Fallout

Brazilian Company Sangari to Sponsor Enrique Bernoldi for 2008 Champ Car Season
Rocketsports Racing driver brings a multi-national education company into the United States and the Champ Car World Series to support his 2008 open-wheel campaign
By Heather Haupt
Photos courtesy Rocketsports Racing
EAST LANSING, Michigan (February 1, 2008) – Brazilian Champ Car driver Enrique Bernoldi announced today that he will bring a very important partnership to the Champ Car World Series for his first year of competition in the series in 2008. Sangari is excited to support Bernoldi and become a partner with Rocketsports Racing.

Sangari is part of a group which is represented in 14 countries. The Brazilian company has more than 40 years of dedication developing solutions for the improvement of the education by using science education and technology.

“We decided to sponsor Enrique because he has great competitive potential, besides being a very charismatic person,” said Ben Sangari, owner of the company.

“Although we are a multi-national company, we do not have business in USA. Recently, we made a partnership with the American Museum of Natural History and we opened an office in North Carolina. Therefore, it is very important to initiate the process of construction of Sangari’s brand and Champ Car has a great visibility in the North American territory,” Sangari continued.

Bernoldi emphasizes the importance of the sponsorship, which has allowed him to compete in Champ Car this season. “The Sangari sponsorship was essential to make possible my goal to come back and race open-wheel cars. The team will have conditions to be more competitive and I hope to fight for victories. Certainty, the good results will be important for me, for the team, and for Sangari. I really want this partnership to last for many seasons,” added Bernoldi.

This is not the first time that Sangari has decided to associate their company with an athlete. The company also sponsors tricycle-driver Robert Nahas at Rally dos Sertões.

This Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (February 2-4), Bernoldi will be testing at Sebring International Raceway, in Sebring, Florida, USA. The preliminary blue and silver #8 Sangari Rocketsports Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone will be proudly on display for the first test of the season. The first race of 2008 Champ Car World Series season is scheduled to take place in Long Beach, California, on April 20th.
 

Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton Announces New Partnership to Accelerate its Growth and Popularity
Champ Car World Series race now part of Northlands signature summer festival, Capital EX
Photos courtesy Champ Car World Series
EDMONTON, AB, Canada (Jan. 29, 2008)—The Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton, the Champ Car World Series event held July 18-20 in Canada, has forged a new relationship with Northlands that ties the Canadian Triple Crown race to Capital EX, Edmonton’s signature summer celebration.

A comprehensive event management, sponsorship coordination and general operations agreement has been forged that will build on the international success of the three-year-old event, officials announced Tuesday in Edmonton.

“We felt it was time to move the Grand Prix onto a bigger stage by getting Northlands involved and leveraging their expertise in producing and promoting Edmonton’s largest events,” said Jim Haskins, President of the Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton.

In 2007, the Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton attracted more than 167,000 spectators. The Edmonton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) estimated that hosting the 2007 Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton injected $24.8 million dollars in expenditures into the Greater Edmonton economy.

The new arrangement ties the race to Capital Ex, Edmonton’s summer celebration. The Grand Prix will be held the weekend of July 18-20 with Capital Ex surrounding it, opening July 17 and closing July 26. Last year, Capital EX attracted more than 773,000 visitors over 10 days.

“Northlands is very excited to play a part in expanding this great race,” said Jerry Bouma, Chair of the Northlands Board of Directors. “We are committed to making Edmonton a great city and this agreement means that Northlands can continue to do what we do best—put on large scale, world-class events that attract visitors from abroad and showcase Edmonton to the world.”

“We’re thrilled that Edmonton is preparing to do all it can to further enhance this popular event on the Champ Car schedule,” said Champ Car President & CEO Steve Johnson, who participated in Tuesday’s announcement in Edmonton. “In just three seasons, the Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton has grown in stature and now sits among our top-tier of events. The circuit at Edmonton’s City Centre Airport is unique and very popular with fans and drivers alike.”

Previous winners of the race are Justin Wilson (2005) and four-time Champ Car titlist Sebastien Bourdais (2006, 2007). The Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton serves as the final race in the Canadian Triple Crown, a team competition that links the three Champ Car events (including Mont-Tremblant and Toronto) held in Canada. The competition was won last year by Team Australia drivers Will Power and Simon Pagenaud.
 

Enrique Bernoldi to Drive for Rocketsports Racing’s Champ Car Effort In 2008
News from Rocketsports Racing

Photos © Fernanda Freixosa and Rocketsports Racing
EAST LANSING, Michigan (January 28, 2008) – Just as Rocketsports Racing gears up for their first test in 2008, the team is proud to announce that Brazilian Enrique Bernoldi will be the pilot of the #8 Rocketsports Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone in its 2008 Champ Car World Series effort. The former Formula One driver is excited to open a new chapter of his racing career in North America by competing in Champ Car.

“I am very excited about my opportunity this year in Champ Car with Rocketsports Racing,” said Bernoldi. “Racing in the United States is something that I have always wanted to do and I think that Champ Car is the best series for me to have the opportunity to do so. I like the variety of circuits that are on the schedule. There is a range of street and permanent courses which will be fun and similar to what I have been racing on in Europe.”

The 29-year-old driver from Curitiba, Brazil started kart racing in 1987 at the age of nine and won a variety of regional and national kart titles before heading to Europe at the age of 16 to try his hand at car racing. After being successful in the Italian Formula Alfa Boxer series, the Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup series, the British Formula 3 Championship, and F3000, Bernoldi got his first taste of Formula One in 1999 when he drove for Sauber at Magny-Cours. His performance earned him a test drive with the Swiss team for the 1999 and 2000 seasons.

