THE CHAMP CARS ARE OFF AND RACING IN 2004
19/4/2004 13:14 (Press Release) -
After months of off-track drama featuring courtroom battles, speculation, restructuring and negotiations, the 2004 Champ Car World Series is ready to get underway this weekend at Long Beach in California.
Canada’s Paul Tracy is the current king of Champ Car racing after claiming his first crown last year, but 17 other contenders for the throne will be looking to depose him starting this weekend at round one of the 16-round Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford.
Australian fans will be eagerly anticipating the action to see who may be the front runners when the series hits the Gold Coast for the Lexmark Indy 300 from October 21 to 24.
Tracy, who won on the Gold Coast in 1995, will be looking to become the first driver in six years to defend a Champ Car title, and will start his quest by trying to win his fourth Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. The last of those victories came a year ago as Tracy managed a run of three consecutive Champ Car wins to start his 2003 campaign. Now can history repeat?
The popular Canadian earned the first of his 26 all-time Champ Car wins at Long Beach in 1993, and will return to the fray this year with two teammates as the Forsythe Championship Racing team grows to a three-car squad. Fellow Canadian Patrick Carpentier and team newcomer Rodolfo Lavin from Mexico will form the first full-time three-car Champ Car team since 1993.
The popular Carpentier returns for his eighth season and comes off posting the best Long Beach finish of his career last year when he placed sixth. Carpentier has finished in the top five in each of the past two Champ Car seasons and has also posted victories in each of the past three years. This week he tested strongly at California Speedway posting the second fastest time of a 10-car session, with only team mate Tracy ahead of him on the time sheets.
Newman/Haas Racing has not won in Long Beach since 1994, but has a pair of title threats 10 years later, led by the driver who has finished second in the championship chase in each of the past two seasons. Brazil’s Bruno Junqueira earned his first Long Beach podium a year ago when he came home third, and will be eager to start the season with a win as he pursues his first title.
His teammate Sebastien Bourdais from France was last year’s Jim Trueman Rookie of the Year and won three races late in the season.
While Tracy won last year’s Long Beach event, the story of the race came from Mexican Michel Jourdain Jr. Jourdain seemed to have his first Champ Car win wrapped up when he made his final pit stop, but his gear box seized upon exit and left him to wonder what might have been. He would go on to earn his first wins later in the 2003 season, scoring victories at Milwaukee and Montreal. He comes to Long Beach with a new team this season, having joined the first-year RuSPORT squad, where he will team up with young gun A.J. Allmendinger from the US, the reigning Toyota Atlantic champion.
A number of teams are expanding to two-car operations this season, including the Rocketsports Racing squad who brings a veteran looking for his first win and a rookie making his first start. Canada’s Alex Tagliani embarks on his fifth Champ Car season, and comes off a campaign that saw him win a pair of pole positions with the rookie Rocketsports team. He will be joined by the youngest driver ever to start a Champ Car race in Nelson Philippe, as the 17-year-old Frenchman makes his series debut.
PKV Racing gained a letter and a car for this year’s Champ Car assault, as the former PK Racing squad added veteran Jimmy Vasser to its ownership lineup along with Dan Pettit and Kevin Kalkhoven. Vasser joins Tracy as former Champ Car titleholders in the lineup this season and will be making his 13th consecutive Long Beach start in the 2004 event. Vasser, who won the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in his championship year of 1996, has been one of the most durable drivers in all of motorsport as he continues to build on a streak of 183 consecutive series starts.
He will be joined in the PKV stable by rookie Roberto Gonzalez from Mexico, who has two starts under his belt in Champ Car with a best of 10th in Mexico City.
While the aforementioned teams are adjusting to life with two cars, the Herdez Competition squad has a year of experience with it, and returns with a pair of championship threats in 2004 after posting its best year ever in 2003. Mario Dominguez, the 2002 Gold Coast winner, will begin his third year in the Champ Cars, coming off two seasons that saw him taste victory champagne. His new teammate for 2004 is US rookie graduate Ryan Hunter-Reay, who finished last year with his first win at the Lexmark Indy 300.
The Mi-Jack/Conquest Racing team will have one of the more intriguing rookie pairings of the year as former FIA International F3000 champion Justin Wilson from Britain comes to Champ Cars after a year of racing in the Formula 1 World Championship. He already has some Champ Car form on the board after posting the third fastest time in testing this week at California Speedway. Wilson will be joined by Alex Sperafico, who is still classified as a rookie despite two starts in Champ Cars after years of battle in the Barber Dodge Pro Series as well as the FIA F3000 Championship.
