30 Days In May

Memorial Day fell on a Monday and the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500's green flag fell on Sunday. This was the culmination of weeks of intensive testing, on and off track work, a full month where the 2.5 mile 'square' oval always sees sporadic testing and tweaking early in the month, to arrival of all the race teams, Media Day, Speed Day, Qualifying Day, Bump Day, Pole Day to name only a few of the scheduled examination and thorough combing through of available entrants to the unquestioned "Greatest Spectacle in Motorsports".

Much of the tracks festivities in the Month of May has to do with honoring the veterans of past Indy 500's, and veterans of military service to our country. Many of the legends within the halls of the on-site museum served proudly, and their machines are there on display.

This years field is as always split between the have's and the have-not's:
The 'have's' are Penske Racing. Roger Penske redoubles his effort every year with a seemingly inexhaustible bank account. The Penske Teams in virtually all forms of motorsports have the best equipment, the cream of the crop in team members, engineers and drivers. Indy car racing is no different. As far as two driver teams, Penske is unmatched. This year, two-time Indy 500 Champion Helio Castroneves brings his veteran prescence to Gasoline Alley, along side younger Sam Hornish Jr., a man who was fast as the driver for Panther Racing's Chevrolet, then as a new Penske driver replacing retiring 2-time CCWS Champion Gil DeFerran- Sam was stunning. Mechanical difficulties have kept him out of the winner's circle of the Indy 500 up till now, in three tries, he has yet to finish.
The other 'have's' are the five cars of Andretti/Green Racing. Always fast, Michael, Mario and Kim's Honda sponsored team has been at the forefront of the Indy Racing League's win column every year since it's inception in 2002. Michael makes his return to Indy as a driver after three years as an owner only, and his son, Marco, a rookie this year, starts just ahead on the grid. Dario Franchitti is on board again as a dominant team member, Dario's reported skill is the ability to sort the car out for the engineers, and accurately telling them what the car is doing. It may seem like an innocuous thing, but I can tell you from some experience, you're kinda busy when you're racing, but to be fast, as Dario is, you must make your car as fast as possible too. Tony Kanaan is the fourth member, a past champ as an Andretti/Green driver, and a formidable threat to repeat always. Brian Herta drives the fifth car, although it has been said that Brian will continue to be the testing driver, and may see limited entries in IRL events this year. Missing from the Andretti/Green driver line up is defending Indy Racing League Champion Dan Wheldon. Let's check over at the Ganassi pits...he might be over there.

Chip Ganassi has made his prescence known in Indy Cars and Champ Cars over the last ten years. I first saw him in Champ Car in 99 with a two-car Target sponsored team driven by Jimmy Vasser and Juan Montoya (He didn't get his middle name until he left for Formula 1). Both drivers saw success and Montoya went on to win the Cart/FedEx points championship as well as the 1999 Indy 500. Chip also won a championship with Scott Dixon, one of his present drivers. Other cars owned by Ganassi are driven by Ryan Briscoe and Danny Wheldon.

Grand Prix

Grand Prix weekend begins weeks before for the racing teams themselves, but on Monday, the line of team transport vehicles stretched beyond the line of sight. We knew the GP weekend was beginning.

The track's construction was nearly complete- certain sections were being patched and striping and logo graphics at the start/finish line were being finished up.

This grand prix was the return of Champ Car World Series to the streets of Houston, Texas. The Texaco Havoline Grand Prix of Houston ran for four years in Downtown Houston, beginning in 1999, but massive construction projects negated the race for the next few years.

On a typical GP weekend with Champ Car, we were used to seeing Formula Atlantics, the developmental series for younger drivers, and Trans-Am races. Trans Am are heavily modified production cars such as Corvettes, Vipers, Jaguars, Mustangs- only we found out last fall it would not be Trans-Am supporting Champ Car, it was to be American LeMans Series along with the popular developmental open-wheel series Star Mazda Series.