After a test with the Orange Arrows Team in 2001, it was announced that he would become a full-time F1 driver. He made his F1 debut at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix. He continued to drive for the team in 2002 but when the Arrows F1 team folded in 2003, he opted to change series. He entered the Formula Nissan World Series for two years before returning to the F1 scene in 2005 as a test driver for BAR Honda. In 2006 he got his first taste of Champ Car when he tested with Rocketsports. Most recently, he competed in the StockCar Brazil series in 2007, which is similar to stock car racing in the states, but they do not run on ovals.

“Considering that I have a lot to learn, it will be a good challenge for me this year”, Bernoldi continued. “Not only do I have to learn a new race car, but also how the racing works in the United States. My experience in Europe and Formula One will definitely help me, but the rules are different over here.

I know that Rocketsports is willing to help me learn as much as I can, as we are all in it for the same reason - to win! Paul Gentilozzi is not only a team owner, but a driver. He will be able to understand what I need to know as a driver, since he has that kind of mentality, so that will be a huge factor to help me progress quickly this year. I think that Rocketsports is a good team. I was impressed by the team when I tested with them two years ago. Unfortunately we were able to get a deal together that year, but I am excited to have the opportunity now.”

The 2008 Champ Car World Series will kick off on April 20 in Long Beach, California for the 34th Annual Toyota Grand Prix. With that being a few months away, Bernoldi and the team will have plenty of time to prepare. They will be participating in three pre-season Champ Car sanctioned tests. Those tests will be held in Sebring, Florida (Sebring International Raceway, February 2-4), Monterey, California (Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, March 13-14), and Houston, Texas (MSR Houston, March 28-29). This will give Bernoldi ample time to get acclimated with the team and the #8 Rocketsports Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone before taking the green flag to make his first Champ Car start.

“We are excited to have Enrique (Bernoldi) on board with us this season,” said Rocketsports Team Owner Paul Gentilozzi. “It is nice to be able to sign a driver this early, as it will be a great benefit for us to have him testing with the team during the pre-season. Together we can prepare for an exciting 2008 season in the Champ Car World Series. He has been associated with some of the elite Formula One teams and has a great understanding of open-wheel cars. That really showed in his quick learning skills and resulting performance when he tested with us. He is extremely professional and talented; I can definitely see him as a potential race winner in Champ Car.”

Bernoldi added, “It will be great to have three tests with the team before the season begins. I will be able to work with the team and the engineering staff to get the feedback that I will need to narrow the learning curve so that I am prepared for Long Beach, and the rest of the season. I feel that there is great potential, I obviously want to go out there earning top five finishes and win races, but first I have to take it one step at a time. I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead for me in 2008.”

Bernoldi and his wife currently reside in Brazil, but have plans to relocate to the U.S. before the season begins late April. He will be at the East Lansing-based race shop January 28-29 for a seat fitting and final preparations for the first test of the year. The team then heads to Sebring, Florida for a three-day test on February 2-4.
 

Franck Perera Completes Productive Two-day Test for Forsythe/Pettit Racing
News from Forsythe/Pettit Racing
INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 5, 2007) - Forsythe/Pettit Racing completed two days of testing with Champ Car Atlantic Rookie of the Year Franck Perera at MSR Houston, the 17-turn, 2.38-mile road course located 13 miles south of Houston. MSR will also be the site of the Series final test dates in March 2008 before the season kicks off with the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach April 18-20th.

“Over the two days of running, we laid out some very stringent tests and performance requirements for Franck,” explained Tom Brown, technical Director for Forsythe/Pettit Racing. “Running flawlessly both days, it was extremely encouraging that Franck met and exceeded each requirement set for him. He is a consummate professional with a rare touch and feel for the car.”

Within the very first few laps of the morning session, Perera’s ability to quickly learn the car and track along with his vast shakedown and testing experience enabled him to immediately be up to speed and provide valuable feedback. Over the course of the two days, the engineers were able to gather extremely productive suspension, braking and aerodynamic data through a battery of testing procedures in preparation for next season.

In addition to providing valuable feedback and helping with improvements to the car, Perera was also able to put in some extremely competitive lap times. Overall, it was a win-win for Forsythe/Pettit Racing as the team was able to get their testing done and at the same time evaluate one of Champ Car’s rising young stars.

“I want to thank the entire team for everything, especially Mr. Forsythe and Mr. Pettit for giving me this chance,” said Perera. “The Atlantic Cars are great, but being in a Champ Car is why I came from Europe to America to race. It was really fun to be in a fast car again like the F-1 and to help Tom Brown and all the engineers prepare the car for next season. I was also glad to show that I was very competitive compared to the testing here last February and I wanted to go even faster for sure, but in the end the team was here to test the car and I stuck to the plan.”
 

Atlantic Standout Carl Skerlong Tests the PCM Champ Car

News from Pacific Coast Motorsports
OXNARD, CA (November 29, 2007) - Pacific Coast Motorsports gave Atlantic standout Carl Skerlong his first taste of the 750-hp Champ Car yesterday at Buttonwillow Raceway in central California. Skerlong completed 107 trouble-free miles on the 1.86-mile permanent road course.

Skerlong, 19 of Seattle, Washington earned two podium finishes in his rookie season of Atlantic competition. His talents caught the eye of PCM team director Tyler Tadevic, and Skerlong was named to the PCM Jr Team, a program which recognizes and develops future open-wheel stars. “Carl did an outstanding job in his first outing in the PCM Champ Car,” commented team director Tyler Tadevic. “His speed improved progressively throughout the day, and his feedback and ability to adapt not only to the extra horsepower but also to all of the additional features and functions of the Champ Car were impressive. Carl proved that he will certainly be ready to step up to big leagues in 2009 and I am sure he will fight for the 2008 Atlantic title with the King Taco car.”
Skerlong finished in the top-ten in his rookie season of Atlantic competition racing for Shane Senevirante’s US RaceTronics Atlantic team; he recently re-signed with the California-based squad for the 2008 Atlantic season. Skerlong has set his focus firmly on the 2008 Atlantic title with the hopes of moving up to Champ Car competition in 2009, "I can't thank the Pacific Coast Motorsports and US RaceTronics organizations enough for this opportunity,” said Skerlong. “I learned so much about the DP-01 and how to properly test a Champ Car. To get this opportunity at this stage in my career will be key to my progression as a driver; my testing experience just went up to a whole new level. I really do have a new found appreciation of Champ Car drivers and the levels they need to compete at. All in all, the test went very well, we ran 58 laps and I'm thankful for each one."

