Add group to favorites
Back to post list
Send new message to group Search:
Post Subject:
SI story: Young guns bring hope for Champ Car future
SI story: Young guns bring hope for Champ Car future
* sportsillustrated.cnn . com /2007/racing/wires/04/04/3010.ap.car.champ.season.preview.0804/
Young guns bring hope for Champ Car future
Everybody's chasing three-time Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais,
especially his new teammate and his protege.
The two new talents - open-wheel racing star Bobby Rahal's 18-year-old son
Graham and 22-year-old Simon Pagenaud of France - are expected to challenge
the veteran's reign.
That's a big order, but an injection of young talent is exactly what this
series, which lost American A.J. Allmendinger to NASCAR, needs.
"They are definitely the future of our sport,'' said series co-owner Kevin
Kalkhoven. "Those young men and a couple of the other drivers coming up from
Atlantics can bring this sport back to where people take notice.''
Fans will get their first look at the newcomers Sunday in the inaugural
Vegas Grand Prix, a new street circuit built in downtown Las Vegas. It's the
first of 16 races for the Champ Cars this season.
Bourdais, who's vying for an unprecedented fourth straight Champ Car title,
remains the focal point of what is now an all road- and street-racing
series.
"He is amazing,'' said new teammate Rahal. "Sebastien seems like he can do
anything in a Champ Car. He just has a tremendous amount of control, is fast
and finds ways to win.''
Since joining the series in 2003, Bourdais has won 23 times in 59 starts.
Last season, he took seven of 14 checkered flags and tied Ted Horn's record
of consecutive American open-wheel championships from 1946-48.
It's no secret the Frenchman has flirted with Formula One the past couple of
years.
"Formula One might be in the future for me, but I really want to be
competitive, and I'm given everything I need to do this,'' Bourdais said.
"So, the motivation (for Champ Car) just is very easy to find. I just go out
there, race my very best and try and win races. And, when you do that,
usually motivation isn't really hard to find.''
He's also looking forward to racing against Pagenaud, his countryman and
protege.
"Simon is very talented,'' Bourdais said. "He proved that last year in
Atlantics. Moving up to Champ Cars can be a very big step, but I think he
will be very good and very fast.''
Pagenaud, driving for the same Team Australia with which he won last year's
Atlantics title, wants to quickly compete for rookie of the year.
"This will be my first long race with pit stops, so it won't be easy,'' he
said. "Every mile I do I will learn more.''
Because of his father's Indianapolis 500 victory in 1986 and three CART
championships, Rahal's a bigger name in the United States than Pagenaud, who
beat him for the Atlantic title by 16 points.
"I've always wanted to step out of dad's shadow and make my own footsteps,
so to speak,'' said Rahal, who signed his contract two weeks ago after an
extended negotiation. "I think, for me, the reason I try to put the pressure
behind me is because ever since I was a little kid, it was always, 'Well,
you're Bobby Rahal's son.' Well, now I hope to reach the point where I can
just become Graham Rahal.''
Beating Bourdais would certainly do it, but he'll have to contend with the
other drivers, too.
Justin Wilson of England, last year's runner-up, returns with the new
RSports team, an amalgamation of RuSport, for whom he ran last year, and
Rocketsports, which brings veteran Alex Tagliani of Canada to the new team.
And don't forget 2003 series champion Paul Tracy. The leading active driver
with 30 victories, Tracy's driving for Forsythe Championship Racing and is
again paired with Mexican driver Mario Dominguez, who was fired at
midseason.
Australian Will Power, last year's top rookie, will team with Pagenaud at
Team Australia, while Englishman Dan Clarke and Dutchman Robert Doornbos
will race for the new Team Minardi USA.
PKV Racing, co-owned by Kalkhoven, will field cars for two more newcomers,
former Formula One test driver Neel Jani of Switzerland and France's Tristan
Gommendy.
Three-time series runner-up Bruno Junqueira of Brazil, Bourdais' former
teammate, moves to Dale Coyne Racing with Katherine Legge of England, the
series' only woman.
Champ Car also welcomes Pacific Coast Racing with rookies Ryan Dalziel of
Scotland and American Alex Figge, moving up from sports car racing.
Matt Halliday of New Zealand, another driver in the big talented rookie
class, will drive in a single-car effort for Conquest Racing.
"It would be nice to have a few more teams and a few more cars in the
lineup, but I don't think we're going to have to worry about competition,''
Kalkhoven said. "There's going to be plenty of that.''
* sportsillustrated.cnn . com /2007/racing/wires/04/04/3010.ap.car.champ.season.preview.0804/
Young guns bring hope for Champ Car future
Everybody's chasing three-time Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais,
especially his new teammate and his protege.
The two new talents - open-wheel racing star Bobby Rahal's 18-year-old son
Graham and 22-year-old Simon Pagenaud of France - are expected to challenge
the veteran's reign.
That's a big order, but an injection of young talent is exactly what this
series, which lost American A.J. Allmendinger to NASCAR, needs.
"They are definitely the future of our sport,'' said series co-owner Kevin
Kalkhoven. "Those young men and a couple of the other drivers coming up from
Atlantics can bring this sport back to where people take notice.''
Fans will get their first look at the newcomers Sunday in the inaugural
Vegas Grand Prix, a new street circuit built in downtown Las Vegas. It's the
first of 16 races for the Champ Cars this season.
Bourdais, who's vying for an unprecedented fourth straight Champ Car title,
remains the focal point of what is now an all road- and street-racing
series.
"He is amazing,'' said new teammate Rahal. "Sebastien seems like he can do
anything in a Champ Car. He just has a tremendous amount of control, is fast
and finds ways to win.''
Since joining the series in 2003, Bourdais has won 23 times in 59 starts.
Last season, he took seven of 14 checkered flags and tied Ted Horn's record
of consecutive American open-wheel championships from 1946-48.
It's no secret the Frenchman has flirted with Formula One the past couple of
years.
"Formula One might be in the future for me, but I really want to be
competitive, and I'm given everything I need to do this,'' Bourdais said.
"So, the motivation (for Champ Car) just is very easy to find. I just go out
there, race my very best and try and win races. And, when you do that,
usually motivation isn't really hard to find.''
He's also looking forward to racing against Pagenaud, his countryman and
protege.
"Simon is very talented,'' Bourdais said. "He proved that last year in
Atlantics. Moving up to Champ Cars can be a very big step, but I think he
will be very good and very fast.''
Pagenaud, driving for the same Team Australia with which he won last year's
Atlantics title, wants to quickly compete for rookie of the year.
"This will be my first long race with pit stops, so it won't be easy,'' he
said. "Every mile I do I will learn more.''
Because of his father's Indianapolis 500 victory in 1986 and three CART
championships, Rahal's a bigger name in the United States than Pagenaud, who
beat him for the Atlantic title by 16 points.
"I've always wanted to step out of dad's shadow and make my own footsteps,
so to speak,'' said Rahal, who signed his contract two weeks ago after an
extended negotiation. "I think, for me, the reason I try to put the pressure
behind me is because ever since I was a little kid, it was always, 'Well,
you're Bobby Rahal's son.' Well, now I hope to reach the point where I can
just become Graham Rahal.''
Beating Bourdais would certainly do it, but he'll have to contend with the
other drivers, too.
Justin Wilson of England, last year's runner-up, returns with the new
RSports team, an amalgamation of RuSport, for whom he ran last year, and
Rocketsports, which brings veteran Alex Tagliani of Canada to the new team.
And don't forget 2003 series champion Paul Tracy. The leading active driver
with 30 victories, Tracy's driving for Forsythe Championship Racing and is
again paired with Mexican driver Mario Dominguez, who was fired at
midseason.
Australian Will Power, last year's top rookie, will team with Pagenaud at
Team Australia, while Englishman Dan Clarke and Dutchman Robert Doornbos
will race for the new Team Minardi USA.
