Champ Car 2006

deltahf_2 · #1 (**permalink**) 04-09-2006, 04:25 PM

Results from the Long Beach opener of the 2006 Champ Car season. As usual, entertaining contact at the start eliminated several cars in a marginal field of F1 rejects and wanna-be's, old-timers like Paul Tracy and Jimmy Vassar, and rookies. Hard to believe that several years ago Champ car was the premier open wheel series in the US, with 22-24 car fields, and all the big names and sponsors. Of note, Katherine Legge drove a safe race to finish 8th after starting 17th.

FP SP
1 1 S. Bourdais Newman/Haas Racing 74 1:40:07

2 2 J. Wilson RuSPORT 74 1:40:21.766

3 7 A. Tagliani Team Australia Racing 74 1:40:28.155

4 5 M. Dominguez Forsythe Championship Racing 74 1:40:30.282

5 10 C. da Matta Dale Coyne Racing 74 1:40:44.470

6 16 A. Ranger Mi-Jack Conquest Racing 74 1:41:02.594

7 14 J. Heylen Dale Coyne Racing 74 1:41:09.318

8 17 K. Legge PKV Racing 74 1:41:09.878

9 9 W. Power Team Australia Racing 73 1:40:24.008

10 11 A. Pizzonia Rocketsports Racing 73 1:41:03.077

11 13 D. Clarke CTE Racing - HVM 72 1:41:16.578

12 0 C. Zwolsman Mi-Jack Conquest Racing 67 1:35:37.942

13 15 N. Philippe CTE Racing - HVM 46 1:04:23.941

14 12 J. Vasser PKV Racing 24 34:39.990

15 3 B. Junqueira Newman/Haas Racing 1 3:57.550 29.824

16 4 A. Allmendinger RuSPORT 0 0.217

17 6 P. Tracy Forsythe Championship Racing 0 0.513

18 8 O. Servia PKV Racing 0 0.738

Hit an Apex · #2 (**permalink**) 04-09-2006, 06:11 PM

It is still the best open wheel series in the U.S. I suggest you do not get into this because I am the biggest Champ Car fan ever.

AJ Allmendinger, Servia, Junqueria, Clarke, Power, Heylan, Ranger, and Tagliani are certainly not "F1-wanna be's" or "old-timers".

deltahf_2 · #3 (**permalink**) 04-09-2006, 06:50 PM

Monty,

I am a big fan myself, and agree it is the best open wheel series in the US, but I miss the days when we had Andrettis, Unsers, Zanardi, JPM, Vasser, Tracy, Rahal, as well as all the top teams and sponsors. I truly hope that one day the stupid Champ Car - IRL feud will end and there will be a better business plan for Champ Car and we will see a return to the glory days. I used to go to several races each year and saw Mario close out at Laguna Seca. I just don't see the same driver/team quality today, and judging from the cars I saw at Long Beach the sponsors seem to agree.

Vivace · #4 (**permalink**) 04-10-2006, 10:01 AM

My opinion...IRL = Indy Lights of old.

They stole Indianapolis from CART.

I saw the Alfas run at Portland from the last turn before the front straight, with the exhaust pointed right at you as they accelerated up the straight. Pretty impressive.

nicke · #5 (**permalink**) 04-10-2006, 10:25 AM

What I can't figure out is how Paul Tracy, didn't know better... He especially knows how tight turn 1 is. If you wreck in turn one, there's NO more race... And LBGP should make LB make turn 1 wider, it's too much of a bottleneck on coldish tires and make for a stale race if all the top drivers wreck...

I do like Champ Car, but I'm not that interested in parking-lot and street races, I understand that that's where the audience is, but a good race course is priceless. And I'm still bummed they dropped Laguna Seca.

/Nick

turbolarespider · #6 (**permalink**) 04-10-2006, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicke

What I can't figure out is how Paul Tracy, didn't know better... He especially knows how tight turn 1 is. If you wreck in turn one, there's NO more race... And LBGP should make LB make turn 1 wider, it's too much of a bottleneck on coldish tires and make for a stale race if all the top drivers wreck...

/Nick

Sprintn · #7 (**permalink**) 04-10-2006, 02:14 PM

Unfortunatley the big money sponsorers put too much emphesis on the "INDY 500" so the IRL is where all the teams are heading. But... I have heard that the two organizations are talking about a possible merge again.

The first IRL Road race last season was kind of funny to watch.?.? You could tell that a lot of those guys/girls are a bit use to holding their right foot down.?.?

**PlaysWithCars** · #8 (**permalink**) 04-10-2006, 02:42 PM

The Champ cars will be testing in Portland, OR, this week.

And since I am starting my month of Paternity leave today to be with my newborn daughter, our first outing will be to the track for a couple hours of spectating and walking (ok, she'll be carried) through the pits. Yes, I already have some earplugs for her. Momma is not too sure about this, but I figure it's the best way to introduce her to the addiction.

Then the teams will be back in June for the races. Woo hoo!

nicke · #9 (**permalink**) 04-10-2006, 02:44 PM

One thing I love with Champ Car is the open Paddock! Have fun.

/Nick