PCM Jr Team member, David Garza was also awarded a Champ Car test but unfortunately he was not able to participate due to his final exam schedule. PCM is working on a new test date with Garza. For more information on PCM and its Junior team, please visit www.pcmracing.com
 

Doornbos, Wilson, Pagenaud and Bourdais Feted At Champ Car World Series Banquet
French Driver is Unprecedented Four-Time Champion
Photos © Champ Car World Series
INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. 17, 2007)—In a whirlwind week that saw him win in Mexico City, fly across the Atlantic Ocean to test an F1 car in Europe and then fly back to Indianapolis, Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing's Sebastien Bourdais officially closed his Champ Car World Series career Friday night at the organization’s year-end banquet at the Westin Hotel where the Series bid him an emotional farewell.

Bourdais, who clinched an unprecedented fourth straight Champ Car title after winning in Australia in October, won in his final Champ Car start this past Sunday in Mexico City before spending part of the week testing his Toro Rosso Formula One car in Barcelona, Spain. The 27-year-old Frenchman returned to Indianapolis in time to collect the $500,000 bonus as Series Champion along with the Champion’s ring and the Vanderbilt Cup.

When came time for Bourdais to give his Champion’s speech, it was a difficult task.  “I didn’t prepare a speech because I knew I wouldn’t get through it,” said Bourdais as he was fighting back the tears. “It’s been the best five years of my life.”

In addition to his prizes as Champion, Bourdais also received the Hole in the Wall Camps Lap Leader Award and the Bridgestone Passion for Excellence Award. At the end of the festivities, a toast was offered to the departing Champion.

RuSPORTS' Justin Wilson, runner-up in the championship, received the Greg Moore Legacy Award for the second year in a row. The British driver became the first two-time winner of the award, named for late Canadian driver, who died in 1999.

Robert Doornbos, who finished third in the final point standings, took home a pair of awards Friday night. The Dutch driver received the BBS Hard Charger Award and Roshfrans Rookie of the Year Award. A two-time winner during the season, Doornbos of Minardi Team USA clinched the rookie title in Australia.

Will Power, also a two-time winner during the 2007 season and fourth-place finisher in the final point standings, received the Performance Friction Pass of the Year Award. The Australian driver’s winning pass was on his own Team Australia teammate and came during the race in Mont-Tremblant.

A surprised Simon Pagenaud of Team Australia was chosen by his peers as the Bosch Most Improved Driver. The French driver, who was last year’s Atlantic champion, finished eighth in the final point standings.

PKV Racing was also honored as the overall winner of the Sherwin Williams “It’s All in the Finish” Award.
 

Champ Car World Series Announces Nominees for Greg Moore Legacy Award
Photos © Rick Hess 2007 and Champ Car World Series
INDIANAPOLIS (November 7, 2007) - The close to any season provides a time for reflection as consideration is given to the recipients of various awards that are presented following the final race. The 2007 Champ Car World Series offers a number of year-end awards, but perhaps the one that carries the most emotion is the one that recognizes those who helped make Champ Car one of the world’s most popular form of auto racing.

With that in mind, the annual Greg Moore Legacy Award allows the Champ Car organization to honor the late great Canadian star who lost his life during the 1999 California 500, as well as pay tribute to its past. Now in its eighth year, the award honors the driver “who most typifies Moore’s distinctive combination of on-track talent and dynamic personality” that led him to become a favorite among the fans, media and members of the Champ Car community.

The award winner is determined by a select board of Champ Car personnel, along with media and fan voting, with the honoree being chosen from a list of four nominees.

Nominated to represent the Champ Car World Series for this year’s award are Justin Wilson (#9 CDW Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone), Graham Rahal (#2 Medi/Zone Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone) and Simon Pagenaud (#15 Aussie Vineyards Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone), with James Hinchcliffe (#9 NOCO/Proworks) as nominee for the Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda.

Wilson, in his fourth season of Champ Car competition, was last year’s recipient. In his bid to become the first repeat winner of the award, the British standout can look back on a season in which perseverance played in a major role in his vault to one of the top positions in the final championship standings. Following a slow start to the 2007 season, Wilson put together a string of five straight top-five finishes and then scored a victory in the inaugural event at Assen, Holland, to put him within striking distance of Series leader Sebastien Bourdais and the championship. At Surfers Paradise, Wilson wound up second, but Bourdais won the race to clinch an unprecedented fourth straight title. Even with the title out of reach with one race to go, Wilson still had a battle with rookie Robert Doornbos for the runner-up honors in the final championship.

Much was expected of Rahal, son of three-time Champ Car titlist Bobby Rahal, and the Ohio teen generally lived up to those expectations. After getting a baptism by fire in the season opener at Las Vegas, Rahal rebounded with a steady drive to eighth place at Long Beach and then scored his first podium finish with an impressive second-place run behind Newman/Haas/Lanigan teammate Bourdais at Houston. Rahal continued to score top-10 finishes and reached the podium at Edmonton, Elkhart Lake and Zolder to move up to fifth in the standings. The promising American driver was also heavily involved in the promotional effort to launch Champ Car’s “Hands of the Wheel” project, making a number of appearances and appealing to fellow teens about the need to adopt sensible driving practices.