PKV Racing, co-owned by Kalkhoven, will field cars for two more newcomers,
former Formula One test driver Neel Jani of Switzerland and France's Tristan
Gommendy.
Three-time series runner-up Bruno Junqueira of Brazil, Bourdais' former
teammate, moves to Dale Coyne Racing with Katherine Legge of England, the
series' only woman.
Champ Car also welcomes Pacific Coast Racing with rookies Ryan Dalziel of
Scotland and American Alex Figge, moving up from sports car racing.
Matt Halliday of New Zealand, another driver in the big talented rookie
class, will drive in a single-car effort for Conquest Racing.
"It would be nice to have a few more teams and a few more cars in the
lineup, but I don't think we're going to have to worry about competition,''
Kalkhoven said. "There's going to be plenty of that.''
Re: SI story: Young guns bring hope for Champ Car future
"just bob" <kilbyfan@aoldotcom> wrote in message
news:46185ba2$0$27213$742ec2ed@news.sonic . net ...
> * sportsillustrated.cnn . com /2007/racing/wires/04/04/3010.ap.car.champ.season.preview.0804/
>
>
>
> Young guns bring hope for Champ Car future
>
> Everybody's chasing three-time Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais,
> especially his new teammate and his protege.
>
> The two new talents - open-wheel racing star Bobby Rahal's 18-year-old son
> Graham and 22-year-old Simon Pagenaud of France - are expected to
> challenge the veteran's reign.
>
> That's a big order, but an injection of young talent is exactly what this
> series, which lost American A.J. Allmendinger to NASCAR, needs.
>
> "They are definitely the future of our sport,'' said series co-owner Kevin
> Kalkhoven. "Those young men and a couple of the other drivers coming up
> from Atlantics can bring this sport back to where people take notice.''
>
> Fans will get their first look at the newcomers Sunday in the inaugural
> Vegas Grand Prix, a new street circuit built in downtown Las Vegas. It's
> the first of 16 races for the Champ Cars this season.
>
> Bourdais, who's vying for an unprecedented fourth straight Champ Car
> title, remains the focal point of what is now an all road- and
> street-racing series.
>
> "He is amazing,'' said new teammate Rahal. "Sebastien seems like he can do
> anything in a Champ Car. He just has a tremendous amount of control, is
> fast and finds ways to win.''
>
> Since joining the series in 2003, Bourdais has won 23 times in 59 starts.
> Last season, he took seven of 14 checkered flags and tied Ted Horn's
> record of consecutive American open-wheel championships from 1946-48.
>
> It's no secret the Frenchman has flirted with Formula One the past couple
> of years.
>
> "Formula One might be in the future for me, but I really want to be
> competitive, and I'm given everything I need to do this,'' Bourdais said.
> "So, the motivation (for Champ Car) just is very easy to find. I just go
> out there, race my very best and try and win races. And, when you do that,
> usually motivation isn't really hard to find.''
>
> He's also looking forward to racing against Pagenaud, his countryman and
> protege.
>
> "Simon is very talented,'' Bourdais said. "He proved that last year in
> Atlantics. Moving up to Champ Cars can be a very big step, but I think he
> will be very good and very fast.''
>
> Pagenaud, driving for the same Team Australia with which he won last
> year's Atlantics title, wants to quickly compete for rookie of the year.
>
> "This will be my first long race with pit stops, so it won't be easy,'' he
> said. "Every mile I do I will learn more.''
Yep, more French drivers. Yipeee! Just what ChampCar needs.
"just bob" <kilbyfan@aoldotcom> wrote in message
news:46185ba2$0$27213$742ec2ed@news.sonic . net ...
> * sportsillustrated.cnn . com /2007/racing/wires/04/04/3010.ap.car.champ.season.preview.0804/
>
>
>
> Young guns bring hope for Champ Car future
>
> Everybody's chasing three-time Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais,
> especially his new teammate and his protege.
>
> The two new talents - open-wheel racing star Bobby Rahal's 18-year-old son
> Graham and 22-year-old Simon Pagenaud of France - are expected to
> challenge the veteran's reign.
>
> That's a big order, but an injection of young talent is exactly what this
> series, which lost American A.J. Allmendinger to NASCAR, needs.
>
> "They are definitely the future of our sport,'' said series co-owner Kevin
> Kalkhoven. "Those young men and a couple of the other drivers coming up
> from Atlantics can bring this sport back to where people take notice.''
>
> Fans will get their first look at the newcomers Sunday in the inaugural
> Vegas Grand Prix, a new street circuit built in downtown Las Vegas. It's
> the first of 16 races for the Champ Cars this season.
>
> Bourdais, who's vying for an unprecedented fourth straight Champ Car
> title, remains the focal point of what is now an all road- and
> street-racing series.
>
> "He is amazing,'' said new teammate Rahal. "Sebastien seems like he can do
> anything in a Champ Car. He just has a tremendous amount of control, is
> fast and finds ways to win.''
>
> Since joining the series in 2003, Bourdais has won 23 times in 59 starts.
> Last season, he took seven of 14 checkered flags and tied Ted Horn's
> record of consecutive American open-wheel championships from 1946-48.
>
> It's no secret the Frenchman has flirted with Formula One the past couple
> of years.
>
> "Formula One might be in the future for me, but I really want to be
> competitive, and I'm given everything I need to do this,'' Bourdais said.
> "So, the motivation (for Champ Car) just is very easy to find. I just go
> out there, race my very best and try and win races. And, when you do that,
> usually motivation isn't really hard to find.''
>
> He's also looking forward to racing against Pagenaud, his countryman and
> protege.
>
> "Simon is very talented,'' Bourdais said. "He proved that last year in
> Atlantics. Moving up to Champ Cars can be a very big step, but I think he
> will be very good and very fast.''
>
> Pagenaud, driving for the same Team Australia with which he won last
> year's Atlantics title, wants to quickly compete for rookie of the year.
>
> "This will be my first long race with pit stops, so it won't be easy,'' he
> said. "Every mile I do I will learn more.''
Yep, more French drivers. Yipeee! Just what ChampCar needs.
Re: SI story: Young guns bring hope for Champ Car future
On Apr 7, 10:35 pm, "Von Fourche" <Khonak...@hotmail . com > wrote:
> "just bob" <kilbyfan@aoldotcom> wrote in message
>
> news:46185ba2$0$27213$742ec2ed@news.sonic . net ...
>
>
>
> > * sportsillustrated.cnn . com /2007/racing/wires/04/04/3010.ap.car....
>
> > Young guns bring hope for Champ Car future
>
> > Everybody's chasing three-time Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais,
> > especially his new teammate and his protege.
>
> > The two new talents - open-wheel racing star Bobby Rahal's 18-year-old son
> > Graham and 22-year-old Simon Pagenaud of France - are expected to
> > challenge the veteran's reign.
>
> > That's a big order, but an injection of young talent is exactly what this
> > series, which lost American A.J. Allmendinger to NASCAR, needs.
>
> > "They are definitely the future of our sport,'' said series co-owner Kevin
> > Kalkhoven. "Those young men and a couple of the other drivers coming up
> > from Atlantics can bring this sport back to where people take notice.''
>
> > Fans will get their first look at the newcomers Sunday in the inaugural
> > Vegas Grand Prix, a new street circuit built in downtown Las Vegas. It's
> > the first of 16 races for the Champ Cars this season.
>
> > Bourdais, who's vying for an unprecedented fourth straight Champ Car
> > title, remains the focal point of what is now an all road- and
> > street-racing series.
>
> > "He is amazing,'' said new teammate Rahal. "Sebastien seems like he can do
> > anything in a Champ Car. He just has a tremendous amount of control, is
> > fast and finds ways to win.''