ALMS is not a typical support series. Started relatively recently, in 1999, ALMS has seen stunning growth as it brings North America it's version of LeMans competitive sportscar racing. ALMS is an intense exhibition of raw power, marvelous technology and the glamourous world of European sportscar racing. On track, slightly modified production cars such as the Porsche 911, the winningest car in racing history, along with BMW M3's, and new American racing manufacturer Panoz compete in GT2 class, along side GT1 class or Grand Touring, larger, bigger displacement and more heavily modified production cars such as ChevroletCorvette, Saleen Mustang S-7 and Aston Martin DBR9. At the very same time, LeMans Prototypes (LMP) cars are competing. LMP's are very powerful open cockpit racecars split into two classes. The most powerful, are the LMP1's with some 800 h.p. and LMP2's with some 550 h.p. powered by and built by manufacturers such as Audi, Porsche and Mazda along with privateers such as Zytek and Pescarolo.
This racing series is a North American offshoot of the LeMans Endurance series which races in Europe on Formula 1 tracks such as SpaFrancorchamps, Silverstone and Magny Cours as well as at The 24 Hours of LeMans. If you're and F-1 fan, you recognize those famous circuits. Teams from Europe travel to America for the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring, and ALMS teams travel to the famous Circ de la Sarthe in LeMans, France in May for the 24 huers du LeMans.

On Thursday, teams get their first laps on a brand new track. Several of the teams took the opportunity to test at a nearby raceway to get atmospheric data. But everyone is on a level playing field when it comes to learning the track. As is expected on a temporary street course like Reliant Park, it is bumpy, and the stiff suspension the race cars typically posess gives the driver a constant pounding.
Weather is uncharacteristically fair on Thursday morning, with a NW breeze. It is clear and cool when the first cars take to the track. They are the ALMS cars. All classes take to the track and share space now, P1's Champion Audi and Dyson/Thetford Lola, P2's Porsche Spyders, and Mazda Courage and Intersports' Lola. Grand Touring's Team Corvette with Aston Martin and Ferrari close behind, and Grand Touring 2's Porsche dominance. With speeds at a stark difference, these classes mingle with each other and at times, clash. During practice, teams enter and exit the pits making adjustments on their setups from their first time on track.
The next cars on track for a 50 minute practice session are Star Mazda. The Star Mazda Series is actually an SCCA Professional class of spec-open wheel racers. The cars are all Formula Mazda, provided by the series, but prepared by individual race teams.
As a spec series goes, it is tight competition by young drivers with equal, open wheel cars powered by the same Mazda Rotary motor, the same as is in the Mazda Rx-8. The difference is the driver.
Last year's championship chase boiled down to three drivers who are now competing in the Formula Atlantics. Formula Mazda open wheelers probably have a top speed of 130-140 mph here in Houston, and on Turn 4, the long, long right hander arond the Astrodome, these drivers went two by two at over a hundered miles and hour. Star Mazda was some great competitive, racey action.
All series have practice sessions on Thursday, and next on track is the Formula Atlantics. Atlantics have always run along with Champ Car, it is the developmental series of Champ Car. Nearly all Champ Car drivers come up through Atlantics, although some drivers come from other competitive series and skip straight to Champ Car.
For most though, they must prove their skills against the other prospective, young drivers in cars prepared by provfessional teams with independent ownership and budgetary constraints, or as in some cases, the lack of monetary constraints, e.g. Penske, Forsythe and Newman/Haas.
Up and coming drivers such as James Hinchcliffe, Robbie Pecorari, and last years Star Mazda champion Rafael Matos are among the fastest of the Atlantics drivers, but marquee names like Graham Rahal and Al Unser IV, or 'Just Al' are very competitive in privateer rides.
For all series, Thursday is an opportunity to feel out the new circuit, and attempt a set up. Practice on Friday will solidify the open wheeler's setups, but ALMS must gain knowledge fast, as they will have to qualify tonight, and race tomorrow on Friday night.
Thursday night, Champ Car, Atlantics and Star Mazda will practice, then Friday night before the ALMS race, all will qualify for their Saturday races.
Because of scheduling, I was unable to witness Friday night's American LeMans Series race from Reliant Park, but John Griffin was there and files this report:














Saturday, Champ Car teams roll out for a late morning practice. Early bird fans saw teams wheeling their cars from within the Reliant Arena's massive interior onto the track for practice. With their grid positions assigned, their purpose on track is to further sort out the car's setup.
Typically, the high end teams have a solid handle on the setup.
Two time defending Champion, Sebastien Bourdais, (Newman/Haas), has qualified fourth after a daring qualifying effort by Mario Dominguez, (Forsythe) that earned him pole position and Number 1 starting spot. Bruno Junquera, (Newman/Haas), and Paul Tracy, (Forsythe), seem well sorted out and separated only by tenths.
From there, Justin Wilson and A.J.Allmendinger, Alex Tagliani, Katherine Legge and Oriel Servia comprise a closely packed group about half a second back.
At 160 mph, it's tough to make out the names of the drives on the side of the cars, but the driver's nationality is represented with his/her country's flag, and there are a wide variety of countries represented.
At the back of the pack are some unexpected drivers and some new-borns:
Cristiano deMatta, now with Dale Coyne Racing, is a former Champ Car World Series champion. He won it all with a Newman/Haas ride. When he left for Formula 1, he relinquished his seat, and Bruno Junqquera took over. Now Cristiano's back, but there wasn't a seat open to his talents with one of the big teams this year. So instead of sitting out for a season, he took an offer from Dale Coyne and signed on to drive the Sonny's BBQ car in 2006.
Other up and coming drivers are Will Power, Charles Zwolsman, Andrew Ranger, Can Clark, Jan Heylen and Nelson Phillipe, who last year was the youngest driver ever to start a Champ Car race, however his younger brother may break that record.
Once practice is over, the drivers relax, the teams go to work if they are behind, and the support series begin their contests.
The Champ Car World Series' Grand Prix of Houston will begin at 8 pm.
We'll see you there!


-Katykarter

How Sweet It Is!

Champ Car World Series had a winning weekend in Houston and I'll attest to the fan fest that accompanied it.

Thursday began the speed weekend here with American LeMans Series taking to the new circuit first. O'Connell, Fellows, Long, McNish and others explored the varying setups around the newborn 1.7 mile temporary street course in shadows of the venerable Astrodome and the monolithic Reliant Stadium. Atlantics, Star Mazda and Champ Car practiced then ALMS qualified for their Friday night race. It was a struggle for most teams, but the favorites found their way ahead of the competition, and Audi, Porsche and Team Corvette were among the winners.
Saturday night was left to Champ Cars after exiting races by support series', Star Mazda, and Champ Car developmental series Formula Atlantic. Several Champ Car drivers are past Atlantics champions, and it is a competitive series and the last challenge before a driver moves up to the elites. Andreas Wirth perservered to take victory after Graham Rahal was penalized for bumping Rafael Matos into a spin in the Turn 2 chicane late in the race.
Champ Car World Series back to back champion, Sebastien Bourdais is as fast as ever and the Frenchman has taken an early lead in the points battle, winning the first race in Long Beach and winning here in Houston by a modest margin over Paul Tracy and Mario Dominguez. Bourdais took the lead late in the race when leader Dominguez made a rare error and overshot turn 5 and had to spin the car about to return to the race in third place.
Cristiano DeMatta is making the best of his chance with Dale Coyne Racing this year. Dale had seen the birth of many of CCWS's best drivers, but his spare budget precludes the competitive edge to get his cars to the front. Consequently, podium finishes for his entrants are few and far between. Cristiano was unable to secure a sponsor this year, and without it, several teams passed on his proven talent for a driver bringing sponsorship with him. He was able to sign on with Coyne without sponsorship. So goes it in American open wheel racing: talent gets you there, sponsorship($$) gets you in the seat.
Champ Car goes to Fundidora Park, Monterrey, Mexico this weekend, we'll be watching!

Indy cars enter the fabled Thirty Days of May looking for a break in the weather. It didn't happen.
Cars had limited practice on Wednesday the 11th, where Hornish was fastest lapping at 39.68 @ 226.7 mph followed by Wheldon, Castroneves, Dixon and Franchitti. It rained until Sunday when in shortened practice Wheldon put up the fastest lap at 39.35 @ 228.6 mph followed closely by Hornish, Castroneves, Dixon and Franchitti.
Practice will resume on the track on Wednesday morning, with final Pole day qualifying on Saturday, then a last chance Bump Day qualifying on Sunday. There more than enough entrants to fill the 33 car field.