Like Rahal, expectations were also high for Pagenaud, the 2006 Atlantic champion. And like Rahal, the French driver rebounded from a slow start to his season to emerge as a picture of consistency. Pagenaud was fifth at Houston, eighth at Portland and fifth at Cleveland before putting together a string of three straight fourth-place finishes in three Canadian events that were instrumental in helping his Team Australia capture the first Champ Car Canadian Triple Crown. He followed up with a 10th-place finish at San Jose before recording an 11th-place finish—his first time out of the top 10 since Long Beach. Pagenaud then finished sixth at Assen and fifth at Surfers Paradise to move to eighth place in the standings, only seven points behind fifth-place Rahal with one race to go.

Hinchcliffe, the Atlantic nominee for 2006, more than lived up to his promise shown during last year’s season. The 2007 season saw the Canadian driver move up from 10th overall to fourth in the final championship standings that reflected a number of strong performances in both qualifying and the races. Hinchcliffe finished no lower than seventh in the first seven races of 2007 with podiums at Houston, both Portland events and Mont-Tremblant. He also scored podium finishes at both Edmonton races and was the polesitter at the double-headers at Portland and Edmonton. In addition to racing, Hinchcliffe also continued to serve as a color analyst for international Champ Car races.

Fans can participate in the voting for this year's Greg Moore Legacy Award by visiting the official website of the Champ Car World Series, www.champcar.ws. The voting will take place in the “fan poll” section on the front page of the website. Voting will close on the website Monday, Nov. 12, at noon ET.
 

Pacific Coast Motorsports Hosts The History Channel’s “Modern Marvels”

News from Pacific Coast Motorsports
Photos courtesy Champ Car World Series
OXNARD, CA (October 30, 2007) – Pacific Coast Motorsports, a two-car team in the Champ Car World Series will be featured on the January 14, 2008 episode of The History Channel’s “Modern Marvels.”

The episode which was filmed Monday at the team’s Oxnard, California headquarters will be titled “Carbon” and will prominently feature PCM’s DP01 Champ Cars, team and corporate partners. The film crew for the hit television show featured the team’s uses of carbon fiber; a significant material used on the Champ Car and its accessories.

“Modern Marvels is a terrific show that explains in Layman’s terms the technologies behind many of today’s achievements,” said PCM Team Director, Tyler Tadevic. “The Champ Car World Series is one of the most technologically advanced racing series in the world. Modern Marvels is the perfect program to showcase our race cars, and a valuable national exposure opportunity for our team and corporate partners.”

The Modern Marvels film crew, along with PCM’s neighbors witnessed the sights and sounds of Alex Figge’s 750 hp Champ Car as he lit up his Bridgestone tires on Elevar Street in front of the PCM’s headquarters. “I think we certainly surprised a few people in Oxnard today,” commented Alex Figge. “Most of our neighbors know we are a race team, but I think they were all surprised at just how loud, powerful and exciting the Champ Cars are.”

Modern Marvels is a documentary television series on The History Channel that answers the question of how many things in the modern world are possible, and where they came from. Modern Marvels airs Monday-Friday at 8pm/7:00 central. For more information, visit: http://www.history.com/minisites/modernmarvels
 

Team Australia Ready for Home Race
Champ Car Teams Wrap Up Last Day of Testing
Photos courtesy Champ Car World Series
SEBRING, Fla. (September 25, 2007) – In hot and humid conditions in South Florida, Champ Car teams wrapped up the final day of testing at the 1.67-mile Sebring International Raceway.

Home Field Advantage: With the next Champ Car event slated for Surfers Paradise, Team Australia is certainly hoping for some home-field advantage. Last year, Will Power put the green and yellow Aussie Vineyards machine on pole position and nearly won the event in his native land. This year, Power is joined by French rookie Simon Pagenaud, who will be making his first trip “Down Under.” The Team Aussie duo was first and fourth fastest at Sebring with Power leading the way after a lap at 51.51 seconds. Pagenaud feels the team gained a lot during the test.

“I expect a big crowd in Australia rooting for both Will and myself,” said Pagenaud. “Our test this week was good and we learned lots of things and that is important. It was also good to show our strength heading into the next event because we both want to do well for Aussie Vineyards.”

On a Roll: Coming off of two straight podium finishes, Bruno Junqueira and Dale Coyne Racing are certainly on a roll. On Monday, the Brazilian was second quickest at Sebring and on Tuesday, with just a small number of laps, continued to show improvement. With his strong performances over the last two events, Junqueira is currently ninth in the standings, sitting just 18 points outside of the fifth position.

“I am very happy for Dale Coyne Racing,” said Junqueira. “We have done a lot in the last couple of weeks and we are stilling going fast. The guys are working hard and I hope we can continue to get good results, especially in Australia.”

California Dreaming: Mario Dominguez stepped right into Pacific Coast Motorsports and turned the third fastest time of the day in Sebring. The Mexican driver set a best lap of 51.55 seconds putting him only four one-hundredths off the fastest time of the test. His teammate Alex Figge was also quick during the two days running a best lap of 51.73 seconds, which was good enough for fifth.

Give Me a Brake: As the teams continue to learn about the new DP01, one of the areas they are concentrating on at Sebring is the braking system. With the tight and rough layout at Surfers Paradise, Australia next up on the schedule, getting a handle on braking is of utmost importance. The track in Australia is demanding on the Performance Friction Brakes and the 1.67-mile Sebring circuit is a good place to put them through the paces, as its surface closely represents a rough street circuit. Forsythe Racing’s Paul Tracy says this is something the team has been looking to improve all season.