>
> > Since joining the series in 2003, Bourdais has won 23 times in 59 starts.
> > Last season, he took seven of 14 checkered flags and tied Ted Horn's
> > record of consecutive American open-wheel championships from 1946-48.
>
> > It's no secret the Frenchman has flirted with Formula One the past couple
> > of years.
>
> > "Formula One might be in the future for me, but I really want to be
> > competitive, and I'm given everything I need to do this,'' Bourdais said.
> > "So, the motivation (for Champ Car) just is very easy to find. I just go
> > out there, race my very best and try and win races. And, when you do that,
> > usually motivation isn't really hard to find.''
>
> > He's also looking forward to racing against Pagenaud, his countryman and
> > protege.
>
> > "Simon is very talented,'' Bourdais said. "He proved that last year in
> > Atlantics. Moving up to Champ Cars can be a very big step, but I think he
> > will be very good and very fast.''
>
> > Pagenaud, driving for the same Team Australia with which he won last
> > year's Atlantics title, wants to quickly compete for rookie of the year.
>
> > "This will be my first long race with pit stops, so it won't be easy,'' he
> > said. "Every mile I do I will learn more.''
>
> Yep, more French drivers. Yipeee! Just what ChampCar needs.
I'll take experienced french drivers over inexperienced hot female
drivers anyday.
On Apr 7, 10:35 pm, "Von Fourche" <Khonak...@hotmail . com > wrote:
> "just bob" <kilbyfan@aoldotcom> wrote in message
>
> news:46185ba2$0$27213$742ec2ed@news.sonic . net ...
>
>
>
> > * sportsillustrated.cnn . com /2007/racing/wires/04/04/3010.ap.car....
>
> > Young guns bring hope for Champ Car future
>
> > Everybody's chasing three-time Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais,
> > especially his new teammate and his protege.
>
> > The two new talents - open-wheel racing star Bobby Rahal's 18-year-old son
> > Graham and 22-year-old Simon Pagenaud of France - are expected to
> > challenge the veteran's reign.
>
> > That's a big order, but an injection of young talent is exactly what this
> > series, which lost American A.J. Allmendinger to NASCAR, needs.
>
> > "They are definitely the future of our sport,'' said series co-owner Kevin
> > Kalkhoven. "Those young men and a couple of the other drivers coming up
> > from Atlantics can bring this sport back to where people take notice.''
>
> > Fans will get their first look at the newcomers Sunday in the inaugural
> > Vegas Grand Prix, a new street circuit built in downtown Las Vegas. It's
> > the first of 16 races for the Champ Cars this season.
>
> > Bourdais, who's vying for an unprecedented fourth straight Champ Car
> > title, remains the focal point of what is now an all road- and
> > street-racing series.
>
> > "He is amazing,'' said new teammate Rahal. "Sebastien seems like he can do
> > anything in a Champ Car. He just has a tremendous amount of control, is
> > fast and finds ways to win.''
>
> > Since joining the series in 2003, Bourdais has won 23 times in 59 starts.
> > Last season, he took seven of 14 checkered flags and tied Ted Horn's
> > record of consecutive American open-wheel championships from 1946-48.
>
> > It's no secret the Frenchman has flirted with Formula One the past couple
> > of years.
>
> > "Formula One might be in the future for me, but I really want to be
> > competitive, and I'm given everything I need to do this,'' Bourdais said.
> > "So, the motivation (for Champ Car) just is very easy to find. I just go
> > out there, race my very best and try and win races. And, when you do that,
> > usually motivation isn't really hard to find.''
>
> > He's also looking forward to racing against Pagenaud, his countryman and
> > protege.
>
> > "Simon is very talented,'' Bourdais said. "He proved that last year in
> > Atlantics. Moving up to Champ Cars can be a very big step, but I think he
> > will be very good and very fast.''
>
> > Pagenaud, driving for the same Team Australia with which he won last
> > year's Atlantics title, wants to quickly compete for rookie of the year.
>
> > "This will be my first long race with pit stops, so it won't be easy,'' he
> > said. "Every mile I do I will learn more.''
>
> Yep, more French drivers. Yipeee! Just what ChampCar needs.
I'll take experienced french drivers over inexperienced hot female
drivers anyday.
Re: SI story: Young guns bring hope for Champ Car future
On Apr 8, 10:28 am, "Dave-E" <davegt...@aol . com > wrote:
> I'll take experienced french drivers over inexperienced hot female
> drivers anyday.
I hope you are not referring to Legge as a hot driver -- female
maybe... ;-)
On Apr 8, 10:28 am, "Dave-E" <davegt...@aol . com > wrote:
> I'll take experienced french drivers over inexperienced hot female
> drivers anyday.
I hope you are not referring to Legge as a hot driver -- female
maybe... ;-)
Re: SI story: Young guns bring hope for Champ Car future
On Apr 9, 6:13 am, "Lenny" <hayso...@hotmail . com > wrote:
> On Apr 8, 10:28 am, "Dave-E" <davegt...@aol . com > wrote:
>
> > I'll take experienced french drivers over inexperienced hot female
> > drivers anyday.
>
> I hope you are not referring to Legge as a hot driver -- female
> maybe... ;-)
No, referring to Milka Dunnohowtodrive.
You mean you wouldn't do Katherine?
On Apr 9, 6:13 am, "Lenny" <hayso...@hotmail . com > wrote:
> On Apr 8, 10:28 am, "Dave-E" <davegt...@aol . com > wrote:
>
> > I'll take experienced french drivers over inexperienced hot female
> > drivers anyday.
>
> I hope you are not referring to Legge as a hot driver -- female
> maybe... ;-)
No, referring to Milka Dunnohowtodrive.
You mean you wouldn't do Katherine?
Re: SI story: Young guns bring hope for Champ Car future
On Apr 7, 10:04 pm, "just bob" <kilbyfan@aoldotcom> wrote:
> * sportsillustrated.cnn . com /2007/racing/wires/04/04/3010.ap.car....
>
> Young guns bring hope for Champ Car future
>
> Everybody's chasing three-time Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais,
> especially his new teammate and his protege.
>
> The two new talents - open-wheel racing star Bobby Rahal's 18-year-old son
> Graham and 22-year-old Simon Pagenaud of France - are expected to challenge
> the veteran's reign.
>
> That's a big order, but an injection of young talent is exactly what this
> series, which lost American A.J. Allmendinger to NASCAR, needs.
>
> "They are definitely the future of our sport,'' said series co-owner Kevin
> Kalkhoven. "Those young men and a couple of the other drivers coming up from
> Atlantics can bring this sport back to where people take notice.''
>
> Fans will get their first look at the newcomers Sunday in the inaugural
> Vegas Grand Prix, a new street circuit built in downtown Las Vegas. It's the
> first of 16 races for the Champ Cars this season.
>
> Bourdais, who's vying for an unprecedented fourth straight Champ Car title,
> remains the focal point of what is now an all road- and street-racing
> series.
>
> "He is amazing,'' said new teammate Rahal. "Sebastien seems like he can do
> anything in a Champ Car. He just has a tremendous amount of control, is fast
> and finds ways to win.''
>
> Since joining the series in 2003, Bourdais has won 23 times in 59 starts.
> Last season, he took seven of 14 checkered flags and tied Ted Horn's record
> of consecutive American open-wheel championships from 1946-48.
>
> It's no secret the Frenchman has flirted with Formula One the past couple of
> years.
>
> "Formula One might be in the future for me, but I really want to be
> competitive, and I'm given everything I need to do this,'' Bourdais said.
> "So, the motivation (for Champ Car) just is very easy to find. I just go out
> there, race my very best and try and win races. And, when you do that,
> usually motivation isn't really hard to find.''
>
> He's also looking forward to racing against Pagenaud, his countryman and
> protege.