Walker Racing is back for its 14th year of competition, fielding Brazilian Mario Haberfeld. He is looking to build on a strong rookie year that saw him score three top-five finishes including a fourth placing in his series debut.
Dale Coyne Racing will round out the field in 2004, bringing a pair of fully-sponsored entries to Long Beach. The team will announce its driver lineup later today, after Oriol Servia and Tarso Marques tested with the team this week.
Now in its 30th year, the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach continues to stand tall as America’s longest running and most recognisable street race The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach will be held this Sunday April 18, while the Lexmark Indy 300 on the Gold Coast will be held from October 21 to 24. Lexmark is a global technology leader dedicated solely to printing solutions.
As the action gets underway, fans will notice a number of rule changes aimed at making the racing even more tighter and exciting. A snapshot of these changes are:
• Champ Car has introduced an “option tyre”. For this weekend’s round at Long Beach, every car will receive a total of eight sets of Bridgestone Potenza racing radials (32 total tyres). Of those eight sets, six will be of the standard street course specification. The remaining two sets will consist of a compound offering more grip, potentially yielding quicker lap times and the ability to pass slower cars. Every car in Sunday’s race must use at least one of these sets of Potenzas at some point within the race. The idea is for varying race strategies to develop to enhance the competition and entertainment value for fans. Best of all for those watching from the grandstands and on television is that these tyres will be clearly marked making them immediately visible. That way, everyone will know which drivers are riding on the “softer” Bridgestone Potenzas with the potential increased passing ability.
• In a move that will promote strong racing throughout every lap of a Champ Car World Series event and reward those drivers and teams that run up front, series officials have announced a revised points system that will go into effect at Long Beach. In the new system, points will be paid to the first 20 finishers with 31 points going to the winner of the event. As has been the case since 1983, the winner will receive four more points than the second-place finisher, with point totals decreasing by two for each place down the order through the top 10. Beginning with the 10th-place finisher, the point total will decrease by one. In addition, one point will be awarded to a driver for leading one or more laps in a race, another point will be given to the driver that runs the fastest lap of the race and one point will be awarded to the driver that improves the most number of positions from their place on the starting grid. As has been the case for the last two seasons, one championship point will be awarded to the leaders of the Friday and Saturday qualifying sessions on road and street courses, while one point will be available for the qualifying leader on oval courses.
• The mandatory pit-stop rule has been adjusted for 2004 to bring more strategy into play, especially when combined with the new points system. Teams will be required to perform either two or three green-flag stops during a race and must have those stops completed by a certain point in the event. Champ Car Racing Operations will determine the number and at what point those stops must be completed prior to the race weekend. All green-flag stops must include a four-tyre change in order to meet the series requirements.
• In an effort to make for more competition on the race track and to increase passing opportunities for the drivers, the Champ Car World Series and Cosworth Racing announced that they have developed a ‘push-to-pass’ mechanism for the Ford-Cosworth XFE racing engines in 2004. The innovation will give drivers a chance to increase their boost from 41.5 to 44 inches of mercury with the push of a button, a system that will give them an extra 50 horsepower per use. The drivers will have the ability to use the increased boost for a total of 60 seconds per race, a time that is equivalent to five applications on the average main straightaway of a Champ Car circuit. To allow fans and television viewers the opportunity to recognise how the drivers are using the new system, the Champ Car television production crew will monitor each time that the system is used, letting fans know how much time each driver has remaining in his boost reserve.
END OF RELEASE - See 2004 Driver Profiles below
For further information contact:
Brett Murray – BAM Media, Mob. 0418 760 066
Communications Manager – Lexmark Indy 300
Stephen Lock – BAM Media, Ph. 07 5588 6855, Mob. 0408 124 694
Media Manager – Lexmark Indy 300
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DRIVER PROFILES
A.J Allmendinger
Team - RuSPORT
Website - www.rusport.com
Birth Date -December 16, 1981
Birth Place - Los Gatos, California
Car No - 10
Chassis - Lola
Engine - Ford-Cosworth
Residence - Hollister, California/Loveland, Colorado
2004 Rookie
Career Highlights:
• 2003 Toyota Atlantic Champion
• 2002 Barber Dodge Pro Series championship.