“One of the things I have struggled with most this year is braking,” said the 2003 Champion. “It seems we can’t get the rear end settled but I think we learned a lot of things today and I hope they translate into good things in Surfers.”

Unofficial Lap Times for September 25, 2007

1. Will Power 51.51
2. Tristan Gommendy 51.53
3. Mario Dominguez 51.55
4. Simon Pagenaud 51.71
5. Alex Figge 51.73
6. Paul Tracy 51.79
7. Graham Rahal 51.82
8. David Martinez 51.91
9. Neel Jani 52.04
10. Bruno Junqueira 52.30
11. Katherine Legge 52.58
12 James Winslow 53.65

With testing wrapped up the teams will head back to their race shops and pack their equipment for the next event at Surfers Paradise, Australia on October 21. The race will be shown in the U.S. on ESPN2 and in Canada on The Score.
 

Dalziel Considering 2008 Offers
By Stuart Morrison
ORLANDO, Florida (September 22, 2007) — Following the news that his rookie season in the 2007 Champ Car World Series has been cut short prematurely, Scotland’s Ryan Dalziel is firmly focused on securing a full-time race seat for the 2008 season and has already received a number of solid offers from open-wheel racing and sports car teams. In addition, the popular driver could return to the Champ Car grid at seasons-end with an offer currently being tabled by another team to return for the Mexico City round in November.

Released by Pacific Coast Motorsports (PCM) on Thursday despite an impressive record this season of six top-ten finishes in 11 starts for the rookie Champ Car squad, the 25-year-old from Lanarkshire is currently reviewing his options with the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series and the Indy Racing League figuring in his on-track plans for the future.

“Obviously Thursday’s announcement came as a big shock to me,” stated Dalziel. “I’ve had a good three-year relationship with Pacific Coast Motorsports and I’ve been grateful for the opportunity to race for them having represented them in the American Le Mans Series, Grand-Am and this year in the Champ Car World Series. Naturally I’m disappointed with the team’s decision, not least given some of my performances this season including leading laps in Toronto and coming close to scoring their maiden podium. That said it’s time to move on and I’m pleased to say that I’ve already received several offers for next season and I’ll be looking to firm up my plans as soon as possible.”

He continued, “I’ll definitely be racing, it’s just a case of determining what the best option is. I’ve had a great time driving Daytona Prototypes in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series in the past two years and I’d definitely be interested in a return there given the strength of the competition. Similarly there’s potential to stay in open-wheel racing and switch to the Indy Racing League so I’ll consider what’s on offer and hopefully have things lined up sooner rather than later.”

Dalziel has graced the Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype podium twice this season driving for Peter Baron’s SAMAX outfit. January’s famed ‘Rolex 24 at Daytona’ saw Ryan finish second at Daytona International Speedway alongside team-mates Patrick Carpentier, Darren Manning and Milka Duno while last weekend’s season-closing ‘Sunchaser 1000’ at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah also brought a runner-up finish for the Orlando-based Scot.

Prior to Thursday’s announcement Ryan sat 14th overall in the 2007 Champ Car World Series Driver Standings, scoring 114 points, with PCM team-mate Alex Figge back in 17th with 77 points. Dalziel’s final start for PCM produced his sixth top-ten finish of the season at the Dutch circuit of Assen earlier this month – Ryan scoring a tenth place finish.
 

David Martinez Set to Race in Australia and Mexico

News from Forsythe Championship Racing
Photos courtesy Champ Car World Series
MONTERREY, Mexico (September 12, 2007) — Mexican driver David Martinez announced today that he will join Forsythe Championship Racing for the final two rounds of the 2007 Champ Car World Series Season. His first race will be the Lexmark Indy 300 which will take place October 19th – 21st in Surfers Paradise, Australia. For the Season finale Martinez will return to the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, where last year he became the best Mexican debutant in Champ Car history by qualifying and finishing ninth, also in a Forsythe car, in front of hundreds of thousands of his fellow countrymen. The Gran Premio de México will take place November 9th-11th.

The Monterrey native will get a chance to get behind the wheel of a DP01 for the first time at the historic Sebring International Raceway on September 24th and 25th where he will join his teammate Paul Tracy for a private test. During the test Martinez will get the opportunity to get comfortable with the new chassis and to nourish the relationship with his engineers and with the rest of the team, and at the same time work on car setups for the street circuit in Australia and the permanent road course in Mexico.

Martinez began his career like most other top open-wheel drivers in go karts at a very young age earning numerous championships in Mexico. In 1997 he was named top rookie in the Formula 3000 Marlboro Cup. In 2000 and 2001 he had consecutive fourth place finishes in the Mexican Formula 3 Championship. Martinez made his debut in the Champ Car Ladder System in 2002 making one start in the Atlantic Championship in front of his home crowd in Monterrey, Mexico.

A Barber Dodge Pro Series victory at Monterrey, Mexico and the Mexican Formula Renault Championship highlighted his 2003 season. In 2004 Martinez migrated to Europe and produced five top-five results in the Formula Renault V6 Eurocup Series. The 25 year old missed the first race of the year in the 2005 Champ Car Atlantic Championship but still managed to claim fifth in his rookie season. He finished third in his first race in Monterrey Mexico, captured his first career pole and scored a total of four podiums and seven top-five finishes. In 2006 Martinez returned to Atlantic and repeated his fifth place in the championship despite a challenging season in which he switched teams halfway through the year, but still managed to continue his success on Mexican soil by finishing third at the Monterrey, Mexico event.

The highlight of his career, until now, was at the end of the 2006 season when the Forsythe Team hired him for the Gran Premio de México where he raced after having only one test day in these 750 horsepower turbocharged race cars. The lack of experience did not impede Martinez from putting on an impressive performance qualifying and finishing ninth in a race that also marked the first time he drove a Champ Car in the rain. His Champ Car debut was the best by any Mexican driver in Series history.

