[TLK]

CART Champ Car TOP SPEED Approx. 240 mph HORSEPOWER Approx. 750 WHEELBASE 120 - 126" LENGTH 190 - 199" WEIGHT 1,550 lbs. CHASSIS Lola or Reynard Engine: Turbocharged, 2.65-liter (161.703 cubic inch) V-8 CART Toyota Atlantic Championship TOP SPEED Approx. 165 mph HORSEPOWER Approx. 240 WHEELBASE 106" LENGTH 167.25" WEIGHT 1,265 lbs. CHASSIS Swift 014.a In order to develop drivers for the FedEx Championship Series, the CART Toyota Atlantic Championship has developed a race car package that shares the characteristics of a Champ Car while still providing the necessary training-ground format for aspiring young talent. Engine: Non-turbocharged Toyota 4A-GE inline, four-cylinder, fuel-injected, dual overhead cam engine Aerodynamics: Uses similar front and rear wings, as well as downforce-generating sidepods as the Champ Cars. Barber Dodge Pro Series TOP SPEED Approx. 155 mph HORSEPOWER Approx. 265 WHEELBASE 103" LENGTH 172" WEIGHT 1,400 lbs. CHASSIS Reynard 98E In order to develop drivers for the upper rungs of the Barber-CART Ladder the Barber Dodge Pro Series has developed a racecar that is in many ways a three-quarter scale Champ Car providing the necessary training-ground format for aspiring young talent. All Barber Dodge racecars are owned, maintained and operated by the Barber Dodge Pro Series. Engine: Normally aspirated all-aluminum Dodge V-6, fuel-injected, dual-overhead cam engine Aerodynamics: Uses similar front and rear wings, as well as downforce-generating sidepods as the Champ Cars. Formula Dodge National Championship TOP SPEED Approx. 135 mph HORSEPOWER Approx. 150 WHEELBASE 96.75" LENGTH 144" WEIGHT 1,100 lbs. CHASSIS Formula Dodge R/T 2000 The Formula Dodge R/T 2000 is for many aspiring young racers their first taste of a racecar in competition. Designed to be used both as a competitive and teaching platform, drivers begin the long journey of honing their racecraft in these sleek racers. All Formula Dodge R/T 2000 racecars are owned, maintained and operated by the Skip Barber Race Series. Engine: Normally aspirated Dodge in-line four, fuel-injected, single overhead cam engine Aerodynamics: Formula Dodge R/T 2000 racecars and Champ Cars both use front and rear wings, as well as downforce-generating sidepods; however, the wings on the R/T 2000 are of the single-element non-adjustable variety. Stars of Tomorrow TOP SPEED Approx. 125 mph HORSEPOWER Approx. 45 WHEELBASE 40" LENGTH 72" WEIGHT 375 lbs. (w/ driver) Engine: 125 cc

The Barber Dodge Series is taking this year off. The BMW Series was supposed to slot in right ahead of the BDPS, which may of led to the decision to call off this year. The Toyota Atlantic series has some talent, but not too many cars. Atlantics should muster more than the 10 cars that the IRL's feeder series put out for it's first race, but not much more. As messed up as open wheel racing is, the feeder systems are even worse. The BMW series will have some promising American from the Red Bull Driver Search, which should make those races interesting. I hope Speed or SpikeTV picks up the BMW series. Formula Dodge and Stars of Tomorrow are good for what they are....