List Revised (almost done now)

[sgw2]

The CART lineup is rapidly finishing up. I now have 17 entries fairly firm.

Official (car numbers are my guess)

1. Paul Tracy, Player's Forsythe, '03 Lola (#33)
2. Patrick Carpentier, Player's Forsythe, '03 Lola (#32)
3. Adrián Fernández, Tecate/Quaker State/Telmex, Lola (#51)
4. Michel Jourdain jr., Gigante Team Rahal, Lola (#9)
5. Oriol Servia, Visteon Patrick, '03 Lola (#20)
6. Joel Camathias, Coyne, Lola (#19)
7. Roberto González, Walker, Reynard (#5)
8. Roldopho LavÃ*n, Corona Walker, Reynard (#15)
9. TBA (Hunter-Reay), American Spirit, Reynard (# )
10. TBA, American Spirit,Reynard (# )
11. TBA, Johnson ControlsRocketsports, TBA (# )

Confimed

12. Bruno Junqueira, Newman-Haas, Lola (#6)
13. Mario DomÃ*nguez, Herdez, Lola (#55)
14. Mario Haberfled, Conquest, ex-Fosrythe Reynard (#34)

Almost Done Deals

15. Alex Yoong, BSA Wheels Forsythe, ex-Ganassi Lola (# )
16. TBA (Zonta or Bourdais), Newman-Haas, Lola (#11)
17. Roberto Moreno, Herdez, Lola (# )

Notes:

* Ryan Hunter-Reay is pretty certain for one of Johansson's CART financed cars, while Jon Fogerty figures to be the other. Jimmy Vasser appears to have priced himself above the market both here and at Patrick.

* Ricardo Zonta has the edge for the second Newman-Haas car.

* Moreno appears to have settled the second Herdez seat.

* Alexandre Tagliani is thought to be in the Rocketsports car, but buzz is Gentilozzi wants a paying driver, even over a "free" driver like Tags.

* Expect the 18th car to come from Mo Nunn, since he is by far the most likely to get his ducks in order. He likes fellow Englishman Darren Manning. I expect Pook, who is an Englishman himself, wants to see one in the series with Franchitti gone and Wilson off to Minardi F1. I give that a better chance than Wayne Taylor, or a second Coyne or Patrick car.

Looks like that $30 M got Pook a full field for the 2003 CCWS. Only a third of the entries look to be strong. I expect NHR and Player's to dominate, but Fernandez should show well, as will Manning if Nunn makes the show. Every other car is either short some talent, equipment or experience. One or two of the others will surprise here and there.