“I’m very happy to be working with Forsythe Championship Racing again,” said Martinez. “They gave me my first drive in Champ Car last year and it went pretty well. I really look forward to driving the DP01 for the first time, it seems like a really good racecar and I believe it will fit my driving style. I{m going to get some testing in the new car at Sebring before we go to Australia, which will give me a good chance to work with the team and get back up to speed. I’ll have to learn the track in Australia, so it will be a challenge but when we get back to Mexico City I’m prepared to give my fellow countrymen and Mexico a great result. I can’t wait to get back in the car!”
 

Dutch Fans Treat Champ Car with Passionate Interest
Holland Surges to No. 2 country in Champ Car Recent Web Traffic Lists
Photos courtesy Champ Car World Series
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, U.S.A. (September 4, 2007)—If the packed grandstands on Sunday in Assen weren’t enough evidence, recent traffic figures from the Champ Car World Series official website attest to the popularity of Champ Car in Holland.

The Netherlands snagged the No. 2 spot in the country listings of web traffic going to  www.champcarworldseries.com  Champ Car’s site, during July and August. The surge can be credited to the growing popularity of Dutch driver Robert Doornbos along with anticipation for the Sept. 2 Bavaria Champ Car Grand Prix Powered By Audi, Gant and Hertz, which was won by Justin Wilson.

For the months of July and August, Holland ranked second only to the United States in visits to the Champ Car site. More than 43 of the visitors to the site during those two months were from the U.S. while 13.32 percent hail from Holland. Canada, which hosts three Champ Car World Series events, normally holds down the No. 2 spot, but during the months leading up to Holland’s first ever Champ Car event, they slipped to third with 11.48 percent.

In terms of web visits among cities, Dutch cities also ranked high. Amsterdam was the leading city for July and August, while The Hague was third in August and fifth in July. Rotterdam, which hosted a demonstration by Doornbos earlier in the month, ranked 11th in July and 15th in August.

“We’re extremely gratified to bring our Series to a new country for the first time and to have their fans embrace us as they have,” said Champ Car President and CEO Steve Johnson. “There is no doubt now after the weekend in Assen and reviewing these figures that the Dutch are very passionate about Champ Car. We see this as a good beginning to what we hope will be a long relationship between Champ Car, Holland and all of Europe...”

Doornbos, who currently leads the Roshfrans Rookie of the Year standings, is not surprised by the numbers.

"As we saw in Europe these last two weeks, I have a lot of fans following my Champ Car career,” Doornbos said. “While there is great coverage of the series in Holland on television, my fans are always looking for every bit of information. It is no surprise to me the Dutch audience is growing on Champ Car’s website, because we are very passionate about our motorsports."

The Champ Car World Series features some of the greatest international race car drivers competing in the most diverse and exciting series in the world. Past champions Sebastien Bourdais and Paul Tracy along with Graham Rahal, Will Power, Robert Doornbos, Justin Wilson, Bruno Junqueira and Alex Tagliani are among the drivers who battle for the Vanderbilt Cup, which is awarded to the champion of the Champ Car World Series. The title is contested on temporary street circuits and permanent road courses throughout North America, Europe, and Australia. Round 13 of The Champ Car World Series takes place on October 21 in Surfer’s Paradise, Australia.
 

PKV Racing Places Both Cars in Top Five at the Bavaria Champ Car Grand Prix
Gommendy Fourth, Jani Fifth
News from PKV Racing
Photos courtesy Champ Car World Series
ASSEN, Holland (September 2, 2007) — PKV Racing places both cars in the top-five for the first time this season as Tristan Gommendy finished fourth and Neel Jani fifth today in the Bavaria Champ Car Grand Prix on the 2.83-mile, 14-turn TT Assen Circuit permanent road course Assen, Holland. 

Gommendy, #22 Pay By Touch MegaSpirea PKV Racing Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone car, drove a steady, mistake free race in earning his best finish of the season.  The 27-year-old resident of Paris, France has now finished in the top-10 five times, with two top-five showings, this year.  Today’s fourth place performance is his season high.  Gommendy picked up one place for his efforts today and is now 11th in the standings with 140 points, 40 out of tenth place.  He is fifth in the Roshfrans Rookie of the Year race.

Jani, #21 Red Bull Gulfstream PKV Racing Cosworth /DP01 /Bridgestone machine, had a much more difficult race.  After getting as high as second he was almost done in by flying debris and then had to stretch his fuel to make it to the finish to extend his streak of consecutive top-10 finishes to eight.  The 23-year-old native of Jens, Switzerland has now finished in the top-10 ten times in the 12 races, with four top-five showings and three podium performances.  Jani remains seventh in the championship standings, third in the rookie of the year race, with 203 points, but closed the gap to fifth in the championship race to just six points and the margin to third to just 35 points with two races remaining.

Gommendy, who started third, was passed in the first corner by his teammate and dropped to fourth.  Essentially from that point on he never put a wheel wrong, got solid work from his Pay By Touch MegaSpirea PKV Racing team and ran the second fastest lap of the race to bring home his best finish of the season.  Gommendy, who was making his first start at TT Circuit Assen, got as high as third and was never lower than sixth.  His major drama came during the last stint when he battled with Bruno Junqueira for third place and felt that Junqueira used his push-to-pass, which had been declared unavailable to drivers early on in the race after Sebastien Bourdais experienced a malfunction when engaging the system.  However, after reviewing all the data Champ Car decided not to take any action against any of the drivers that had violated the prohibition.

