Vegas, NV 		Aussi Vineyards (F/L/B) 	1:08.466 	103.479 		
8 	21 	C. da Matta 	Miami, FL 		PKV Racing (F/L/B) 		1:08.493 	103.438 		

9 	55 	R. Bremer 	Copenhagen, Denmark 	HVM, Inc. (F/L/B) 		1:08.613 	103.257 		
10 	10 	A. Allmendinger Denver, CO 		Red Bull (F/L/B) 		1:08.638 	103.220 		

11 	12 	J. Vasser 	Las Vegas, NV 		Gulfstream/PKV Racing (F/L/B) 	1:08.770 	103.022 		
12 	31 	R. Hunter-Reay 	Boca Raton, Florida 	Rocketsports (F/L/B) 		1:08.792 	102.989 		

13 	4 	B. Wirdheim 	Aylesbury, UK 		HVM, Inc. (F/L/B) 		1:08.834 	102.926 		
14 	19 	O. Servia 	Miami, FL 		AMR (F/L/B) 			1:08.928 	102.786 		

15 	34 	N. Philippe 	Key Biscayne, Florida 	Mi-Jack (F/L/B) 		1:09.334 	102.184 		
16 	27 	A. Ranger 	Montreal, Quebec 	Mi-Jack/Tide (F/L/B) 		1:09.416 	102.063 		

17 	5 	M. Marshall 	Indianapolis, IN 	Aussie Vineyards (F/L/B) 	1:09.784 	101.525 		
18 	11 	R. Sperafico 				Dale Coyne Racing (F/L/B) 	1:09.879 	101.387 		

19 	41 	F. Del Monte 	Rome, Italy 		Jensen Motorsport (F/L/B) 	1:11.723 	 98.780 	

:shill:
Hey....watch the Long Beach Grand Prix today on NBC at 4pm (EST)
:/shill:

by the way.... Tracy broke the track record with his qualifying effort....

[TLK]

By MIKE HARRIS, AP Motorsports Writer

April 10, 2005

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) -- Sebastien Bourdais was amazed when he drove past Paul Tracy for the lead with relative ease in Sunday's Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Bourdais, coming out of the pits two laps after Tracy's first stop, noted that passing Tracy anytime is ``usually a handful,'' but on the streets of Long Beach, where Tracy had won the last two races and four overall, and with cold tires, ``it's really tough.

`My crew was surprised I was able to get by PT like that and I was, too. I came on the radio and said, `How about that!' It was really surprising.''

Tracy, who finished second, shrugged off Bourdais' strong move on the 38th of 81 laps, saying, ``As you can image, my reaction was the opposite.''

But Tracy pointed out he was just going along with the new Champ Car World Series edict prohibiting blocking.

``The rules are very clear on blocking,'' Tracy explained. ``In the past you'd see guys weaving and moving and, if you tried to pass for the lead, you'd wind up crashing. Today, we had three clean passes for the lead and that's good for the sport.''

Tracy tried hard to make a race of it after the pass, but this one belonged to Bourdais, the reigning series champion, who gave his Newman/Haas Racing teams its first Long Beach victory in 19 years.

The last time the team co-owned by Chicago businessman Carl Haas and actor Paul Newman won America's longest running downtown street race was in 1987, when now-retired Mario Andretti finished first and Bourdais was 8 years old.

And it could be the last time the Champ Cars, which replaced Formula One here in 1984, race at Long Beach. This is the final year of the contract and Long Beach officials are considering replacing the Champ Cars with the rival Indy Racing League in 2006.

``We want to be back here next year,'' Bourdais said as he celebrated the 11th victory of his career. ``The fans here saw great racing today and we want to come back and do that for them again.''

Bourdais started fourth, but came out of the first series of pit stops second to Tracy. Once he got past the Canadian driver, Bourdais built a pair of leads of more than 5.5 seconds, both erased by full-course caution flags. Tracy was unable to take advantage of those opportunities.

The two leaders made their final stops on lap 61 and Bourdais easily beat Tracy's Forsythe Racing entry back onto the track. After Jimmy Vasser and rookie Andrew Ranger, both driving a different pit strategy, made their final stops on lap 70, that put Bourdais and Tracy back on top, with the Frenchman leading by 7.6 seconds.

When rookie Bjorn Wirdheim bumped Ranger into a tire wall on lap 72, bringing out the fourth and final caution of the day, Tracy had one more shot at the leader. But it was no contest.

He got held up slightly by the lapped car of rookie Marcus Marshall, who drove into the pits moments before the restart. By the time Tracy got up to speed, Bourdais was long gone.

