20+ car ChampCar GRID Shaping Up ?!?! - Page 13

zerO · 10 Jul 2004, 03:42 (Ref:1031903)

Update:

Latest from the Grapevine is that we are going to see Michael Valiante on the grid (finally) at Vancouver - in Walker's car #15 ?!... it still isn't known whether this ride will last through the end of season but we can only hope so ?!

Here's how the line-up scenario looks like now:

1. FORSYTHE - #1 - Paul Tracy
2. FORSYTHE - #3 - Rodofo Lavin
3. FORSYTHE - #7 - Patrick Carpentier
4. NEWMAN/HAAS - #2 - Sebastien Bourdais
5. NEWMAN/HAAS - #6 - Bruno Junqueira
6. HERDEZ - #4 - Ryan Hunter-Reay
7. HERDEZ - #55 - Mario Dominguez
8. COYNE - #11 - Oriol Servia and/or Michael Keohane
9. COYNE - #19 - Gaston Mazzacane and/or Ralph Firman
10. BACHELART - #14 - Alex Sperafico and/or Ricardo Sperafico
11. BACHELART - #34 - Justin Wilson
12. KALKHOVEN - #12 - Jimmy Vasser
13. KALKHOVEN - #21 - Roberto Gonzalez
14. GENTILOZZI - #8 - Alex Tagliani
15. GENTILOZZI - #17 - Memo Gidley and/or Nelson Philippe
16. RUSSO - #9 - Michel Jourdain
17. RUSSO - #10 - AJ Allmendinger
18. WALKER - #5 - Mario Habereld

Possible entries this year:

19. WALKER - #15 - Michael Valiante or Jonathan Macri or Rafael Martinez ?
20. KALKHOVEN - #22 - Christian Murchison, Josh Hunt, Seung Yin Lee and/or Rafael Martinez ?

Possible entries in 2005:

21. FITTIPALDI - #20 - Ricardo Sperafico or Jaime Melo or Gaston Mazzacane ?
22. LEBERLE - #24 - Ralph Firman or Tomas Enge ?
23. DYSON - #16 - Chris Dyson or Townsend Bell ?
24. CONDOR - #31 - Jon Fogarty or Townsend Bell ?
25. CONDOR - #32 - Marc Hynes or Ryan Dalziel ?
26. HEMELGARN - #91 or #18 - Townsend Bell or Jaime Melo ?

btw, for the updated picturesque version go to www.champcarfan.com and click on the "Line-up" thingy ?!

zerO

Mags · 10 Jul 2004, 19:37 (Ref:1032609)

I'll call Michael and find out what's going ON.

zerO · 11 Jul 2004, 02:15 (Ref:1032775)

Hey Mags,
word is that it's a 99.9% done deal for the remainder of the season - few drivers said so at Toronto...

zerO

RapidTron · 11 Jul 2004, 21:39 (Ref:1033462)

yeah but clearly journos know more than the drivers themselves

zerO · 12 Jul 2004, 06:32 (Ref:1033727)

Latest rumor has it that Nelson Philippe and LeasePlan are contemplating going to another team -> Conquest and car #14 comes to mind here... a Rocketsports' swap with Walker for Valiante is also a possibility here... the saga shall continue...

zerO

Amar7605 · 12 Jul 2004, 13:47 (Ref:1034175)

Neat - we're trading drivers NBA-style!

Dov · 14 Jul 2004, 05:40 (Ref:1036052)

From another forum......

Just spoke with my source in the Valiante camp and he informs me that Michael will race in Vancouver and for the rest of the season 99.5%, just need to dot a few i's and cross a few t's on a contract....
19 cars for Vancouver!!
Yes......

Kicking-back · 14 Jul 2004, 08:44 (Ref:1036132)

I don't see there being 19 cars. If Valiante strikes a deal, we may see Rocketsports second car disappear.

rustyfan · 14 Jul 2004, 13:04 (Ref:1036378)

Quote:

Originally posted by Kicking-back
I don't see there being 19 cars. If Valiante strikes a deal, we may see Rocketsports second car disappear.