“Neel did a good start so I was in fourth place,” Gommendy began.  “The Pay By Touch MegaSpirea PKV Racing car was very quick when I was alone and I made good fuel mileage.  But, it was very difficult to follow people because of the slipstream.  This is also a very hard track to overtake on,” he explained.  “What makes me upset the most is that (Bruno) Junqueira used his push to pass several times to fight with me at the end of the race and it was forbidden.  I don’t think that is fair,” Gommendy said.  “The Pay By Touch MegaSpirea PKV Racing team did a good job all weekend.  In the race I had a fantastic car.  Fourth is not too bad, but I’m disappointed because the podium was really close and I want to finish on the podium.”

Jani, who started a season high tying fourth, moved into second place at the start when he passed his teammate and Bourdais experience his computer problem.  He ran in second until the first round of pit stops, which occurred during a yellow flag on lap 15.  Six laps later he was in third place following Junqueira, who was out of sequence, and Wilson, when suddenly one of the cones that delineate the track flew into the air.  Jani dodged much of the debris and continued on.  However, on lap 23 he headed into a corner and when he applied the brakes, the car bottomed, sending it skidding through the turn.  By the time he regained control four cars had passed through dropping Jani to seventh.  He ran in seventh for most of the second and third stints.  Then in an effort to try and pick up some additional places the team pitted for the third time early in hopes that a yellow would come out putting them in the lead.  When the yellow did not materialize, Jani put all the knowledge and skill he has learned about saving fuel to work and managed to bring the car home.  Once in the pits the crew inspected the undercarriage of the car and found a six inch diameter metal disc that weighs approximately two pounds impaled into the cockpit of the car.  The disc was bent over so that when the brakes were applied it rammed into the ground.  The other problem was that the disc was positioned in such a way as to disrupt the aerodynamics of the car.

“I had quite a good start to the race in the Red Bull Gulfstream PKV Racing car and ended up in second place,” Jani said.  “The car was good and I think I was quicker than Wilson.  We were also getting good fuel mileage.  The first pit stop went well, but then I was following some cars into a corner when a cone got knocked into the air.  There were three pieces, the cone, a pole and a metal disc.  I avoided the cone and the pole, but the metal disc got lodged in the chassis.  A couple of laps later I was braking and the car bottomed on the disc, which was hanging down from the chassis, so I just went straight.  That is when we lost four positions.  The car kept bottoming, which made it very hard to brake.  At that point we tried a strategy move to try and win the race, but could not get the yellow, so during the last laps I really had to save fuel to make it. I am disappointed because we lost at least a podium and possibly a win, but considering everything fifth place is not bad.”

Gommendy, who is making a late season push to finish in the top-10 in the championship standings, earned his third top-10 finish in his last four starts and second top-five showing of the season.  In addition to today’s fourth, he was seventh at Road America and eighth in San Jose before suffering damage to his car from track debris and finishing 16th last weekend in Belgium.  His other top performances are a fifth in his Champ Car debut in Las Vegas and a seventh in Portland.  Gommendy led laps at both Long Beach and Houston, where he battled three-time series champion and 2007 points leader Sebastien Bourdais to a standstill before making late race pit stops. 

Gommendy has qualified in the top-10 six times in 11 attempts (did not qualify in Edmonton due to injury) this year with one pole. The pole, which came in Mont-Tremblant, is just the second in PKV Racing history and the first on a road course.  It also made him the third Champ Car rookie to capture a pole since 2001.  His pole and today’s third place qualifying position ties him with Vasser for the two best combined starting spots by a PKV Racing driver in a single year (Vasser pole at Milwaukee and third at Las Vegas in 2005).  Gommendy’s other top-10 starting positions this season are a fifth in Portland, an eighth in Houston and San Jose plus a ninth in Long Beach.  A veteran of European open wheel racing, Gommendy won the 2002 Formula 3 France championship and the prestigious Formula 3 Macau GP race also in 2002. 

Jani, who has been one of the top competitors in the series since Cleveland, is on a streak that has given him a legitimate shot at becoming the first PKV Racing driver to finish in the top-five in the season ending standings (Vasser finished 6th in 2005).  During the eight race stretch, Jani earned all three of his podium finishes, seconds at Toronto and San Jose, where he led his first Champ Car laps and a third in Cleveland.  The three podium performances established a single season team record for most by an individual driver and tied the record for the most by the team in a season.  In addition to the podiums, the streak includes the fifth here in Assen, a sixth in Mont-Tremblant, a ninth at Edmonton, a 10th at Road America and an eighth in Belgium.  Jani’s other top-10 showings this year are a seventh at Long Beach and a 10th in his Champ Car debut in Las Vegas.  At Long Beach, fueling problems, Las Vegas, mechanical failure, Houston, knocked out of the race while running fourth and Road America, sixth when forced to pit for a splash of fuel, Jani was in contention for top-five finishes.  Only in Portland, where he finished 12th has he been out of contention. 

Jani has qualified in the top-10 a total of 10 times in 12 attempts.  Today’s fourth place starting spot ties his previous season high achieved in Houston.  In addition to the fourth place qualifying positions in Houston and here in Assen, Jani’s other top-10 starting spots include fifth’s in Edmonton and San Jose, sixth in Mont-Tremblant, seventh at Road America, ninths in Las Vegas and Zolder, plus 10ths in Toronto and Portland (11th in Cleveland and Long Beach).  Jani, whose father hails from India, began his open wheel racing career in Europe before joining Champ Car this season.  He has been a member of the Red Bull driver development program since 2005 and was a test driver for the Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula One Team in 2006.

This weekend’s race is the second of two consecutive events the Champ Car World Series is contesting in Europe this year.  The two European races comprise the Phanos Resorts Champ Car European Cup, which was won by Newman Haas Lanigan Racing. PKV Racing finished in fourth place .5 points behind RocketSport/RuSports.

PKV Racing captured its third Sherwin Williams “It’s all in the Finish Award” today.  All three top awards have gone to the #22 Pay By Touch MegaSpirea PKV Racing car.  The #21 Red Bull Gulfstream car was second in Cleveland. 