Bourdais, who won seven of 14 races last year, took the green flag on lap 76 and, while Tracy briefly fought off a challenge for second by Bruno Junqueira, the other Newman/Haas driver, Bourdais easily pulled away.

``That was really the only legitimate shot I had to get by Sebastien,'' Tracy said. ``But that would have been really hard and I don't think I would have outraced him at that point.

``I had a good first stint, but my car didn't seem to improve from there. The track got better as the race went along and the other guys improved, but I was driving as hard as I could and my pace never seemed to change.''

Bourdais finished 4.138 seconds ahead of Tracy, nearly the length of the entire main straightaway on the 1.968-mile street circuit. He led a race-high 37 laps.

``I did everything I could,'' Tracy said. ``I've done a lot of races here at Long Beach and had a lot of success, but this is one of the hardest races I've ever had.''

Echoing Bourdais, Tracy said, ``It would be a real shame if we're not back next year.''

Junqueira finished third, followed by Justin Wilson, Tracy's new teammate Mario Dominguez, and a pair of rookies, Timo Glock and Ronnie Bremer.

Junqueira, who has now finished third, second and third in his last three starts at Long Beach, started from the outside of the front row and took advantage of an early mistake by Tracy to briefly take the lead on the third lap. But Tracy got it back on a restart eight laps later.

``We just couldn't get back up there to the leaders because of some yellow flags and traffic,'' Junqueira said. ``But Sebastien getting a win for Newman/Haas is a good way to start the season.''

The race ended up being very good, with seven different leaders and four on-track passes for the lead. The broadcast left much to be desiried, but it was miles ahead of last years Spike programming.

[Galaxy]

Man, I was pissed today. I watch the Cup race, then when 4 came, got excited and flipped to NBC. The local station decided to do a "Kids Escape Drugs Telethon" until 11. I was not happy.

[TLK]

Originally Posted by Galaxy

Man, I was pissed today. I watch the Cup race, then when 4 came, got excited and flipped to NBC. The local station decided to do a "Kids Escape Drugs Telethon" until 11. I was not happy.

You around Buffalo?....

[MrBug708]

Good race today. I got to sit right at the hairpin turn for the race in VIP tix. I wouldnt have gone otherwise, and it got very monotonous but Im not a race fan so it was to be expected. I did think that Tracy either wasn't really good after blowin ghis lead or just plain dumb and seemed not to worry today. It happens I guess. #41 sucked big time today though.

[TLK]

J.A. Adande:
Traveling at the Speed of Fright

My guy Sebastien Bourdais — mon ami — took the checkered flag at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on Sunday.

Sportswriters aren't supposed to take a rooting interest, but I've never covered someone who had my life in his hands before.

Twelve days before he won the Grand Prix, Bourdais took me and a few other journalists on the rides of our lives around the Long Beach course in a special two-seat car. The simple fact that I lived to write about it made the 26-year-old Frenchman my new favorite driver.

But I had a newfound respect for all of the drivers.

It didn't take long into our test ride, about two turns or so, to realize … you can't do this. It's like hitting .300 against major league pitching or shooting in the 60s on any golf course you encounter, a skill set that belongs only to a select group.

It took all I had just to hold the grips. To actually control the car while your stomach keeps jumping up into your throat and you're pulling five Gs on the turns and the air is rushing by so fast on the straightaway that it feels like your strapped-on helmet will fly off … that's talent.

And remember, one lapse of concentration at 200 mph could mean death. Not some time on the bench for making a dumb mistake, or a stint on the injured list. Death.

That's the most underrated quality of these drivers. Yes, the bravery — maybe even foolishness — gets them in the car, but it's their mental sharpness that keeps them alive. Two laps in the passenger seat was as draining as it was exhilarating for me. They do it for 81 laps over an hour and 45 minutes.

Just as remarkable is their nonchalance. Before and after the journalists climbed in and out of his car, their faces filled with a mix of excitement, fear and awe, Bourdais seemed remarkably relaxed. Almost bored.

"This is what I do," he said.

Last year he did it better than anyone on the Champ Car circuit, winning the 2004 series championship.

And Sunday he was the best in the field thundering through the shore-side streets of Long Beach. He started in the fourth position, but he managed to pass the pole-sitter and early leader Paul Tracy on the 38th lap.

Pit stop timing and speediness and choosing when to use the two available types of tires all factor into winning this race. So do split-second decisions.

What we might think of as the difference between life and death is the difference between victory and defeat for them.

"One-tenth of a second is like blinking your eye," said Tracy, the runner-up. "Sometimes that's what separates the top three guys."

