2004 OWRS Champ Car Line-Up ?!?!

[429CJ]

Poor Emmo - always a great driver but never luck with his own teams.

[SurfaceUnits]

Jos:

"We are talking with Formula One but also looking to America," he told his official website. 'There is still nothing concrete but we will talk very fast."
The series he is referring to will more than likely be the ChampCar series, or OWRS (Open Wheeler Racing Series) as it has now become. The IRL is also a possibility however the oval racing and dangers associated with it would make it the least desirable of the Dutchman's options.

[Ac.]

Originally posted by zerO
Line-up update:

3. Ralph Firman Sr has bought all leftover Reynards from Walker and is putting a team together for his son Ralph Firman Jr who just lost out on the last remaining seat in F1 at Jordan.

This may be, but the Walker website still shows the Reynard gear for sale. Where did you hear this news from?

[zerO]

Originally posted by Ac.
This may be, but the Walker website still shows the Reynard gear for sale. Where did you hear this news from?

Got that from a friend in Europe who works for FIA - 99% his info pans out... on the other hand I've also heard that Firman is planning to test with Coyne... so, go figure... Dale Coyne had said at Sebring that he'll test two more drivers - maybe Firman and Valiante are it ??...

zerO

[zerO]

Originally posted by power&glory
My guesses:

Forsythe:Tracy, Carpentier, Lavin (Corona)

N/H:Junqueira, Bourdais

Rahal:Jourdain, Wilson (what better way for Ford to keep
Justin in the family?)

Fernandez:Fernandez, Diaz (his Mex. City '03 sponsors,
assoc. roles from Tecate, QSMex)

Rocketsports:Tagliani, Hunter-Reay

PK:Vasser, Gonzalez (Patrick Racing has basically become 2nd PK car;looks like Emmo outa luck)

Herdez: Dominguez, Salo

RuSport:Allmendinger

Conquest:Haberfeld, Philippe

Coyne:Enge, 2nd car (too many possible names!)

Walker:Valiante (OWRS money), maybe 2nd car if last minute
things come together like they did a year ago

Mo Nunn:dunno who would drive, but I still believe that Hollywood desire to be with Mo Nunn Racing, but
pulled back IRL sponsorship because they
just aren't fulfilling marketing objectives in
IRL; they were a happy sponsor for long time in
CART, and it would make sense if they would want
to be back there. I know this is a little bit of
crazy idea, but I still wouldn't rule it out.

So basically I think were looking at 21-23 well-funded cars, with maybe 1 or 2 exceptions, which, all things considered, really isn't all that bad.

Forget Mo Nunn this year - he hardly has enough $$$ for his single entry in IRL... Tomas Enge has signed with Subaru in WRC... Alex Yoong signed with ESPN... Luis Diaz is in GARRA... Rodolfo Lavin is about to be in NASCAB subseries - most likely pick-ups... and Emmo's team will materialize - maybe even two cars ?!... anyhow, it's a real mess out there since the "sale" dragged on and everybody is scrambling for sponsors... I'm on a verge of giving up listening to all the rumors swirling... by March 8 we should get our answers - at least most of them...

zerO

[racinthestreets]

I'm on a verge of giving up listening to all the rumors swirling... by March 8 we should get our answers - at least most of them...

It is a mess. Mucho competetion for the small amount of sponsorship dollars It is beginning to look like they are going to wait until March 8th and/or 9th to announce teams, schedule and television. Looks like they want to turn the event into a grand event. They want to ensure appropriate media attendance is my guess.

[Mags]

Originally posted by Kicking-back
Why would it not be?

I will phone Michael when I get off work in 1/2 hour and let you all know!

[rustyfan]

Originally posted by zerO
Tomas Enge has signed with Subaru in WRC...

This one I don't get - why would Enge sign for Subaru in the WRC (where, as far as I know, Solberg and Hirvonen aren't going anywhere) when he's been a road racer (and a successful one at that) for as long as I can remember?

Does Enge have a background in rallying from way back or something?

[Kicking-back]

He hasn't signed for Subaru in the WRC.

[cos]

He's competing in the Czech national raally championship with Subaru (not the WRC!) and doing some testing for a new F3000 team.
Does anyone know if he still has backing from Coca-Cola?

[rustyfan]

Ok then it makes a LOT more sense - thanks

[zerO]

Latest on Enge, besides the Czech Subaru thingy AND a WRC Monte Carlo = http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns12527.html

He's also scheduled to test in ETCC next week ?!

zerO

[zerO]

btw, just updated my line-up page = http://www.planet.nl/~f1/cart2k4.htm

zerO

[corkholio]

Enge isn't doing any WRC events as far as I know, especially not an event (Rally Monte Carlo 04) that has already happened. I don't know why that keeps being mentioned.

As for Coca-Cola I don't think it was a personal sponsorship deal. I think their Eastern European division was just throwing a little bit of cash at Nordic if they were running a Eastern European driver (Enge, Baumgartner). I think Enge does have a personal deal with a Czech insurance company or something.