For the season PKV Racing drivers have qualified in the top-10 a total of 16 times in 23 attempts (#22 car did not qualify in Edmonton) with one pole, by Gommendy at Mont-Tremblant.  Both drivers have qualified in the top-10 five times (Assen – Gommendy, third and Jani, fourth; Houston – Jani, fourth and Gommendy, eighth; Portland – Gommendy, fifth and Jani 10th; Mont-Tremblant – Gommendy, first and Jani, sixth; San Jose – Jani, fifth and Gommendy, eighth.  Assen is the first time this year that both drivers have qualified in the top-five.  The combined third and fourth starting positions tie Gommendy and Jani for second best in team history behind a pole and fourth place starting positions by Jimmy Vasser and Cristiano da Matta, respectively, at Milwaukee in 2005.  Vasser and da Matta also captured the second row, with Vasser starting third and da Matta fourth, in Las Vegas in 2005.  Earlier this year Gommendy and Jani scored a pole and a sixth place starting position, respectively, at Mont-Tremblant.  PKV Racing drivers have finished in the top-10 a total of 15 times in 24 starts (Mario Dominguez drove for Gommendy in Edmonton) with the three podiums all by Jani.  Both drivers have finished in the top-five once and the top-10 four times (Assen – Gommendy, fourth and Jani, fifth; Road America – Gommendy, seventh and Jani, 10th; San Jose – Jani, second and Gommendy, eighth; Las Vegas – Gommendy, 5th and Jani, seventh).

Promoters announce Champ Car Phoenix Race Cancellation
PHOENIX, Arizona (August 29, 2007) — The promoters of the season-ending Champ Car World Series event in Phoenix on Dec. 2 have canceled the inaugural event because of a lack of sponsor support.

“An event of this magnitude requires considerable corporate support and, though we did establish some outstanding partnerships, there were simply not enough of these to create economic viability,'' said Dale Jensen, owner and managing member of the Sports Property.

The race would have been run on a newly constructed downtown street circuit.
The group, which also promoted the season-opening race in Las Vegas in April, said that event will continue, with the second edition on April 6, 2008.

“We obviously are disappointed that the organizers of Grand Prix Arizona canceled their event,'' Steve Johnson, president and CEO of Champ Car, said in a statement. “While we were looking forward to closing our season with a new Champ Car race in Arizona, we're prepared to now finish instead in Mexico City (Nov. 11) as we have done the past three years.''

The cancellation means the Champ Car series will have no more races in the U.S. this season. The rest of the schedule includes Sunday's inaugural race in Assen, Netherlands, followed by Surfers Paradise, Australia, in October and the race in Mexico. Another new event tentatively scheduled in China this season has been postponed until 2008.

“The failure of our previous China promoter -- since replaced -- to materially comply with our agreement forced us to miss our May date, and we have been unable to secure an appropriate 2007 replacement date with our new promoter,'' Johnson said.
 

Road Racing’s Rebirth Begins At Road America
Approximately 100,000 Fans Flock to Generac Grand Prix in Elkhart Lake, Best Turnout in 10 Years
Photos courtesy Champ Car World Series
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, U.S.A. (August 13, 2007) – Combine a scenic 4.048-mile natural terrain road course with exciting motorsports action and the result is the most successful race event weekend in the last 10 years at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin’s Road America. Approximately 100,000 fans enjoyed the Generac Power Weekend that concluded on Sunday with Sebastien Bourdais winning his first ever Champ Car World Series race in Elkhart Lake.

“We had an amazing weekend at Road America,” said Champ Car President and CEO Steve Johnson. “The paddocks, the viewing areas and every camping area at Road America were packed with fans craving the exciting race action. Champ Car attendance is on the upswing this year as we had our one-millionth fan this season come through the gates several weeks ago in San Jose. Road America maintains our momentum and we expect the excitement to continue as we head to Europe next week.”

Fans who weren’t at the track saw Bourdais on ABC Sports win his fifth race of the season at the historic road course. Despite being on network television two less times through its first nine races this season, Champ Car has seen its total number of television viewers equal the number who watched through the same period last season.

Champ Car cable broadcasts on the ESPN family of networks have attracted an average of 69% more viewers per race than cable broadcasts during 2006. Also, Champ Car has increased its worldwide distribution, delivering broadcasts to more than 160 countries representing 1.7 billion potential viewers. Live race broadcasts on EuroSport2 have attracted more viewers for 2007 race broadcasts than the 2006 events carried by the larger Eurosport channel.

The next two races on the Champ Car schedule are also natural terrain road courses as the series will visit Zolder, Belgium (August 24-26) and Assen, Holland (August 31-September 2) for the first time. The DP01 chassis will makes its European debut at Zolder, and if the competition on previous road courses is any indication, the Belgian and Dutch fans are in for a spectacular show.

“I think it is easy to say the DP01 exceeded everyone’s expectations this season,” continued Johnson. “We have a great fight going on right now for the Vanderbilt Cup as we have seen nine different drivers finish on the podium in our first 10 events. The next few months are going to make for an exciting ending to our season.”

The Champ Car World Series features some of the greatest race car drivers in the world competing in the most exciting series in the world. Champions Sebastien Bourdais and Canadian Paul Tracy along with international stars Justin Wilson, Will Power and Robert Doornbos as well as American rising star Graham Rahal are among the drivers who battle for the Vanderbilt Cup, which is awarded to the winner of the Champ Car World Series. The title is contested on temporary street circuits and permanent road courses.
 

San José Grand Prix Celebrates Champ Car Fan Favorite Awards
Fans pick their favorite Champ Car moments with on-line votes
Photos courtesy Champ Car Wor