"This street course, " Bourdais said. "It takes so little to be fantastic or … be the worst moment of your life."

Bourdais saw his chance on Tracy in Turn 1, managed to get by him without using the 50 horsepower boost from his "Push to Pass" button, then crowed to his crew on the radio: "How about that?"

How about adding his name to the list of Long Beach winners that includes Mario Andretti and Al Unser Jr.?

"To win is great, especially here, because it's a tremendous racetrack and great champions have won here," Bourdais said.

It didn't even hit me until Sunday that now I have a little bit in common with those great racers too: the experience of zooming down Shoreline Drive in an open cockpit.

The two-seater has the same 750-horsepower engine as the competition Champ cars, but it's taller, heavier and longer, and its top speed of 175 mph is about 50 mph slower than the racing cars.

Obviously it was the highest-performance vehicle I'd sat in, but to Bourdais it handled like "a van."

Still, he drove the only way he knows: all out. It wasn't the speed that seemed so different. I've topped 100 mph before, although it was in a rental car on a darkened, empty highway in Indiana.

The acceleration is what takes your breath away. These cars go from 0 to 100 in four seconds. Television doesn't come close to capturing the sensation. Even watching them zoom by you in person doesn't prepare you for it.

Compared with the ol' Camry, it felt like a jet fighter taking off. And just like that it was time to decelerate for Turn 1. In these cars, there's no time to think. There's always a curve ahead. By the time you think about it, you're in it.

(Since I wasn't driving, I also had the "luxury" of thinking about how awful it would be to hit the walls at those speeds).

And this was on an empty track. Imagine doing it with 18 other cars out there, some of them taking those turns at the same time as you. And you're wearing a helmet that restricts your peripheral vision. That's why, when I asked Bourdais how he keeps tabs on the whereabouts of the other cars, he admitted, "You kind of guess."

And you know what's the hard part for him? Going home, with all those speed limit signs and slow cars.

"I have absolutely no fun driving in the street cars," Bourdais said after the race. "It's probably more dangerous to drive in the traffic."

I told him I saw a Bronco flipped over on the 710 Freeway on the way down.

"No crashes out there today," he said, gesturing back at the track. A couple of spinouts into the tires, a couple of stalls, but no bad crashes.

I was rooting for Bourdais to avoid the walls or an engine stall Sunday.

Almost as much as I was rooting for him to get around the track two times without incident on March 29.

I love these types of articles.....

[RendeR]

Originally Posted by TheLionKing

"What struck me was that da Matta and Wheldon were as much racers as the NASCAR guys, and much easier to talk to. The primary problem in any NASCAR-vs.-the world debate is that “we don’t know the people.” Well, damn it, if you’d just take time out from your NASCAR to watch…."

Ben Blake

I don't have a problem with the drivers, or even the owners, i just expect them to use CARS not go karts.

put fenders on them and then you can call them automobiles, cars, etc.

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by TheLionKing

You around Buffalo?....

Yeap...How'd you know?

[TLK]

Originally Posted by Galaxy

Yeap...How'd you know?

I have a buddy from Buffalo, and he called and told me that they were showing the telethon instead of the race. He was supposed to call the station director and complain.

[TLK]

Bourdais Wins IROC in Texas

By STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer

April 15, 2005, 8:39 PM CDT

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais became just the fourth foreign-born driver to win an IROC race, leading the final 22 laps Friday night at Texas after Kurt Busch suffered the same fate that has plagued him in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series.

Bourdais also held off a late charge by NASCAR's Mark Martin, the winningest driver in 31 years of the International Race of Champions. Martin, who started at the back of the 12-car field, finished second.

"The biggest chance we had was if he would have made a mistake. It didn't look like that would happen," said Martin, whose Daytona win in February was his 12th in IROC. "He did an awesome job. He is an incredibly talented young race car driver."

Based on the reverse order of finish from his IROC debut when he finished last at Daytona, Bourdais started first at Texas. After Steve Kinser of the World of Outlaws led the first six laps, the 26-year-old Frenchman went out in front.

"When I got passed at the beginning, I was not quite sure if I could make it," Bourdais said. "It was a different race. People could pass, there was a lot of action."

Defending Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice finished third in the 67-lap race that was the 114th for IROC. Defending NASCAR Busch Series champion Martin Truex Jr. was fourth and NASCAR truck champion Bobby Hamilton fifth.

Bourdais led when a caution flag came out on lap 37 for debris caused when defending Texas IROC champion and Outlaws driver Danny Lasoski brushed the wall. Busch took over the lead on the first lap after the restart.