If there's any truth to the report that the sole biggest reason Gidley got the ride for Toronto was that they needed the extra car to fill up the required 18 spots on the grid, you could very well be right...

racinthestreets · 14 Jul 2004, 14:32 (Ref:1036445)

At this point, PG and OWRS would be making a mistake to have a team like Rocketsports downsize. A team owned by a series owner.:confused: I would think that if Rocketsports went to one car it would be like a brick in the foundation of OWRS and CCWS that has cracked. The foundation's strength is weakened and a collapse could result. IMO, the owners cannot allow that perception to appear.

zerO · 14 Jul 2004, 17:31 (Ref:1036592)

Quote:

Originally posted by racinthestreets
At this point, PG and OWRS would be making a mistake to have a team like Rocketsports downsize. A team owned by a series owner.:confused: I would think that if Rocketsports went to one car it would be like a brick in the foundation of OWRS and CCWS that has cracked. The foundation's strength is weakened and a collapse could result. IMO, the owners cannot allow that perception to appear.

Exactly... but we're not sure yet that "Logic" is part of OWRS' credo ?!

zerO

Amar7605 · 14 Jul 2004, 18:32 (Ref:1036645)

i don't think that anything negative will happen if Rocketsports goes to a one-car effort. As long as there are 18 cars on the grid who cares which team has how many cars.

Speedworx · 14 Jul 2004, 18:44 (Ref:1036660)

Its rumoured Valiante will be in the Rocketsports #17 for rest of 2004.

Omega99 · 15 Jul 2004, 01:50 (Ref:1036903)

That's the kind of rumor I like to hear!

zerO · 15 Jul 2004, 02:27 (Ref:1036911)

Silly pre-Season update:

There are a bunch of new teams rumored to possibly enter Champ Car next year: Fittipaldi, Leberle, Hemelgarn, Prost, JAG, Concord, Jensen, Cheever, Nunn, Menard, ProtoStar, etc.,... and now we hear of Sierra Sierra of Toyota Atlantics and Andrew Ranger =
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/Toront...12/536604.html
Looks like besides CCWS being cheaper to run in than IRL there is some kind of attraction that spurs all those potential newcomers... guess, CART/OWRS isn't dead afterall ?!

zerO

The Snout · 15 Jul 2004, 02:41 (Ref:1036913)

Quote:

Originally posted by zerO
Silly pre-Season update:

There are a bunch of new teams rumored to possibly enter Champ Car next year: Fittipaldi, Leberle, Hemelgarn, Prost, JAG, Concord, Jensen, Cheever, Nunn, Menard, ProtoStar, etc.,... and now we hear of Sierra Sierra of Toyota Atlantics and Andrew Ranger =
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/Toront...12/536604.html
Looks like besides CCWS being cheaper to run in than IRL there is some kind of attraction that spurs all those potential newcomers... guess, CART/OWRS isn't dead afterall ?!

zerO

Hi Zero, just strolling through looking for tidbits of information. Just wondering, where did the Cheever rumour come from ? Cause he seems to be so pro IRL.

The rest are good vibes, and if CCWS can IMO pick up 3 or 4 cars for '05 I think that would be another solid step forward.

zerO · 15 Jul 2004, 02:52 (Ref:1036916)

^ Cheever Racing almost came to Champ Car this year - Red Bull is pulling a plug on IRL and Champ Car is cheaper than IndyCar, that simple... we're going to see many more IRL teams looking at Champ Car next year - Reinbold and Kelley will ponder it for sure...

As for "loyalities" (re: Cheever) we've learned by now that it seldom applies - to most of the teams it is just a crapshoot, money dictates their "loyality" ?!

zerO

The Snout · 15 Jul 2004, 02:58 (Ref:1036918)

Quote:

Originally posted by zerO
^ Cheever Racing almost came to Champ Car this year - Red Bull is pulling a plug on IRL and Champ Car is cheaper than IndyCar, that simple... we're going to see many more IRL teams looking at Champ Car next year - Reinbold and Kelley will ponder it for sure...