>
> "Simon is very talented,'' Bourdais said. "He proved that last year in
> Atlantics. Moving up to Champ Cars can be a very big step, but I think he
> will be very good and very fast.''
>
> Pagenaud, driving for the same Team Australia with which he won last year's
> Atlantics title, wants to quickly compete for rookie of the year.
>
> "This will be my first long race with pit stops, so it won't be easy,'' he
> said. "Every mile I do I will learn more.''
>
> Because of his father's Indianapolis 500 victory in 1986 and three CART
> championships, Rahal's a bigger name in the United States than Pagenaud, who
> beat him for the Atlantic title by 16 points.
>
> "I've always wanted to step out of dad's shadow and make my own footsteps,
> so to speak,'' said Rahal, who signed his contract two weeks ago after an
> extended negotiation. "I think, for me, the reason I try to put the pressure
> behind me is because ever since I was a little kid, it was always, 'Well,
> you're Bobby Rahal's son.' Well, now I hope to reach the point where I can
> just become Graham Rahal.''
>
> Beating Bourdais would certainly do it, but he'll have to contend with the
> other drivers, too.
>
> Justin Wilson of England, last year's runner-up, returns with the new
> RSports team, an amalgamation of RuSport, for whom he ran last year, and
> Rocketsports, which brings veteran Alex Tagliani of Canada to the new team.
>
> And don't forget 2003 series champion Paul Tracy. The leading active driver
> with 30 victories, Tracy's driving for Forsythe Championship Racing and is
> again paired with Mexican driver Mario Dominguez, who was fired at
> midseason.
>
> Australian Will Power, last year's top rookie, will team with Pagenaud at
> Team Australia, while Englishman Dan Clarke and Dutchman Robert Doornbos
> will race for the new Team Minardi USA.
>
> PKV Racing, co-owned by Kalkhoven, will field cars for two more newcomers,
> former Formula One test driver Neel Jani of Switzerland and France's Tristan
> Gommendy.
>
> Three-time series runner-up Bruno Junqueira of Brazil, Bourdais' former
> teammate, moves to Dale Coyne Racing with Katherine Legge of England, the
> series' only woman.
>
> Champ Car also welcomes Pacific Coast Racing with rookies Ryan Dalziel of
> Scotland and American Alex Figge, moving up from sports car racing.
>
> Matt Halliday of New Zealand, another driver in the big talented rookie
> class, will drive in a single-car effort for Conquest Racing.
>
> "It would be nice to have a few more teams and a few more cars in the
> lineup, but I don't think we're going to have to worry about competition,''
> Kalkhoven said. "There's going to be plenty of that.''
Assuming the article is quoted correctly, it is so full of bunk and
assumptions that I would disagree with nearly every point there.
First though I agree car counts have been low, and this year I put
more of an issue with because the new car promised new teams and for
the most part they didn't deliver. A 17 car count doesn't hurt nearly
as bad as when you say something publicly, make it happen or keep
quiet. Lack of creditability is far more damaging than not having 25
cars on the grid.
Frankly what's the difference between 17 cars with say 6 or 7 with a
real shot to win, and F1. F1 has 22 I think it is that will start the
race tonight, but except in the rarest of situations only maybe 4 have
a real chance to win. No one is saying F1 is about to go anywhere.
Frankly Id rather have fewer cars, with fewer moving chicanes and more
cars that have a real shot to win.
The "Who are these guys?" is largely an unfair shot. Drivers come and
drivers go. Each year bring a new crop of talent, and each year
drivers with experience fall by the wayside. Its just the nature of
racing. Nascar drivers have longer careers now largely not because
what the do on track, but off. With the 35 locked in spots it makes
getting new talent in tougher and tougher. Yeah thats real racing.
The only reason that he might have a clue about who the drivers are
that are running in top IRL teams is that they made a name for
themselves not in the IRL, but in Cart and Champ Car. Hint they
likely ran that race in Toronto. Time and talent will make the name.
You don't levy the title of superstar on anyone. They earn it. As a
whole Id rather run for the most part with back marker talent in Champ
Car than the likes of Foyt IV and Milka Duno.
First on your point number one, its way too early to know if the plan
is working or it isnt. Frankly this is the first year they have not
had to fend of a direct or indirect attempt to put them out of
business. This is the first year of the new car. How will it race?
Will it be reliable? Many other questions have to be answered. The
product on the track will largely dictate whether or not the series
grows. It has a great deal of damage to repair, but it can be done.
It will take time though. Much more than 5 years, but it will work IF
they do it right.
Point 2 I really don't disagree with they should be running two cars
each. Yet I don't think they MUST, run two each. Two of the owners
likely could fill the field of the IRL 500 if they wanted to, but I
doubt they would and likely wouldn't in their own series. The writer
is putting WAY too much importance on quanity. Yes the counts need to
go up and stability would be good for the series, but 18 good drivers
can put on a better race than 22 bad ones. It is QUALITY that makes
the difference. I could slap on skates and pick up a hockey stick,
but no one is going to pay to get in Maple Leaf Garden to see me play
hockey on the Leafs. I stink even at the lowest levels in hockey. I
could add a head to the team, but no value either to the team or NHL
because the talent isn't there.
Point 3 Giving money to teams is like putting a band aid on a cut,
when stitches are needed. It usually doesn't work well. History has
shown it hardly ever works. There is a better way. Instead of giving
the money to the teams, pay for a better TV package. The one thing
Champ Car needs above all is eyeballs. Find the races when its
different networks different weeks, is easy only for the hardcore
fan. It should be all network, no cable and again invest in quality
production including international production. Some of the broadcasts
have been poor at best. Get the number of eyeballs up watching Champ
Car and teams will find sponsorship. TV is the quickest way to do
that and the international market may be the first to build. Frankly
they should invest in more TV time for the Atlantic series. That's
where those names are made for the drivers that will one day be in
Champ Car. If you give money to anyone, give it to the drivers not
the teams. Winning the Atlantics champship provides most of the
funding for a ride in Champ Car the next year. With that influx of
talent in about 5 years car count problems will be gone IF you get the
TV package done so the eyeballs go up.
Point 4 is the same old line about US fans won't get behind a non US
driver. That's BS. Some guy named Alex Zanardi is a classic
example. No one knew who a French Canadian that happened to have the
initial JV was till Atlantics and Cart. Low and behold he did ok in
F1. Fans were watchin in 95. They will watch talent today. Who
would sell more tickets? The one that could drive. JJ isn't
qualified to drive a Champ Car. Lets see if the other guy is and find
out. JPM sold quite a few tickets as did that JV guy.
Honestly to rebuild open wheel will take a lot longer than 5 years.
Anyone that thinks otherwise is fooling themselves or has no idea the
damage that was done. They are likely looking at it through the lens
of the Molson event. If the write covered racing other than that one
event I would be surprised. Ten years of damage won't be fixed in 5
years. Teams will get on board when sponsorship makes it profitable
to do so. Sponsors need exposure. It really isn't that complicated.
On Apr 7, 10:04 pm, "just bob" <kilbyfan@aoldotcom> wrote:
> * sportsillustrated.cnn . com /2007/racing/wires/04/04/3010.ap.car....
>
> Young guns bring hope for Champ Car future
>
> Everybody's chasing three-time Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais,
> especially his new teammate and his protege.
>
> The two new talents - open-wheel racing star Bobby Rahal's 18-year-old son
> Graham and 22-year-old Simon Pagenaud of France - are expected to challenge
> the veteran's reign.
>
> That's a big order, but an injection of young talent is exactly what this
> series, which lost American A.J. Allmendinger to NASCAR, needs.
>
> "They are definitely the future of our sport,'' said series co-owner Kevin
> Kalkhoven. "Those young men and a couple of the other drivers coming up from
> Atlantics can bring this sport back to where people take notice.''