Busch then led nine laps until he apparently cut a tire and slammed hard into the outside wall in the second turn. After starting the Cup season with three straight top-three finishes, Busch has crashed in the last three races.

"It's one thing after the next. I can't shake this deal," Busch said. "I'm really confused. It's tiring hitting the wall this many weeks in a row."

That allowed Bourdais back in front, and he stayed there the rest of the race.

The last foreign-born IROC winner was Geoff Brabham at Michigan in 1992. The last open wheel driver to win was Buddy Lazier at Chicagoland Speedway in 2002.

Busch seemed to get a break with a ride through the grassy infield to avoid a wreck on the fifth lap, when Grand American Road racer Scott Pruett was bumped from behind by Cup driver Matt Kenseth and slammed into the wall and was knocked out of the race.

But the trip through the infield included his car going over a drainage culvert. Busch went in for new front tires, but the right- and left-side tires -- the ones on the car when it crashed -- were inadvertently reversed by the IROC pit crew during the stop.

Max Papis was sixth, followed by Lasoski, Kinser, Kenseth and Helio Castroneves of the IndyCar Series.

Martin is the points leader through two of four races with 42. That's 10 more than Bourdais, who earned 29 points Friday night.

There next IROC race is Sept. 8 at Richmond, and the finale is Oct. 29 in Atlanta. The series winner gets $1 million.

Copyright © 2005, The Associated Press

Take that NASCAR!!!

[TLK]

Champ Car bigwig may buy L.B. Grand Prix
By A.J. Perez
Staff writer

Kevin Kalkhoven, the Australian businessman and major Champ Car owner who made a fortune acquiring telecommunications companies, appears primed for another takeover. His target: The Grand Prix Association of Long Beach.

"All I know is that Dover (Motorsports) is going to sell Long Beach," Kalkhoven told the Press-Telegram in a phone interview Wednesday. "(Dover) has hired bankers and we're in discussions."

Up to this point, Delaware-based Dover Motorsports, the parent company of the GPALB, was only believed to be determining which series will race the streets of Long Beach next year. The 31st running of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 10 was the last of a five-year deal with the Champ Car World Series, the sanctioning body owned in large part by Kalkhoven.

The Indy Racing League the decade-old rival of Champ Car was the only other series considered to be in the running for the new contract.

But Kalkhoven's bid to purchase the GPALB certainly changes things.

"Quite frankly, this is one of the possibilities," said Jim Michaelian, the head of the Grand Prix Association. "We are going to do whatever is best for the future of the race. Dover is a public company and it has to review all the alternatives it has in front of it and make the right decision."

Michaelian said if the GPALB is indeed sold, he hopes the new owners would leave the organization intact like Dover did seven years ago.

"We have one hell of a team here," he said. "They are a great team that has shown it can run this event effectively over the years. If (a sale) were to transpire, I think anybody would want to retain that capability."

Kalkhoven said he was bound by a confidentiality agreement with Dover, a move that is common when companies start looking at each other's books. Due to the agreement, Kalkhoven said he couldn't go into too much detail on his bid.

He refused to say how much he thinks the GPALB is worth. The Grand Prix Association has been estimated to be worth between $20 million to $25 million.

Kalkhoven appears to be the only bidder at this point.

"The IRL is not a bidder," said Ken Ungar, the vice president of business affairs for the IRL. "The IRL is waiting for a response from our offer to sanction the race, but we won't make a bid to buy (the GPALB)."

That marks a change of strategy for the IRL. Tony George, the founder of the IRL and its CEO, told the Press-Telegram in recent months that he'd be willing to purchase the GPALB if given the opportunity.

"This is not unprecedented," Ungar said. "Champ Car is in a position where it needs to promote many of its own events. We don't promote our own events. That's not something we would contemplate doing."

Kalkhoven has wooed members of the Long Beach City Council in the months leading up to this year's event, going as far as to fly three of them to meet legendary actor Paul Newman in San Jose last December.

While the city council has no say on which series races here, it may be called upon if the GPALB is sold.

"A change of ownership, depending on the type of change, may allow the city to terminate the agreement under certain circumstances," said assistant city attorney Heather Mahood in an April 12 council meeting.

Reached Wednesday night, city attorney Robert Shannon said he didn't know specifically what those circumstances would be.

"We are going to stand by and see what comes from these discussions," city manager Jerry Miller said.

Michaelian didn't say whether Dover officials were leaning toward Kalkhoven's bid to purchase the GPALB or the IRL's bid to purely sanction the race. He said he expects a timely conclusion to the process.

