Indy Lights cars to race again

[rod h]

I'm the webmaster for a new series called ChampCar F6000 that utilizes the old Indy Lights chassis. More info is in the press release below or at the series web site at www.champcarf6000.com.

ChampCar F6000 Prepares For it's Inaugural Season

(April 2, 2002) The ChampCar F6000 Racing Series, a new open-wheel series created in the fall of 2001, has several new developments to announce for it's upcoming 2002 season. The series was initiated after the Indy Lights Series folded at the end of the 2001 season. ChampCar F6000 will utilize the '97 Lola chassis as used in the Indy Lights Series. The announcements involve engines, chassis and schedule.

The spec engine for the '97 Lola chassis will be the same 420 HP V6 engine that was used in the Indy Lights Series. They are available for purchase at a cost of $20,000 US from George's Speed Shop in Dayton, Ohio. George's Speed Shop will also provide rebuild services and at-track support services.

Lee Abrahamson, President of ChampCar F6000 commented that, "It made sense to go with the V6 and with George's Speed Shop. It provides an easy transition for existing Indy Lights teams and they will have the engine support that they are accustomed to."

The series has opened up the chassis specs to include the '94 Indy Lights chassis as used in Mexico by La Fórmula de las Américas. In early March, Lee Abrahamson visited series organizers in Monterrey, Mexico and was impressed with what he saw. "The series is a very professional organisation, both in terms of staff and facilities", he noted.

The visit was an initial planning session with Jose Luis Villasenor, Series Promoter and César Jiménez, driver and team owner. In late March Villasenor and Jiménez returned the visit by travelling to Ontario for more meetings with Abrahamson. César Jiménez, a well known driver in Mexico, stated "I'm looking forward to running on some of the world famous tracks like Mosport, St Jovite, Lime Rock and Watkins Glen that this new series covers".

In addition to cars, the organizers of La Fórmula de las Américas will be bringing their television production crew and hospitality trailer. All rounds of the 3 championships will be shown on Fox Sports in the USA.

Teams using the '94 Indy Lights chassis have the option of using the V6 or using their existing V8.

The 2002 ChampCar F6000 season will consist of 3 different championships. The first is the Am-Can Championship comprising 8 events in Canada and the U.S. The second will be the 5 event Winter Series contested at Mexican circuits. The third series is the Formula of the Americas. This series consists of select events from the Am-Can Championship and Winter Series including two events from Canada, three from the United States and four from Mexico. To see the complete schedule of all 3 championships visit the ChampCar F6000 website at www.champcarf6000.com.

Abrahamson commented on the value of ChampCar F6000, "For about $250,000 US a driver can compete in a thirteen race series at top quality circuits, in a carbon composite monocoque chassis powered by a 420 HP engine. That represents a great driver development opportunity and incredible value for the money". All with an excellent TV package, prize money and hospitality.

The inaugural event for the ChampCar F6000 Series is June 2 at Shannonville Motorsport Park in Ontario, Canada.

For more information including a list of teams:
Lee Abrahamson
(905) 832-8341
ChampCar F6000 web site: www.champcarf6000.com

La Fórmula de las Américas website:
http://www.fas.com.mx/ilp.htm
Call - Jose Luis Villasenor at
Mexico - 52 - 818 379 1132
Email: jlvillas@dipsa.com.mx

[Speedworx]

Sounds interesting and good.

[Sato san]

yes , good to see something good coming out of the end of the Indy Lights series .

[Speedworx]

It certainly is. Its like the old F3000 cars, they are used in another series now.

[Russfeld]

heh im sure all the money that wasnt in Indylights will suddenly materialise for this series

[av8rirl]

What is Damien Faulkner doing this year? He had signed for two years with Dorricott Racing in Indy Lights but now that Indy Lights are gone, he misses the second year.

[O'Schumacher]

Av8ril,

Faulkner has been testing a car for the new Dallara V6 series in Spain with messers Marc Hynes, and Justin Wilson, but he's yet to finalise a deal. I sure hope he does though. That boy's quick.

[O'Schumacher]

Rod H,

What sort of driver are you trying to attract? The clubman racer who just does it for love, or the serious junior driver who harbours hopes of CART or ALMS?

[rod h]

Originally posted by O'Schumacher
Rod H,

What sort of driver are you trying to attract? The clubman racer who just does it for love, or the serious junior driver who harbours hopes of CART or ALMS?

The Series is hoping to attract the serious junior driver. I'm only the webmaster so I'm not involved with discussions with the teams. My understanding is that the old Indy Lights teams and the Atlantic teams are often approached by a talented driver who cannot come up with the $1 million US required to run Atlantic. But a lot of these drivers can come up with $250,000 or so.

Keep watching the site: www.champcarf6000.com. We will be announcing more teams soon.

[O'Schumacher]

Thanks Rod H