>
> Fans will get their first look at the newcomers Sunday in the inaugural
> Vegas Grand Prix, a new street circuit built in downtown Las Vegas. It's the
> first of 16 races for the Champ Cars this season.
>
> Bourdais, who's vying for an unprecedented fourth straight Champ Car title,
> remains the focal point of what is now an all road- and street-racing
> series.
>
> "He is amazing,'' said new teammate Rahal. "Sebastien seems like he can do
> anything in a Champ Car. He just has a tremendous amount of control, is fast
> and finds ways to win.''
>
> Since joining the series in 2003, Bourdais has won 23 times in 59 starts.
> Last season, he took seven of 14 checkered flags and tied Ted Horn's record
> of consecutive American open-wheel championships from 1946-48.
>
> It's no secret the Frenchman has flirted with Formula One the past couple of
> years.
>
> "Formula One might be in the future for me, but I really want to be
> competitive, and I'm given everything I need to do this,'' Bourdais said.
> "So, the motivation (for Champ Car) just is very easy to find. I just go out
> there, race my very best and try and win races. And, when you do that,
> usually motivation isn't really hard to find.''
>
> He's also looking forward to racing against Pagenaud, his countryman and
> protege.
>
> "Simon is very talented,'' Bourdais said. "He proved that last year in
> Atlantics. Moving up to Champ Cars can be a very big step, but I think he
> will be very good and very fast.''
>
> Pagenaud, driving for the same Team Australia with which he won last year's
> Atlantics title, wants to quickly compete for rookie of the year.
>
> "This will be my first long race with pit stops, so it won't be easy,'' he
> said. "Every mile I do I will learn more.''
>
> Because of his father's Indianapolis 500 victory in 1986 and three CART
> championships, Rahal's a bigger name in the United States than Pagenaud, who
> beat him for the Atlantic title by 16 points.
>
> "I've always wanted to step out of dad's shadow and make my own footsteps,
> so to speak,'' said Rahal, who signed his contract two weeks ago after an
> extended negotiation. "I think, for me, the reason I try to put the pressure
> behind me is because ever since I was a little kid, it was always, 'Well,
> you're Bobby Rahal's son.' Well, now I hope to reach the point where I can
> just become Graham Rahal.''
>
> Beating Bourdais would certainly do it, but he'll have to contend with the
> other drivers, too.
>
> Justin Wilson of England, last year's runner-up, returns with the new
> RSports team, an amalgamation of RuSport, for whom he ran last year, and
> Rocketsports, which brings veteran Alex Tagliani of Canada to the new team.
>
> And don't forget 2003 series champion Paul Tracy. The leading active driver
> with 30 victories, Tracy's driving for Forsythe Championship Racing and is
> again paired with Mexican driver Mario Dominguez, who was fired at
> midseason.
>
> Australian Will Power, last year's top rookie, will team with Pagenaud at
> Team Australia, while Englishman Dan Clarke and Dutchman Robert Doornbos
> will race for the new Team Minardi USA.
>
> PKV Racing, co-owned by Kalkhoven, will field cars for two more newcomers,
> former Formula One test driver Neel Jani of Switzerland and France's Tristan
> Gommendy.
>
> Three-time series runner-up Bruno Junqueira of Brazil, Bourdais' former
> teammate, moves to Dale Coyne Racing with Katherine Legge of England, the
> series' only woman.
>
> Champ Car also welcomes Pacific Coast Racing with rookies Ryan Dalziel of
> Scotland and American Alex Figge, moving up from sports car racing.
>
> Matt Halliday of New Zealand, another driver in the big talented rookie
> class, will drive in a single-car effort for Conquest Racing.
>
> "It would be nice to have a few more teams and a few more cars in the
> lineup, but I don't think we're going to have to worry about competition,''
> Kalkhoven said. "There's going to be plenty of that.''
Assuming the article is quoted correctly, it is so full of bunk and
assumptions that I would disagree with nearly every point there.
First though I agree car counts have been low, and this year I put
more of an issue with because the new car promised new teams and for
the most part they didn't deliver. A 17 car count doesn't hurt nearly
as bad as when you say something publicly, make it happen or keep
quiet. Lack of creditability is far more damaging than not having 25
cars on the grid.
Frankly what's the difference between 17 cars with say 6 or 7 with a
real shot to win, and F1. F1 has 22 I think it is that will start the
race tonight, but except in the rarest of situations only maybe 4 have
a real chance to win. No one is saying F1 is about to go anywhere.
Frankly Id rather have fewer cars, with fewer moving chicanes and more
cars that have a real shot to win.
The "Who are these guys?" is largely an unfair shot. Drivers come and
drivers go. Each year bring a new crop of talent, and each year
drivers with experience fall by the wayside. Its just the nature of
racing. Nascar drivers have longer careers now largely not because
what the do on track, but off. With the 35 locked in spots it makes
getting new talent in tougher and tougher. Yeah thats real racing.
The only reason that he might have a clue about who the drivers are
that are running in top IRL teams is that they made a name for
themselves not in the IRL, but in Cart and Champ Car. Hint they
likely ran that race in Toronto. Time and talent will make the name.
You don't levy the title of superstar on anyone. They earn it. As a
whole Id rather run for the most part with back marker talent in Champ
Car than the likes of Foyt IV and Milka Duno.
First on your point number one, its way too early to know if the plan
is working or it isnt. Frankly this is the first year they have not
had to fend of a direct or indirect attempt to put them out of
business. This is the first year of the new car. How will it race?
Will it be reliable? Many other questions have to be answered. The
product on the track will largely dictate whether or not the series
grows. It has a great deal of damage to repair, but it can be done.
It will take time though. Much more than 5 years, but it will work IF
they do it right.
Point 2 I really don't disagree with they should be running two cars
each. Yet I don't think they MUST, run two each. Two of the owners
likely could fill the field of the IRL 500 if they wanted to, but I
doubt they would and likely wouldn't in their own series. The writer
is putting WAY too much importance on quanity. Yes the counts need to
go up and stability would be good for the series, but 18 good drivers
can put on a better race than 22 bad ones. It is QUALITY that makes
the difference. I could slap on skates and pick up a hockey stick,
but no one is going to pay to get in Maple Leaf Garden to see me play
hockey on the Leafs. I stink even at the lowest levels in hockey. I
could add a head to the team, but no value either to the team or NHL
because the talent isn't there.
Point 3 Giving money to teams is like putting a band aid on a cut,
when stitches are needed. It usually doesn't work well. History has
shown it hardly ever works. There is a better way. Instead of giving
the money to the teams, pay for a better TV package. The one thing
Champ Car needs above all is eyeballs. Find the races when its
different networks different weeks, is easy only for the hardcore
fan. It should be all network, no cable and again invest in quality
production including international production. Some of the broadcasts
have been poor at best. Get the number of eyeballs up watching Champ
Car and teams will find sponsorship. TV is the quickest way to do
that and the international market may be the first to build. Frankly
they should invest in more TV time for the Atlantic series. That's
where those names are made for the drivers that will one day be in
Champ Car. If you give money to anyone, give it to the drivers not
the teams. Winning the Atlantics champship provides most of the
funding for a ride in Champ Car the next year. With that influx of
talent in about 5 years car count problems will be gone IF you get the
TV package done so the eyeballs go up.
Point 4 is the same old line about US fans won't get behind a non US
driver. That's BS. Some guy named Alex Zanardi is a classic
example. No one knew who a French Canadian that happened to have the
initial JV was till Atlantics and Cart. Low and behold he did ok in
F1. Fans were watchin in 95. They will watch talent today. Who
would sell more tickets? The one that could drive. JJ isn't
qualified to drive a Champ Car. Lets see if the other guy is and find
out. JPM sold quite a few tickets as did that JV guy.
Honestly to rebuild open wheel will take a lot longer than 5 years.