Dover purchased the GPALB in 1998, then led by Chris Pook, for $91.35 million in cash and stock. The deal included the two permanent tracks the GPALB owned the Memphis Motorsports Park and Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis.

The deal took about five months to complete and required Federal Trade Commission approval.

In recent years, GPALB-organized street races in Denver and St. Petersburg, Fla., have fizzled due to the instability of Champ Car's forerunner, CART. Dover lost several hundred thousand dollars as a result.

A financing company now organizes Denver's Champ Car race and St. Petersburg is now an IRL event run by former CART team owner Kim Green.

Even the LBGP long thought to be the premier U.S. street race hasn't been immune. Despite having a slight uptick in attendance at April's LBGP, Dover president and CEO Denis McGlynn said last month that the race didn't make as much money as the 2004 event.

I wish Kalkhoven was around earlier... he sure seems to know how to deal with Tony George.

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by TheLionKing

I wish Kalkhoven was around earlier... he sure seems to know how to deal with Tony George.

Screw George. Kalkhoven is a very smart businessmen, not just for buying assets, but buying the right ones at the right value and piecing them together for CART. Does Kalkhoben still live and run CART from Australia? When is the next race? What does going after Long Beach ownership entitle? Just that they hold the rights to organize and stage the event, or does Long Beach the city own the race? I'm always confused about how street circuits work. Why not just sign a new contract with the group?

[TLK]

The next race is next weekend in Monterrey, Mexico. The race can be seen on Speed at 11:00 PM (EST).

The whole problem stems from the current contract with Champ Car and Dover (LBGP race owner & promoter) expiring. With the IRL now road racing, they expressed interest in racing at Long Beach. Tony George said that he doesn't want to buy the race, just race at the event. Kalkhoven is willing to purchase the event and promote it. They city of Long Beach has said they would prefer to have Champ Car there, but have no say over the final decision. If Dover decides to keep the race, it will be up to them who races in Long Beach in the future. However, if Kalkhoven makes the purchase, Champ Car will be there for a long time.

The IRL is heading for a very uncertain future. They announced today that the 2007 engine specs have been delayed. I believe that they have 0 engine manufactures signed for the 2007 season. Also television and attendance have been horrible this season. Dover making a switch a switch to the IRL would be a huge mistake.

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by TheLionKing

The next race is next weekend in Monterrey, Mexico. The race can be seen on Speed at 11:00 PM (EST).

The whole problem stems from the current contract with Champ Car and Dover (LBGP race owner & promoter) expiring. With the IRL now road racing, they expressed interest in racing at Long Beach. Tony George said that he doesn't want to buy the race, just race at the event. Kalkhoven is willing to purchase the event and promote it. They city of Long Beach has said they would prefer to have Champ Car there, but have no say over the final decision. If Dover decides to keep the race, it will be up to them who races in Long Beach in the future. However, if Kalkhoven makes the purchase, Champ Car will be there for a long time.

The IRL is heading for a very uncertain future. They announced today that the 2007 engine specs have been delayed. I believe that they have 0 engine manufactures signed for the 2007 season. Also television and attendance have been horrible this season. Dover making a switch a switch to the IRL would be a huge mistake.

Nice. How did the season opener at LB do for ChampCar this year, ratings, attendence and operational wise. Is Long Beach that big of a race? I would love to see a LB-type circuit through the streets of Las Vegas or Atlantic City. Where is Kalkhoven and the ChampCar headquartered?

[TLK]

Long Beach is what it is.... a great street race. The attendance (this year) was right where it was in the glory days of IndyCar. ChampCar had close to 170,000 for the weekend, which is nothing short of outstanding. The television ratings topped what the IRL is putting out, but that isn't saying much.....

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by TheLionKing

Long Beach is what it is.... a great street race. The attendance (this year) was right where it was in the glory days of IndyCar. ChampCar had close to 170,000 for the weekend, which is nothing short of outstanding. The television ratings topped what the IRL is putting out, but that isn't saying much.....

Well, its good for ChampCar to top the IRL. But doesn't say much. Are ratings up at all compare to the top races last year? I remember reading the Sufers Paradise (Australia) challenges LB as the "crown jewel" of the series. Had over 300,000 people over that race weekend.

[TLK]

Originally Posted by Galaxy

Well, its good for ChampCar to top the IRL. But doesn't say much. Are ratings up at all compare to the top races last year? I remember reading the Sufers Paradise (Australia) challenges LB as the "crown jewel" of the series. Had over 300,000 people over that race weekend.

