The pace is accelerating quickly now for the
Champ Car World Series as we prepare for the 2006 opener,
just four weeks away in the streets of Long Beach. I’m
excited to be back for the third year as the host of Champ
Car’s network TV broadcasts, and I’m really excited about
taking over the call of our coverage of the Champ Car
Atlantics this season as well. Working with friends and
veterans like Derek Daly and Jon Beekhuis is a treat, and
I’m excited about a new voice coming on board in Cameron
Steele.
I’ve called a few Atlantic events over the
past several seasons as one-offs and have long respected the
series. Its credentials as one of the very best proving
grounds in racing for drivers and teams are well
established. Now, with the advent of a new car and engine
package for 2006 teams can’t put programs together fast
enough. Estimates are that the grid at Long Beach will be
well north of 30 entries and I’d suspect we’ll see that kind
of strength at most Atlantic races this year. The tour
offers great economic incentive with its $2 million prize on
the horizon, and we’re again seeing top flight Champ Car
teams adding Atlantic squads to foster driver and crew
development. That’s a home run for Champ Car any way you
slice it.
Team
Possible Drivers
Comment
Dale Coyne Racing
Gareth Ridpath, Ricardo Sperafico
Drivers up in the air right now
Forsythe Championship Racing
Paul Tracy, Mario Dominguez
Team is set for 2006
HVM Racing
Ryan Hunter-Reay, Gareth Ridpath, Nelson Philippe,
Dan Clarke, Ronnie Bremer, Rodolfo Lavín
Bremer is supposedly signed for 2006, but all has
gone silent on that deal. Ryan Hunter-Reay, Gareth
Ridpath and Nelson Philippe are the latest drivers
to be rumored for this team.
Mi-Jack Conquest Racing
Andrew Ranger, Jan Heylen
Belgian Jan Heylen has now tested twice with the
team and has become a front runner to land a seat
Newman/Haas Racing
Sebastien Bourdais, Bruno Junqueira
Team is set for 2006.
PKV Racing
Oriol Servia, Katherine Legge
Team is set for 2006.
Rocketsports Racing
Alex Tagliani, Franck Montagny, Antonio Pizzonia,
Enrique Bernoldi
Alex Tagliani could land the primary seat. Franck
Montagny, Antonio Pizzonia, and Enrique Bernoldi
could get 2nd seat if they bring money
RuSPORT
Justin Wilson, AJ Allmendinger
Team is set for 2006
Walker Racing/
Team Australia
Alex Tagliani Will Power, Ryan Briscoe
Team will run 2 or 3 cars for Tagliani, Briscoe and
Power
And when you start thinking about the Champ
Car World Series and all it will offer fans this year you
just have to smile. After a winter of discussion about the
future of open-wheel racing in North America it’s truly time
to focus on the competition that looms at Long Beach and
throughout the rest of Champ Car’s 15-event schedule this
year. While we don’t yet know what all the car and driver
combinations look like, we do have a good idea of what the
front of the grid should include. Newman/Haas, Forsythe,
PKV, and RuSPORT are all set with their lineups and after
this week’s report that PKV will run a third car for Jimmy
Vasser at least at Long Beach every indication is that those
nine cars will stage a tremendous dogfight for dominance all
season long.
We’re not yet sure who will be steering for
Rocketsports, Team Australia, CTE/HVM, Coyne, or
Mi-Jack/Conquest, but it should be a great mix of veterans
and fast newcomers. Word is that Rocketsports may wind
up with a Brazilian flavor depending on the outcome of some
testing this month. At the very least, the fact that the
TransAm series is going on hiatus in 2006 should mean that
Paul Gentilozzi and his team will have more time and energy
to focus on building their Champ Car group into an even
stronger contender this season.
It appears Team Australia/Walker Racing is
set with Will Power in one of their cars this season, with
Ryan Briscoe and Alex Tagliani in contention for the
veteran’s chair there. Derrick Walker’s been quoted as
saying he’s hopeful of finding funding to run three cars
this year; that would give him the ability to field both
Tags and Briscoe, two proven drivers well able to help
shepherd the talented Power as he makes his first full-year
run in Champ Car.
CTE/HVM already has Ronnie Bremer under
contract for this season and this could be a breakout year
for the young veteran. Rodolfo Lavin’s name remains linked
with Keith Wiggins’ team in their second car, but as yet
there’s been no confirmation. It’s a talented group with
plenty of ability to put its drivers into contention, and I
believe that Bremer could well be a sleeper pick to grab
some great finishes this year.
Dale Coyne’s team won’t have the help of Oriol Servia this
coming season, now that the mechanical engineer from Spain
is set with PKV. Coyne’s efforts could well involve Ricardo
Sperafico again this season, and he showed decently in some
events last year. Dale remains one of my favorite guys on
the tour and a strong year for his team would be
well-deserved.
That leaves Mi-Jack/Conquest. Last season Eric Bachelart’s
bunch had some strong runs with both Andrew Ranger and
Nelson Philippe. Neither has been announced as yet but you
have to assume both are likely to return to Champ Car, and
would likely remain here [Editor’s Note: Hearing Philippe
will end up at HVM]. Bachelart is an accomplished team
manager and with Mi-Jack’s principals taking over as
promoter at two of Champ Car’s most important venues,
Cleveland and Houston, I think that speaks to the strength
of the organization. I’m hoping the Mi-Jack team will be
able to put their cars on the podium at least occasionally
this season.
But there are still some open questions. What about
Cristiano da Matta? The former series champ gave PKV their
first victory at Portland last summer, a triumph of strategy
for both team manager Jim McGee and da Matta. Now Shorty
appears to be without a ride, and he’d make a great fit for
HVM’s other car, or perhaps with Mi-Jack/Conquest alongside
Ranger.
And where might Alex Tagliani and Ryan Hunter-Reay end up?
Tags has a victory two years ago at Road America to go with
a host of great finishes, and Hunter-Reay is one of Champ
Car’s great young Americans with a couple of wins to his
credit. As we’ve mentioned Tags could stick with Team
Australia. Hunter-Reay at the moment appears to have limited
prospects and that’s got to be a tough situation.
Champ Car is in its best situation in years with new events
in new major markets, strong teams getting stronger, and
several capable drivers competing for the few open seats. It
all augurs well for a terrific year on the race track, one
that’s just four weeks away. Can’t wait to get fired up.
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