Anyone that thinks otherwise is fooling themselves or has no idea the
damage that was done. They are likely looking at it through the lens
of the Molson event. If the write covered racing other than that one
event I would be surprised. Ten years of damage won't be fixed in 5
years. Teams will get on board when sponsorship makes it profitable
to do so. Sponsors need exposure. It really isn't that complicated.
Re: SI story: Young guns bring hope for Champ Car future
On Apr 7, 11:26 pm, "Mark" <mblackwell1...@yahoo . com > wrote:
> On Apr 7, 10:04 pm, "just bob" <kilbyfan@aoldotcom> wrote:
>
>
>
> > * sportsillustrated.cnn . com /2007/racing/wires/04/04/3010.ap.car....
>
> > Young guns bring hope for Champ Car future
>
> > Everybody's chasing three-time Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais,
> > especially his new teammate and his protege.
>
> > The two new talents - open-wheel racing star Bobby Rahal's 18-year-old =
son
> > Graham and 22-year-old Simon Pagenaud of France - are expected to chall=
enge
> > the veteran's reign.
>
> > That's a big order, but an injection of young talent is exactly what th=
is
> > series, which lost American A.J. Allmendinger to NASCAR, needs.
>
> > "They are definitely the future of our sport,'' said series co-owner Ke=
vin
> > Kalkhoven. "Those young men and a couple of the other drivers coming up=
from
> > Atlantics can bring this sport back to where people take notice.''
>
> > Fans will get their first look at the newcomers Sunday in the inaugural
> > Vegas Grand Prix, a new street circuit built in downtown Las Vegas. It'=
s the
> > first of 16 races for the Champ Cars this season.
>
> > Bourdais, who's vying for an unprecedented fourth straight Champ Car ti=
tle,
> > remains the focal point of what is now an all road- and street-racing
> > series.
>
> > "He is amazing,'' said new teammate Rahal. "Sebastien seems like he can=
do
> > anything in a Champ Car. He just has a tremendous amount of control, is=
fast
> > and finds ways to win.''
>
> > Since joining the series in 2003, Bourdais has won 23 times in 59 start=
s.
> > Last season, he took seven of 14 checkered flags and tied Ted Horn's re=
cord
> > of consecutive American open-wheel championships from 1946-48.
>
> > It's no secret the Frenchman has flirted with Formula One the past coup=
le of
> > years.
>
> > "Formula One might be in the future for me, but I really want to be
> > competitive, and I'm given everything I need to do this,'' Bourdais sai=
d.
> > "So, the motivation (for Champ Car) just is very easy to find. I just g=
o out
> > there, race my very best and try and win races. And, when you do that,
> > usually motivation isn't really hard to find.''
>
> > He's also looking forward to racing against Pagenaud, his countryman and
> > protege.
>
> > "Simon is very talented,'' Bourdais said. "He proved that last year in
> > Atlantics. Moving up to Champ Cars can be a very big step, but I think =
he
> > will be very good and very fast.''
>
> > Pagenaud, driving for the same Team Australia with which he won last ye=
ar's
> > Atlantics title, wants to quickly compete for rookie of the year.
>
> > "This will be my first long race with pit stops, so it won't be easy,''=
he
> > said. "Every mile I do I will learn more.''
>
> > Because of his father's Indianapolis 500 victory in 1986 and three CART
> > championships, Rahal's a bigger name in the United States than Pagenaud=
, who
> > beat him for the Atlantic title by 16 points.
>
> > "I've always wanted to step out of dad's shadow and make my own footste=
ps,
> > so to speak,'' said Rahal, who signed his contract two weeks ago after =
an
> > extended negotiation. "I think, for me, the reason I try to put the pre=
ssure
> > behind me is because ever since I was a little kid, it was always, 'Wel=
l,
> > you're Bobby Rahal's son.' Well, now I hope to reach the point where I =
can
> > just become Graham Rahal.''
>
> > Beating Bourdais would certainly do it, but he'll have to contend with =
the
> > other drivers, too.
>
> > Justin Wilson of England, last year's runner-up, returns with the new
> > RSports team, an amalgamation of RuSport, for whom he ran last year, and
> > Rocketsports, which brings veteran Alex Tagliani of Canada to the new t=
eam.
>
> > And don't forget 2003 series champion Paul Tracy. The leading active dr=
iver
> > with 30 victories, Tracy's driving for Forsythe Championship Racing and=
is
> > again paired with Mexican driver Mario Dominguez, who was fired at
> > midseason.
>
> > Australian Will Power, last year's top rookie, will team with Pagenaud =
at
> > Team Australia, while Englishman Dan Clarke and Dutchman Robert Doornbos
> > will race for the new Team Minardi USA.
>
> > PKV Racing, co-owned by Kalkhoven, will field cars for two more newcome=
rs,
> > former Formula One test driver Neel Jani of Switzerland and France's Tr=
istan
> > Gommendy.
>
> > Three-time series runner-up Bruno Junqueira of Brazil, Bourdais' former
> > teammate, moves to Dale Coyne Racing with Katherine Legge of England, t=
he
> > series' only woman.
>
> > Champ Car also welcomes Pacific Coast Racing with rookies Ryan Dalziel =
of
> > Scotland and American Alex Figge, moving up from sports car racing.
>
> > Matt Halliday of New Zealand, another driver in the big talented rookie
> > class, will drive in a single-car effort for Conquest Racing.
>
> > "It would be nice to have a few more teams and a few more cars in the
> > lineup, but I don't think we're going to have to worry about competitio=
n,''
> > Kalkhoven said. "There's going to be plenty of that.''
>
> Assuming the article is quoted correctly, it is so full of bunk and
> assumptions that I would disagree with nearly every point there.
>
> First though I agree car counts have been low, and this year I put
> more of an issue with because the new car promised new teams and for
> the most part they didn't deliver. A 17 car count doesn't hurt nearly
> as bad as when you say something publicly, make it happen or keep
> quiet. Lack of creditability is far more damaging than not having 25
> cars on the grid.
>
> Frankly what's the difference between 17 cars with say 6 or 7 with a
> real shot to win, and F1. F1 has 22 I think it is that will start the
> race tonight, but except in the rarest of situations only maybe 4 have
> a real chance to win. No one is saying F1 is about to go anywhere.
> Frankly Id rather have fewer cars, with fewer moving chicanes and more
> cars that have a real shot to win.
>
> The "Who are these guys?" is largely an unfair shot. Drivers come and
> drivers go. Each year bring a new crop of talent, and each year
> drivers with experience fall by the wayside. Its just the nature of
> racing. Nascar drivers have longer careers now largely not because
> what the do on track, but off. With the 35 locked in spots it makes
> getting new talent in tougher and tougher. Yeah thats real racing.
> The only reason that he might have a clue about who the drivers are
> that are running in top IRL teams is that they made a name for
> themselves not in the IRL, but in Cart and Champ Car. Hint they
> likely ran that race in Toronto. Time and talent will make the name.
> You don't levy the title of superstar on anyone. They earn it. As a
> whole Id rather run for the most part with back marker talent in Champ
> Car than the likes of Foyt IV and Milka Duno.
>
> First on your point number one, its way too early to know if the plan
> is working or it isnt. Frankly this is the first year they have not
> had to fend of a direct or indirect attempt to put them out of
> business. This is the first year of the new car. How will it race?
> Will it be reliable? Many other questions have to be answered. The
> product on the track will largely dictate whether or not the series
> grows. It has a great deal of damage to repair, but it can be done.
> It will take time though. Much more than 5 years, but it will work IF
> they do it right.