[SurfaceUnits]

Keith Wiggins Team Manager of Herdez said they have decided
Feb 23, 2004 - 01:47 AM
Jose Arrambide

http://www.elnorte.com/deportes/articulo/391103/
Heres the link, as usual it`s on spanish, So here goes a summary.
Keith Wiggins was asked in Mexico City if RHR was going to be the second Herdez driver, he said that they have already decided on him, but it`s not official yet becaus ethey are still working on the legal aspects of the contract, but he thinks they will make it official next week.

[corkholio]

Damn, and I thought Ri. Sperafico was a shoe-in at Herdez!

[Daisy]

Originally posted by zerO
Latest on Enge, besides the Czech Subaru thingy AND a WRC Monte Carlo = http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns12527.html

He's also scheduled to test in ETCC next week ?!

zerO

And he's going to test an F3000 car as wel

[zerO]

Possible line-up update:

1. FORSYTHE - Paul Tracy
2. FORSYTHE - Patrick Carpentier
3. NEWMAN/HAAS - Sebastien Bourdais
4. NEWMAN/HAAS - Bruno Junqueira
5. HERDEZ - Mario Dominguez
6. HERDEZ - Ryan Hunter-Reay
7. FERNANDEZ - Adrian Fernandez
8. FERNANDEZ - Oriol Servia or Rodolfo Lavin ?
9. KALKHOVEN - Jimmy Vasser
10. KALKHOVEN - Roberto Gonzalez
11. GENTILOZZI - Alex Tagliani
12. GENTILOZZI - Mika Salo
13. WALKER - Michael Valiante or Bas Leinders ?
14. RAHAL - Michael Jourdain
15. COYNE - Michael Keohane
16. BACHELART - Mario Haberfeld
17. FITTIPALDI - Tiago Monteiro
18. RUSSO - A.J. Allmendinger

Possibles:

19. FORSYTHE - Jos Verstappen or Michael Valiante ?
20. WALKER - Ralph Firman or Jonathan Macri ?
21. RAHAL - Justin Wilson
22. COYNE - Alex Sperafico or Ralph Firman or Michael Valiante ?

On March 8th we will see most of the cars unveiled at the Long Beach "CCWS Preview" ?!

Things are looking up much better than they did last year at this time ?!

btw, check out my updated picturesque line-up page = http://www.planet.nl/~f1/cart2k4.htm

zerO

[Mags]

Originally posted by SurfaceUnits
Keith Wiggins Team Manager of Herdez said they have decided
Feb 23, 2004 - 01:47 AM
Jose Arrambide

http://www.elnorte.com/deportes/articulo/391103/
Heres the link, as usual it`s on spanish, So here goes a summary.
Keith Wiggins was asked in Mexico City if RHR was going to be the second Herdez driver, he said that they have already decided on him, but it`s not official yet becaus ethey are still working on the legal aspects of the contract, but he thinks they will make it official next week.

I finally heard from Michael Valiante, and he is NOT going to Walker.

[macdaddy]

That's not the news that I wanted to hear.

[Mags]

Originally posted by macdaddy
That's not the news that I wanted to hear.

BUT, he said he is working on something. So, positive news!

[macdaddy]

Wouldn't it be nice if Forsythe could land some Canadian sponsors to run him...

[Mags]

Yep.

[zerO]

OK, guys... just verified MarkC's **** - Nelson Philippe will be in Gentilozzi's second car !!!


Possible line-up update:

1. FORSYTHE - Paul Tracy
2. FORSYTHE - Patrick Carpentier
3. NEWMAN/HAAS - Sebastien Bourdais
4. NEWMAN/HAAS - Bruno Junqueira
5. HERDEZ - Mario Dominguez
6. HERDEZ - Ryan Hunter-Reay
7. FERNANDEZ - Adrian Fernandez
8. FERNANDEZ - Oriol Servia or Rodolfo Lavin ?
9. KALKHOVEN - Jimmy Vasser
10. KALKHOVEN - Roberto Gonzalez
11. FITTIPALDI - Mika Salo
12. FITTIPALDI - Tiago Monteiro
13. GENTILOZZI - Alex Tagliani
14. GENTILOZZI - Nelson Philippe
15. WALKER - Bas Leinders or Jos Verstappen ?
16. RAHAL - Michael Jourdain
17. COYNE - Michael Keohane
18. BACHELART - Mario Haberfeld
19. RUSSO - A.J. Allmendinger

Possibles:

20. FORSYTHE - Michael Valiante or Jos Verstappen ?
21. WALKER - Ralph Firman or Jonathan Macri ?
22. RAHAL - Justin Wilson
23. COYNE - Alex Sperafico or Ralph Firman ?

On March 8th we will see most of the cars unveiled at the Long Beach "CCWS Preview" ?!

Things are looking up much better than they did last year at this time ?!

btw, check out my updated picturesque line-up page = http://www.planet.nl/~f1/cart2k4.htm

zerO

[macdaddy]

Interesting grid you've got there, zerO.
Two cars for Fernandez and Fittipaldi, Philippe at Rocketsports...
And who's Bas?