As for "loyalities" (re: Cheever) we've learned by now that it seldom applies - to most of the teams it is just a crapshoot, money dictates their "loyality" ?!

zerO

I agree with that for sure. Unless you are 'with the program' in the IRL you find it very difficult to compete. Red Bull is a fan of F1 and I'd have thought too that the CCWS would be a good fit for them and their program. Thanks for the info, your updates and good food.

Omega99 · 15 Jul 2004, 03:01 (Ref:1036919)

I found a '99 Reynard Chasis for sale on the net for $29,000US. If I come into some money/sponsorship, I'll put someone form ten-tenths in the seat.

But you better find some people to push you around the track because there's no engine.

Mags · 15 Jul 2004, 03:03 (Ref:1036920)

Red Bull is HUGE in GARRA right now and also AJ's minor sponsor.

brightline · 15 Jul 2004, 04:37 (Ref:1036950)

AJ's minor sponsor and it seems every 3rd driver on the planet recently... but there is always hope.

marcus · 15 Jul 2004, 06:33 (Ref:1036992)

I hope Valiante gets a ride , Ive heard so much about him but never seen him race.

Amar7605 · 15 Jul 2004, 07:05 (Ref:1037010)

Let's hope that at lease SOME of the rumored teams are able to compete next year. It would be great to see a grid of at least 25 cars (Yes I know that is a stretch in today's market, but we can be dreamers :-))

Dov · 15 Jul 2004, 16:54 (Ref:1037436)

I met this kid Andrew Ranger down at the Toronto Indy FanFest and while they say he is 17 years old, he looks more like 14 or 15.

zerO · 15 Jul 2004, 17:48 (Ref:1037488)

Update:

Latest from the Grapevine is that Walker Racing as released Michael Valiante from its contract and he's been signed on by Rocketsports to fill in car #17 for the rest of the season.

Here's how the line-up scenario looks like now:

1. FORSYTHE - #1 - Paul Tracy
2. FORSYTHE - #3 - Rodofo Lavin
3. FORSYTHE - #7 - Patrick Carpentier
4. NEWMAN/HAAS - #2 - Sebastien Bourdais
5. NEWMAN/HAAS - #6 - Bruno Junqueira
6. HERDEZ - #4 - Ryan Hunter-Reay
7. HERDEZ - #55 - Mario Dominguez
8. COYNE - #11 - Oriol Servia and/or Michael Keohane
9. COYNE - #19 - Gaston Mazzacane and/or Ralph Firman
10. BACHELART - #14 - Alex Sperafico and/or Nelson Philippe or Ricardo Sperafico
11. BACHELART - #34 - Justin Wilson
12. KALKHOVEN - #12 - Jimmy Vasser
13. KALKHOVEN - #21 - Roberto Gonzalez
14. GENTILOZZI - #8 - Alex Tagliani
15. GENTILOZZI - #17 - Michael Valiante and/or Memo Gidley
16. RUSSO - #9 - Michel Jourdain
17. RUSSO - #10 - AJ Allmendinger
18. WALKER - #5 - Mario Habereld

Possible entries this year:

19. WALKER - #15 - Rafael Martinez or Jonathan Macri or Nelson Philippe ?
20. KALKHOVEN - #22 - Christian Murchison, Josh Hunt, Seung Yin Lee and/or Rafael Martinez ?

Possible entries in 2005:

21. FITTIPALDI - #20 - Ricardo Sperafico or Jaime Melo or Gaston Mazzacane ?
22. LEBERLE - #24 - Ralph Firman or Tomas Enge ?
23. DYSON - #16 - Chris Dyson or Townsend Bell ?
24. CONDOR - #31 - Jon Fogarty or Townsend Bell ?
25. CONDOR - #32 - Marc Hynes or Ryan Dalziel ?
26. HEMELGARN - #91 or #18 - Townsend Bell or Jaime Melo ?

btw, for the updated picturesque version go to www.champcarfan.com and click on the "Line-up" thingy ?!

zerO

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