>
> Point 2 I really don't disagree with they should be running two cars
> each. Yet I don't think they MUST, run two each. Two of the owners
> likely could fill the field of the IRL 500 if they wanted to, but I
> doubt they would and likely wouldn't in their own series. The writer
> is putting WAY too much importance on quanity. Yes the counts need to
> go up and stability would be good for the series, but 18 good drivers
> can put on a better race than 22 bad ones. It is QUALITY that makes
> the difference. I could slap on skates and pick up a hockey stick,
> but no one is going to pay to get in Maple Leaf Garden to see me play
> hockey on the Leafs. I stink even at the lowest levels in hockey. I
> could add a head to the team, but no value either to the team or NHL
> because the talent isn't there.
>
> Point 3 Giving money to teams is like putting a band aid on a cut,
> when stitches are needed. It usually doesn't work well. History has
> shown it hardly ever works. There is a better way. Instead of giving
> the money to the teams, pay for a better TV package. The one thing
> Champ Car needs above all is eyeballs. Find the races when its
> different networks different weeks, is easy only for the hardcore
> fan. It should be all network, no cable and again invest in quality
> production including international production. Some of the broadcasts
> have been poor at best. Get the number of eyeballs up watching Champ
> Car and teams will find sponsorship. TV is the quickest way to do
> that and the international market may be the first to build. Frankly
> they should invest in more TV time for the Atlantic series. That's
> where those names are made for the drivers that will one day be in
> Champ Car. If you give money to anyone, give it to the drivers not
> the teams. Winning the Atlantics champship provides most of the
> funding for a ride in Champ Car the next year. With that influx of
> talent in about 5 years car count problems will be gone IF you get the
> TV package done so the eyeballs go up.
>
> Point 4 is the same old line about US fans won't get behind a non US
> driver. That's BS. Some guy named Alex Zanardi is a classic
> example. No one knew who a French Canadian that happened to have the
> initial JV was till Atlantics and Cart. Low and behold he did ok in
> F1. Fans were watchin in 95. They will watch talent today. Who
> would sell more tickets? The one that could drive. JJ isn't
> qualified to drive a Champ Car. Lets see if the other guy is and find
> out. JPM sold quite a few tickets as did that JV guy.
>
> Honestly to rebuild open wheel will take a lot longer than 5 years.
> Anyone that thinks otherwise is fooling themselves or has no idea the
> damage that was done. They are likely looking at it through the lens
> of the Molson event. If the write covered racing other than that one
> event I would be surprised. Ten years of
> ...
>
> read more »
Opps My apologies. I hit a reply to the wrong article not the SI one
mentioned in this post.
On Apr 7, 11:26 pm, "Mark" <mblackwell1...@yahoo . com > wrote:
> On Apr 7, 10:04 pm, "just bob" <kilbyfan@aoldotcom> wrote:
>
>
>
> > * sportsillustrated.cnn . com /2007/racing/wires/04/04/3010.ap.car....
>
> > Young guns bring hope for Champ Car future
>
> > Everybody's chasing three-time Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais,
> > especially his new teammate and his protege.
>
> > The two new talents - open-wheel racing star Bobby Rahal's 18-year-old =
son
> > Graham and 22-year-old Simon Pagenaud of France - are expected to chall=
enge
> > the veteran's reign.
>
> > That's a big order, but an injection of young talent is exactly what th=
is
> > series, which lost American A.J. Allmendinger to NASCAR, needs.
>
> > "They are definitely the future of our sport,'' said series co-owner Ke=
vin
> > Kalkhoven. "Those young men and a couple of the other drivers coming up=
from
> > Atlantics can bring this sport back to where people take notice.''
>
> > Fans will get their first look at the newcomers Sunday in the inaugural
> > Vegas Grand Prix, a new street circuit built in downtown Las Vegas. It'=
s the
> > first of 16 races for the Champ Cars this season.
>
> > Bourdais, who's vying for an unprecedented fourth straight Champ Car ti=
tle,
> > remains the focal point of what is now an all road- and street-racing
> > series.
>
> > "He is amazing,'' said new teammate Rahal. "Sebastien seems like he can=
do
> > anything in a Champ Car. He just has a tremendous amount of control, is=
fast
> > and finds ways to win.''
>
> > Since joining the series in 2003, Bourdais has won 23 times in 59 start=
s.
> > Last season, he took seven of 14 checkered flags and tied Ted Horn's re=
cord
> > of consecutive American open-wheel championships from 1946-48.
>
> > It's no secret the Frenchman has flirted with Formula One the past coup=
le of
> > years.
>
> > "Formula One might be in the future for me, but I really want to be
> > competitive, and I'm given everything I need to do this,'' Bourdais sai=
d.
> > "So, the motivation (for Champ Car) just is very easy to find. I just g=
o out
> > there, race my very best and try and win races. And, when you do that,
> > usually motivation isn't really hard to find.''
>
> > He's also looking forward to racing against Pagenaud, his countryman and
> > protege.
>
> > "Simon is very talented,'' Bourdais said. "He proved that last year in
> > Atlantics. Moving up to Champ Cars can be a very big step, but I think =
he
> > will be very good and very fast.''
>
> > Pagenaud, driving for the same Team Australia with which he won last ye=
ar's
> > Atlantics title, wants to quickly compete for rookie of the year.
>
> > "This will be my first long race with pit stops, so it won't be easy,''=
he
> > said. "Every mile I do I will learn more.''
>
> > Because of his father's Indianapolis 500 victory in 1986 and three CART
> > championships, Rahal's a bigger name in the United States than Pagenaud=
, who
> > beat him for the Atlantic title by 16 points.
>
> > "I've always wanted to step out of dad's shadow and make my own footste=
ps,
> > so to speak,'' said Rahal, who signed his contract two weeks ago after =
an
> > extended negotiation. "I think, for me, the reason I try to put the pre=
ssure
> > behind me is because ever since I was a little kid, it was always, 'Wel=
l,
> > you're Bobby Rahal's son.' Well, now I hope to reach the point where I =
can
> > just become Graham Rahal.''
>
> > Beating Bourdais would certainly do it, but he'll have to contend with =
the
> > other drivers, too.
>
> > Justin Wilson of England, last year's runner-up, returns with the new
> > RSports team, an amalgamation of RuSport, for whom he ran last year, and
> > Rocketsports, which brings veteran Alex Tagliani of Canada to the new t=
eam.
>
> > And don't forget 2003 series champion Paul Tracy. The leading active dr=
iver
> > with 30 victories, Tracy's driving for Forsythe Championship Racing and=
is
> > again paired with Mexican driver Mario Dominguez, who was fired at
> > midseason.
>
> > Australian Will Power, last year's top rookie, will team with Pagenaud =
at
> > Team Australia, while Englishman Dan Clarke and Dutchman Robert Doornbos
> > will race for the new Team Minardi USA.
>
> > PKV Racing, co-owned by Kalkhoven, will field cars for two more newcome=
rs,
> > former Formula One test driver Neel Jani of Switzerland and France's Tr=
istan
> > Gommendy.
>
> > Three-time series runner-up Bruno Junqueira of Brazil, Bourdais' former
> > teammate, moves to Dale Coyne Racing with Katherine Legge of England, t=
he
> > series' only woman.
>
> > Champ Car also welcomes Pacific Coast Racing with rookies Ryan Dalziel =
of
> > Scotland and American Alex Figge, moving up from sports car racing.
>
> > Matt Halliday of New Zealand, another driver in the big talented rookie
> > class, will drive in a single-car effort for Conquest Racing.
>
> > "It would be nice to have a few more teams and a few more cars in the
> > lineup, but I don't think we're going to have to worry about competitio=
n,''
> > Kalkhoven said. "There's going to be plenty of that.''
>
> Assuming the article is quoted correctly, it is so full of bunk and
> assumptions that I would disagree with nearly every point there.