• 2001 Formula Dodge National Championship Runner-up
• 2001 Barber Champ Car Karting Scholarship Winner• Two-time IKF Grand National Champion
Sebastien Bourdais
Team - Newman/Haas Racing
Website - www.sebastien-bourdais.com
Birth Date - February 28, 1979
Birth Place - Le Mans, France
Car No - 2
Chassis - Lola
Engine - Ford-Cosworth
Sponsor - McDonald's
Residence - Tampa Bay, Florida
Career Highlights:
• Won Poles For First Two Races Of Champ Car Career
• Won FIA International F3000 Championship in 2002
• Won 24 Hours of Spa Endurance Race in 2002
• Has Competed In Three 24 of Le Mans Events
Patrick Carpentier
Team - Forsythe Championship Racing
Website - www.CARTpentier.com
Birth Date - August 13, 1971
Birth Place - Ville Lasalle, Quebec, Canada
Car No - 7
Chassis - Lola
Engine - Ford-Cosworth
Sponsor - Indeck
Residence - Las Vegas, NV
Career Highlights:
• Has Champ Car Race Wins ! In Each of Last Three Seasons
• Captured First Career Victory in 2001 at Michigan Speedway
• Recipient of 2002 Greg Moore Legacy Award
• Dominated the CART Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio en route to his second win of the 2002 campaign with a perfect weekend taking all 23 points
• First road course win at Cleveland in 2002
• Set CART Record at Michigan for Driving from the Deepest Starting Position (21st) to Victory on a Superspeedway
• Finished Career-Best 3rd in 2002 Championship Standings
• 1997 Jim Trueman Rookie of the Year
• Winner of 1996 CART Toyota Atlantic Championship
Mario Dominguez
Team - Herdez Competition
Birth Date - December 1, 1975
Birth Place - Mexico City
Car No - 55
Chassis - Lola
Engine - Ford-Cosworth
Sponsor - Herdez
Residence - Mexico City
Career Highlights:
• 2002 Jim Trueman Rookie of the Year
• Winner of the Gold Coast Indy 300 in 2002
• Finished Career-Best Fourth in 2001 Dayton Indy Lights Championship
• Finished Third for 1999 Dayton Indy Lights Rookie of the Year Award
• Won Dayton Indy Lights Championship Debut at Homestead in 1999
• 1992 Formula Russell Mazda Series Champion
Roberto Gonzalez
Team - PKV Racing
Birth Date - March 31, 1976
Birth Place - Monterrey, Mexico
Car No - 21
Chassis - Lola
Engine - Ford-Cosworth
Sponsor - NII Holdings
Residence - Milan, Italy
2004 Rookie
Career Highlights:
• Top-10 Finish in Second Career Champ Car Start
• Second in 2001 Formula Chrysler Euro Series standings
• Four top-10 finishes in 2002 Telefonica World Series
• 1994 F2 Copa Marlboro Rookie of the Year
Mario Haberfeld
Team - Walker Racing
Website - www.mariohaberfeld.com
Birth Date - January 25, 1976
Birth Place - Sao Paolo, Brazil
Car No - 5
Chassis - Reynard
Engine - Ford-Cosworth
Residence - Key Biscayne, FL
Career Highlights:
• Champion! of 1998 British Formula 3 Series
• Scored first FIA F3000 points in 2001 at Barcelona
• Earned first FIA F3000 podium in 2002 at Interlagos, Brazil
Ryan Hunter-Reay
Team - Herdez Competition
Website - www.ryanracing.com
Birth Date - December 17, 1980
Birth Place - Dallas, Texas
Car No - 4
Chassis - Lola
Engine - Ford-Cosworth
Sponsor - Herdez
Residence - Boca Raton, Florida
Career Highlights:
• Took First Champ Car Victory With Australia Win
• Won Three Toyota Atlantic Races In Rookie Season
• Won Skip Barber ‘Big Scholarship’
• Won Barber Dodge Pro Series Rookie of the Year
Michel Jourdain Jr
Team - RuSPORT
Birth Date - September 2, 1976
Birth Place - Mexico City, Mexico
Car No - 9
Chassis - Lola
Engine - Ford-Cosworth
Sponsor - Gigante
Residence - Indianapolis, IN
Career High! lights:
• Set Champ Car Record By Leading 234 Laps in Milwaukee in 2003
• Finished Career-Best Third in Series in 2003
• Earned a Team Record 17 Consecutive Points-Paying Finishes in 2002
• Youngest Driver to Compete in a Champ Car World Series Race (1996, Long Beach)
Bruno Junqueira
Team - Newman/Haas Racing
Website - www.brunojunqueira.com
Birth Date - November 4, 1976
Birth Place - Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Car No - 6
Chassis - Lola
Engine - Ford-Cosworth
Sponsor - PacifiCare/Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone
Residence - Indianapolis, IN
Career Highlights:
• Two-time Champ Car Series Runner-up
• Captured First Career Victory at Road America During Rookie Season
• Earned First Pole at Nazareth in Third Series Qualifying Attempt
• 2000 FIA International F3000 Champion
Rodolfo Lavin
Team - Forsythe Championship Racing
Birth Date - July 30, 1977
Birth Place - San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Car No - 3
Chassis - Lola
Engine - Ford-Cosworth
Sponsor - Corona
Residence - San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Career Highlights:
• Three top-10 finishes in rookie Champ Car season
• 2002 Career-best Finish of Second in Atlantic Race at Milwaukee
• Earned First Atlantic Podium in 2001
• Winner of 2001 Pedro Rodriguez Trophy as ‘Best Driver in Mexico’
Nelson Philippe
Team - Rocketsports Racing
Birth Date - July 23, 1986
Birth Place - Valence
Car No - 17
Chassis - Lola
Engine - Ford-Cosworth
Sponsor - Lease Plan
Residence - Key Biscayne, Florida
2004 Rookie
Career Highlights:
•In 2004, Will Become Youngest-Ever Driver to Start Champ Car Race
•Scored Barber Dodge Pro Series Podium Finish in Vancouver in 2003
•Won Rock Island GP Pro Shifter ‘King of the Streets’ title in 2002
•Factory Driver For Tony Kart in 2001
Alex Sperafico
Team - Mi-Jack Conquest Racing
Website - www.sperafico.com
Birth Date - January 21, 1974
Birth Place - Brazil
Car No - 24
Chassis - Reynard
Engine - Ford-Cosworth
2004 Rookie
Career Highlights:
• Made his debut in in Toronto in the Dale Coyne Racing #19 Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone.
• Started his racing career in 1998 with three wins and three poles in the B Class of the South American F3 Championship, where he finished third for the season.
• Raced Barber Dodge Pro Series for parts of 1999-2001. Earned his first BDPS win in 2001 by taking the season opener at Sebring, setting a new track record in the process.
• Ran nine races in the FIA International F3000 Championship for European Minardi.
Alex Tagliani
Team - Rocketsports Racing
Website - www.tagliani.com
Birth Date - October 18, 1972
Birth Place - Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Car No - 8
Chassis - Lola
Engine - Ford-Cosworth
Sponsor - Johnson Controls
Residence - Las Vegas, NV
Career Highlights:
• Finished Career-Best 8th in 2002 Championship Standings
• Earned First Three Podiums of Career, Including Career-Best Second at Toronto, During 2001 Season
• Earned First Pole as a Rookie in 2000
• Finished Among Top Five in CART Toyota Atlantic Championship Standings from 1997-99
Paul Tracy
Team - Forsythe Championship Racing
Website - www.paultracy.com
Birth Date - December 17, 1968
Birth Place - Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Car No - 1
Chassis - Lola
Engine - Ford-Cosworth
Sponsor - Indeck
Residence - Las Vegas, NV
Career Highlights:
• 2003 Series Champion
• Champ Car Leader Among Active Drivers in Career Wins (26) and Poles (19)
• Is 2nd Among All-Time Laps Led Leaders With 3,386
• Two-Time Winner Of Most Popular Driver Award
Jimmy Vasser
Team - PKV Racing
Website - www.jimmyvasser.com
Birth Date - November 20, 1965
Birth Place - Canoga Park, California
Car No - 12
Chassis - Lola
Engine - Ford-Cosworth
Sponsor - NII Holdings
Residence - Las Vegas, NV
Career Highlights:
• 1996 Series Champion
• One of Six Drivers to Make 200 Champ Car Starts
• Winner Of Fastest Champ Car Race In History (Fontana, 2002, 197.995mph)
• Ranks Second Among Active Drivers with Ten Career Wins
Justin Wilson
Team - Mi-Jack Conquest Racing
Birth Date - July 31, 1979
Birth Place - Sheffield
Car No - 34
Chassis - Lola
Engine - Ford-Cosworth
Sponsor - Mi-Jack
Residence - Northhampton, England
2004 Rookie
Career Highlights:
• 2001 FIA International F3000 Champion
• Made 16 Formula 1 Starts in 2003 With Minardi and Jaguar
• Won Formula Palmer Audi Championship, 1998
• Youngest-ever British Driver to win Auto Race, age 16 in 1994
Release Date: 16/04/2004
GCMEC
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