It's impossible to compare the ratings with last year, because Champ Car was on Spike. I guess if you wanted to spin it, without any sense or reality..... the ratings are up over 600%

Mexico City was the race last year that had over 300,000 folks attending. Surfers had to be close to that, but will never be considered the marquee race, just because of it's distance away from the US.

[TLK]

FWIW...

Bruno Junqueria and Sebastien Bourdais quailifed 12th and 15th respectively, for some race in Indiana that is held on Memorial Day weekend....

[TLK]

Goeters to join PKV Racing in Mexico
TSN.ca Staff

Mario Dominguez will not be the only Mexican on hand for this weekend's Champ Car race in Monterrey.

Mexican touring car driver Jorge Goeters has joined PKV Racing for a one-off event at Fundidora Park. The 34 year old currently leads the Desafio Corona Stock Car Challenge having finished in the top-three in all four events with two wins. He made headlines in March when he claimed the pole for the inaugural Busch Series race in Mexico.

"Jorge has a tremendous amount of experience in open wheel cars and has shown throughout his career that he is very competitive," said team owner Kevin Kalkhoven. "We are excited about having a driver of Jorge's caliber in one of our cars and especially pleased that Champ Car fans in Mexico will have another driver to cheer for at this weekend's race in Monterrey."

Goeters is not a complete stranger to open wheel racing, having competed in the Indy Lights series in 1998 against the likes of teammate Cristiano da Matta, Oriol Servia and Dominguez. He scored five top-10 finishes in 12 starts with a season high fifth place performance at Gateway International Raceway, where he also captured the pole.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for me and one I have dreamed about for a long time," said Goeters. "I am really looking forward to competing against some of the same drivers I raced against in Indy Lights."

Goeters replaces former Champ Car driver Michel Jourdain Jr., who was expected to drive the third PKV entry until sponsorship issues got in the way. Unfortunately this time, it was not a lack of sponsorship which will keep Jourdain Jr. sidelined.

Jourdain is currently competing in the Busch Series, which has this weekend off. Ford, who are backing his Busch series ride, apparently did not have a problem with him returning for a one-off to race in Champ Car, a series in which they supply all the engines. This time it appears tires scuttled his return. Goodyear is the exclusive supplier of NASCAR while rival Bridgestone supplies rubber for Champ Car.

"I obviously have a contract with Goodyear and thus couldn't appear in anything for Bridgestone," Jourdain told a Mexican newspaper.

Former Champ Car driver Roberto Gonzalez is also reportedly trying to put together a one-off deal of his own for this race.

Either way, it doesn't appear as if Goeters' entry will increase the Champ Car field. His entry will likely replace Eric Jensen's one car entry as the Canadian-based team does not appear to be making the trip to Monterrey after starting the season in Long Beach last month.

[TLK]

Monterrey

	Bridgestone Pole Qualifying Show May 21, 8:30pm ET
	Race (Tape Delay) May 22, 11:00pm ET

[Galaxy]

Spolier........










I see Bruno took first today. Second was Ranger? How was the race, and business side of the race? I don't get SPEED.

[TLK]

The race was odd. There was a lot of passing, unfortunately much of it was ill advised. In some instances, ChampCar pulled out a full course yellow, where it didn't need to be out and slowed up the pace. The last 20 laps were really exciting.

Ranger had a hell of run which included a jump from fifth to second on the final restart. Bruno won the race because he stayed out of trouble, and most of his competiton crashed out. A race like this is good every once in a while, but I wouldn't want to see it every race.

ChampCar races again in two weeks at the Milwaukee Mile.

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by TheLionKing

The race was odd. There was a lot of passing, unfortunately much of it was ill advised. In some instances, ChampCar pulled out a full course yellow, where it didn't need to be out and slowed up the pace. The last 20 laps were really exciting.

Ranger had a hell of run which included a jump from fifth to second on the final restart. Bruno won the race because he stayed out of trouble, and most of his competiton crashed out. A race like this is good every once in a while, but I wouldn't want to see it every race.

ChampCar races again in two weeks at the Milwaukee Mile.

Read the heat was really a big factor, making the track slick. How was the attendence and SPEED ratings?

Glad to see the series get into a racing form now. 9 races over 14 weeks is what they need. 6 weeks is a long time for any series. Milwaukee is on CBS, so hopefully CBS can get some decent ratings. Should be a solid race.

[TLK]

Attendance was up from 183,311 to 190,319 for the weekend. The television ratings won't be known until later this week. I wouldn't expect too much with awful time slot.

[TLK]

AutoRacing1.com has learned that Kevin Kalkhoven has completed a deal today tand has bought the Long Beach Grand Prix from Dover Motorsports. This is the third straight key win for Kalkhoven and Champ Car over Tony George. More importantly it secures Champ Car's marquee event. More to follow....