>
> First though I agree car counts have been low, and this year I put
> more of an issue with because the new car promised new teams and for
> the most part they didn't deliver. A 17 car count doesn't hurt nearly
> as bad as when you say something publicly, make it happen or keep
> quiet. Lack of creditability is far more damaging than not having 25
> cars on the grid.
>
> Frankly what's the difference between 17 cars with say 6 or 7 with a
> real shot to win, and F1. F1 has 22 I think it is that will start the
> race tonight, but except in the rarest of situations only maybe 4 have
> a real chance to win. No one is saying F1 is about to go anywhere.
> Frankly Id rather have fewer cars, with fewer moving chicanes and more
> cars that have a real shot to win.
>
> The "Who are these guys?" is largely an unfair shot. Drivers come and
> drivers go. Each year bring a new crop of talent, and each year
> drivers with experience fall by the wayside. Its just the nature of
> racing. Nascar drivers have longer careers now largely not because
> what the do on track, but off. With the 35 locked in spots it makes
> getting new talent in tougher and tougher. Yeah thats real racing.
> The only reason that he might have a clue about who the drivers are
> that are running in top IRL teams is that they made a name for
> themselves not in the IRL, but in Cart and Champ Car. Hint they
> likely ran that race in Toronto. Time and talent will make the name.
> You don't levy the title of superstar on anyone. They earn it. As a
> whole Id rather run for the most part with back marker talent in Champ
> Car than the likes of Foyt IV and Milka Duno.
>
> First on your point number one, its way too early to know if the plan
> is working or it isnt. Frankly this is the first year they have not
> had to fend of a direct or indirect attempt to put them out of
> business. This is the first year of the new car. How will it race?
> Will it be reliable? Many other questions have to be answered. The
> product on the track will largely dictate whether or not the series
> grows. It has a great deal of damage to repair, but it can be done.
> It will take time though. Much more than 5 years, but it will work IF
> they do it right.
>
> Point 2 I really don't disagree with they should be running two cars
> each. Yet I don't think they MUST, run two each. Two of the owners
> likely could fill the field of the IRL 500 if they wanted to, but I
> doubt they would and likely wouldn't in their own series. The writer
> is putting WAY too much importance on quanity. Yes the counts need to
> go up and stability would be good for the series, but 18 good drivers
> can put on a better race than 22 bad ones. It is QUALITY that makes
> the difference. I could slap on skates and pick up a hockey stick,
> but no one is going to pay to get in Maple Leaf Garden to see me play
> hockey on the Leafs. I stink even at the lowest levels in hockey. I
> could add a head to the team, but no value either to the team or NHL
> because the talent isn't there.
>
> Point 3 Giving money to teams is like putting a band aid on a cut,
> when stitches are needed. It usually doesn't work well. History has
> shown it hardly ever works. There is a better way. Instead of giving
> the money to the teams, pay for a better TV package. The one thing
> Champ Car needs above all is eyeballs. Find the races when its
> different networks different weeks, is easy only for the hardcore
> fan. It should be all network, no cable and again invest in quality
> production including international production. Some of the broadcasts
> have been poor at best. Get the number of eyeballs up watching Champ
> Car and teams will find sponsorship. TV is the quickest way to do
> that and the international market may be the first to build. Frankly
> they should invest in more TV time for the Atlantic series. That's
> where those names are made for the drivers that will one day be in
> Champ Car. If you give money to anyone, give it to the drivers not
> the teams. Winning the Atlantics champship provides most of the
> funding for a ride in Champ Car the next year. With that influx of
> talent in about 5 years car count problems will be gone IF you get the
> TV package done so the eyeballs go up.
>
> Point 4 is the same old line about US fans won't get behind a non US
> driver. That's BS. Some guy named Alex Zanardi is a classic
> example. No one knew who a French Canadian that happened to have the
> initial JV was till Atlantics and Cart. Low and behold he did ok in
> F1. Fans were watchin in 95. They will watch talent today. Who
> would sell more tickets? The one that could drive. JJ isn't
> qualified to drive a Champ Car. Lets see if the other guy is and find
> out. JPM sold quite a few tickets as did that JV guy.
>
> Honestly to rebuild open wheel will take a lot longer than 5 years.
> Anyone that thinks otherwise is fooling themselves or has no idea the
> damage that was done. They are likely looking at it through the lens
> of the Molson event. If the write covered racing other than that one
> event I would be surprised. Ten years of
> ...
>
> read more »
Opps My apologies. I hit a reply to the wrong article not the SI one
mentioned in this post.
Re: SI story: Young guns bring hope for Champ Car future
"just bob" <kilbyfan@aoldotcom> wrote in message
news:46185ba2$0$27213$742ec2ed@news.sonic . net ...
> * sportsillustrated.cnn . com /2007/racing/wires/04/04/3010.ap.car.champ.season.preview.0804/
>
>
>
> Young guns bring hope for Champ Car future
>
> Everybody's chasing three-time Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais,
> especially his new teammate and his protege.
>
> The two new talents - open-wheel racing star Bobby Rahal's 18-year-old son
> Graham and 22-year-old Simon Pagenaud of France - are expected to
> challenge the veteran's reign.
>
> That's a big order, but an injection of young talent is exactly what this
> series, which lost American A.J. Allmendinger to NASCAR, needs.
>
>He absolutely sucks in NASCAR.
>
> "This will be my first long race with pit stops, so it won't be easy,'' he
> said. "Every mile I do I will learn more.''
>
> bwaahahahaha
"just bob" <kilbyfan@aoldotcom> wrote in message
news:46185ba2$0$27213$742ec2ed@news.sonic . net ...
> * sportsillustrated.cnn . com /2007/racing/wires/04/04/3010.ap.car.champ.season.preview.0804/
>
>
>
> Young guns bring hope for Champ Car future
>
> Everybody's chasing three-time Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais,
> especially his new teammate and his protege.
>
> The two new talents - open-wheel racing star Bobby Rahal's 18-year-old son
> Graham and 22-year-old Simon Pagenaud of France - are expected to
> challenge the veteran's reign.
>
> That's a big order, but an injection of young talent is exactly what this
> series, which lost American A.J. Allmendinger to NASCAR, needs.
>
>He absolutely sucks in NASCAR.
>
> "This will be my first long race with pit stops, so it won't be easy,'' he
> said. "Every mile I do I will learn more.''
>
> bwaahahahaha
Re: SI story: Young guns bring hope for Champ Car future
"Albert D. Kallal" <PleaseNOOOsPAMmkallal@msn . com > wrote in message
news:KL_Rh.43751$6m4.28192@pd7urf1no...
>
>> Yep, more French drivers. Yipeee! Just what ChampCar needs.
>>
>
> Actually, if the rumours about a race in France are true...you think
> differently.
>
> France is a great country, lots of well educated people with money, and
> with
And lots of well educated people with money make for a great country?
lol.
"Albert D. Kallal" <PleaseNOOOsPAMmkallal@msn . com > wrote in message
news:KL_Rh.43751$6m4.28192@pd7urf1no...
>
>> Yep, more French drivers. Yipeee! Just what ChampCar needs.
>>
>
> Actually, if the rumours about a race in France are true...you think
> differently.
>
> France is a great country, lots of well educated people with money, and
> with
And lots of well educated people with money make for a great country?
lol.
Re: SI story: Young guns bring hope for Champ Car future
> And lots of well educated people with money make for a great country?
Well, can you tell me what makes a better country then that???
If people are intelligent, and have money...then the logical conclusion is
that they going to enjoy champ car.....
--
Albert D. Kallal
Edmonton, Alberta Canada
pleaseNOOSpamKallal@msn . com
> And lots of well educated people with money make for a great country?
Well, can you tell me what makes a better country then that???
If people are intelligent, and have money...then the logical conclusion is
that they going to enjoy champ car.....
--
Albert D. Kallal
Edmonton, Alberta Canada
pleaseNOOSpamKallal@msn . com