[maximus]

I watched a Champ car race this past weekend. I thought this series went under a while back.

[TLK]

Open-wheel unity: Desirable, difficult
Control of series creates debate

By Steve Ballard
[email protected]


After 10 years of strife, the leaders of U.S. open-wheel racing's two major series might finally be working toward a resolution of their differences.

Indications are that serious negotiations are under way that could bring the Indy Racing League and Champ Car World Series back together for the first time since Indianapolis Motor Speedway CEO Tony George formed the IRL in 1995 and launched it at Orlando, Fla., the following January.

Fearing the news leaks that have undermined previous talks, the principals are revealing few details. But George, after saying Sunday at the Speedway that to even confirm the discussions "wouldn't be constructive," agreed the time has come for a reconciliation.

"I think with each day that passes, it becomes more and more obvious it would be the right thing to do," he said.

The time is ripe because both series are in the process of putting together their programs for 2006. In addition, engine manufacturers Honda and Toyota -- which are in their third year in the IRL after jumping from the former CART series -- are threatening to leave the sport entirely when their contracts expire after next season.

IRL president Brian Barnhart said last week the technical and scheduling issues between the series can be resolved. The stumbling block is one of control.

"For there still to be two series after 10 years tells you it's not a simple problem to solve," he said. "The biggest difference is in philosophy and what role a sanctioning body should play and how a series should be run.

"Can there be middle ground? I believe there can be if there is give-and-take on both sides. But when you get beyond those issues, it introduces egos and personalities, and that complicates matters even further."

George attempted to purchase the racing assets of a bankrupt CART in January 2004, but a federal bankruptcy judge awarded those assets to a triumvirate of CART team owners, who have kept the series going under the Champ Car name.

Majority owner Kevin Kalkhoven, who had a meeting scheduled Monday in Los Angeles with Honda Performance Development president Robert Clarke, could not be reached for comment. But last month in Long Beach, Calif., at the Champ Car season opener, he said he would be willing to meet with IRL officials at any time.

"Tony has my phone number," he said.

Long Beach has become the latest battleground between the series as both have submitted bids for what has long been regarded the nation's premier street race. News reports out of Long Beach have Kalkhoven making an offer to buy the race outright.

It is merely the latest in a long line of skirmishes between the series that have devalued both in the eyes of the public, media, sponsors and manufacturers. TV ratings are miniscule and neither has been able to build a solid fan base during a 10-year span in which NASCAR has dominated the scene.

"Anytime you have a strike or anything negative in your sport that boils over into the public, it's a problem," NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter said. "It put open-wheel racing fans in the position of having to choose and I would say it had to help us."

Roger Penske, a CART co-founder whose jump to the IRL in 2001 began a shift in the balance of power between the series, has tried for years to broker a resolution. The latest was last summer when a cash and compromise offer from the IRL was met with a counter offer from Champ Car. Talks broke down over how the unified series would be governed and Champ Car's insistence that George not be involved.

Earlier this month, Penske expressed frustration that those negotiations fizzled.

"I was real disappointed that we had a very fair opportunity and it was a time we could have put this together, which would have been effective in 2005," he said.

"But the parties didn't want to get together based on what was discussed. I'm not really involved in it at all now."

At the time of the split, the differences between the series were complex and visible. George's vision was an affordable, all-oval series featuring American drivers. CART was a high-tech, high-cost series with international fields and a schedule evenly split between road courses and ovals.

But, as George noted Sunday, "A lot has changed in 10 years."

The IRL, in many ways, is what CART used to be, including the addition of three road races this season.

Champ Car has gone from having four engine, three chassis and two tire manufacturers to one of each and has taken its schedule even more international with half of its 14 races this season outside the U.S.

The failure of either to stir the public's imagination much beyond the Indianapolis 500 is what drove Toyota and Honda to first switch allegiances and now threaten to follow General Motors and get out completely. GM, which has been with the IRL since its inception, has announced it won't be back in 2006.

IRL team owner Bobby Rahal, a three-time CART driving champion who served briefly as its interim president, said the IRL can't allow its engine manufacturers to dictate policy.

"That's where CART failed," he said, adding that the promotional dollars Honda and Toyota spend give them a right to be heard.

"Nobody pulls out of NASCAR because it has value. That's what we need to create. If we do, new sponsors and manufacturers will come and the ones we have will stay. If we don't, nobody will be here."

Les Unger, national motor sports manager for Toyota, said the company is in wait-and-see mode but made clear a sport with one series would make it a much more attractive proposition.

Short of that, he suggests cooperation on rules and schedules could serve both series well by allowing crossover somewhere other than Indy. Newman/Haas Racing, Champ Car's top team, has two drivers in this year's 500 field.

"You would think that something would be able to occur that would at the very least involve a degree of commonality," Unger said.

"For TV viewers, for the teams, for the sponsors, it would enhance the value of both series."

But Barnhart rejects that notion, claiming it would do nothing more than compound the confusion.

"That's not the solution," he said. "We need to agree to agree and work toward unification, or agree to disagree and work to completely differentiate the two products."

Veteran driver Jimmy Vasser, a partner in Kalkhoven's Champ Car team, expressed at Long Beach a sentiment shared by a majority of competitors, who, like fans, simply are fed up with the whole thing.

"There should be one series. It's what the fans deserve. It's what the competitors deserve," he said.

"The powers-that-be in this sport have a responsibility to get together and figure it out."

Call Star reporter Steve Ballard at (317) 444-6184.

It's May... so the unification stories have been out all month. I found this one interesting. Basically the only thing stopping unification is Tony George stepping down..... will it happen.... fat chance.

[Galaxy]

What really does ChampCar truly gain by merging with IRL, expect getting back Indy?

I can understand the competition, but it seems that ChampCar has a strong foundation, with it's own engine manufacture, the bid for Long Beach, and increasing support. IRL seems to be floundering.

[Ryan S]

As long as Tony George is involved I don't want to see any kind of unification.

[Ryan S]

I guess it is bad form to bring IRL discussion into a Champ Car thread, but does anybody think that Danica Patrick is getting way too much attention before the Indy 500?

She might turn out to be a great driver, but she has not won a single race at a high junior series levels yet, let alone in the IRL. Hell, she is not even sitting on the pole at Indy this year. The IRL has a history of putting way too much pressure on female drivers. I remember when Sarah Fisher was driving, the race revolved around her, even when she was at the back of the field (much like Nascar coverage revolves around Jr, but at least he is one of the top drivers in that series). I would be much happier to see this coverage being focused on the pole sittor, or on Kenny Brack's comeback.

If she wins she deserves all the attention she will get, but if the media wants to talk up a female driver they should look at Katherine Legge, who recently won her first ever race in a Toyota Atlantic car at Long Beach.

[TLK]

Any unification with TG at the helm... and I'm out as a fan.

Let Tony go back to running IMS, give him the spot on the board he desired and he can run his team... but he must not have control of the series. Both sides involed must come up with a third-party person, that has racing knowledge and could run a series.

As to the advantages of a merger...

Any type of merger now is purely cosmetic. I don't think the old fans will come back, but it will put closure to this mess, and allow the unified series to grow and look for new fans.... something both series have been lacking for some time.

[TLK]

Originally Posted by Ryan S

If she wins she deserves all the attention she will get, but if the media wants to talk up a female driver they should look at Katherine Legge, who recently won her first ever race in a Toyota Atlantic car at Long Beach.

Legge was truely impressive in Long Beach. The story they told during the CC broadcast was pretty cool also....

Kevin Kalkhoven walked in the lobby of Cosworth after the purchase and Legge was just sitting there. He asked her why she was there, and she said she wanted to drive for him. Kevin told her he would get her a test in an Atlantic car and she did well. He told her he would sponsor her for a few races and see how it goes. He knew she could compete, but never thought she could win...

The Danica chick mentioned earlier... I've haven't heard anything about

[maximus]

Originally Posted by Galaxy

IRL seems to be floundering.

IMO, the IRL is far from floundering.

[TLK]

Originally Posted by maximus

IMO, the IRL is far from floundering.

Yep... everything is just peachy. Could of fooled me with massive 8,000 person crowd in Phoenix, the fact that the Indy 500 isn't anywhere near sold out or those great television ratings...

[TLK]

Well... now the question needs to be who will replace Bruno after that race in Indiana. I'd have to say in order....

1. Mario Harbefeld- Brazil
2. Memo Gidley- USA/Mexico
3. Jon Fogerty- USA
4. Ryan Dalziel- SCO
5. Michel Valiente- CAN

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by TheLionKing

Well... now the question needs to be who will replace Bruno after that race in Indiana. I'd have to say in order....

1. Mario Harbefeld- Brazil
2. Memo Gidley- USA/Mexico
3. Jon Fogerty- USA
4. Ryan Dalziel- SCO
5. Michel Valiente- CAN

Care to give more info on those five? How long is Bruno out? What is his condition?