The 90th Indianapolis 500 will be on Sunday, May 28, coverage on ABC begins 1 pm Eastern, Noon Central.

I ran into Bobby Rahal again at the Houston races, this time he signed my Indy 500 hat from 2003. Bobby drank the milk in 1986.

Nice guy.

-Katykarter

Michael Schumacher wins at home

The world's highest paid athelite, Michael Schumacher, earned his money today in Germany for the European Grand Prix at one of Formula 1's vaunted locales.
Alongside the monstrously difficult Nurburg Nordschligle course of old, the new Nurburgring is the modern, bland circuit designed for sterility, safety, and lastly, racing. There are few passing opportunities, yet there was great action in todays race.

Holding the points lead again, reigning Formula 1 Champion, Fernando Alonso came confidently into Germany expecting victory. Ferrarri's outcome at Imola was termed "home-field advantage". Schumacher held of Alonso to finish ahead and reduce Alonso's point lead.
At Nurburgring, Michael and Alonso left the front row, and aside from Massa lingering and fading slowly, the two left the rest of the field. Raikkonen and Montoya's McLarens didn't seem to have anything to answer the Ferrarri and Renault dominance of late.

Coming into the final pit window, Todt and Ferrarri principles seemed determined to overtake Alonso in the pits, and directed Michael to stay out an extra lap to gain precious tenths of seconds of less fuel delivery. When Alonso pitted for the final time, Michael did not pit the next lap as he had in the first set of stops. He continued and set fastest lap of the race. This is Michael Schumachers's genius: His ability to get more from his car on in laps and out laps than anyone else. When he did not pit after that lap, and crossed the line again, he set another fastest lap, this one by almost half a second. He was pouring it on. Still he did not pit. On the next lap, Massa pitted, then one lap later, Michael pitted, a full four laps after Alonso. Upon returning to the track, Alonso wasn't yet past the start finish line, halfway up the straight. Schumacher continued to pour it on and finished with an 8 second lead.
He eroded another four points of 'Nando's points lead away, in front of his fans.

That is championship form.

-Katykarter

Life With Champ Car-Colored Glasses

It absolutely is all about Champ Car World Series
or whatever it is powered by, presented by or carried on-air by: Champ Car is back in Houston!!

I can't believe it's finally here, next week, along with American LeMans Series, Champ Cars roar through the streets of Houston, this time at Reliant Center, around the new Reliant Stadium, and old-Astrodome.

Champ Car is, to me, the most elite racers in the United States. The cars are the most powerful on the planet, generating some 900hp on a very light chassis with NO traction control. These drivers are the best. Formula One beckons to all, and several drivers in Champ Car have driven Formula 1 and some will eventually go to F1. Champ Car differentiates itself from the Indy Racing League, another elite open-wheeled racing series, who's goofy marketing scheme this year, "I am Indy" was hatched and presented by metal god and unbalanced-business man, Gene Simmons(What a pathetic display of ineptitude on Dave Despain's show by Simmons, just painful to watch).

While the IRL takes to mostly ovals, Champ Car is almost exclusively temporary street course. Most, though not all, are built on the public streets of the host city, just as is the case in Houston in the past (although it will not affect traffic as radically-this year the track is in the vast parking acreage of Reliant Stadium).

Champ Car Update
Recently, teams recorded data from a testing weekend at Portland International Raceway in Oregon. Fastest on the time charts was Sebastien Bourdais by almost a second over Justin Wilson. Wilson's RuSport car has flirted with the top of the time charts and podiums recently, he and RuSport teammate, A.J. Allmendinger, are the best after Newman/Haas' Bourdais, Junquera and Servia and Team Forsythe with venerable former champion Paul Tracy and Mario Dominguez.

It was reported in the SCCA Southwest Div. publication to members that several Champ Car teams tested at nearby Motorsports Ranch Houston. MSRH is a brand-new, state of the art (in-progress), 2.4 mile permanant road course built south of Houston on a large tract of land in close proximity to Hwy. 288.

In April, though CCWS made no mention of it, Team Forsythe and several other teams tested over several days, and when asked, Paul Tracy, of Team Forsythe complimented the track owners for a demanding, technical road course, with "every type of turn imaginable" represented.

Sebastien Bourdais brings the points lead after victory in Long Beach, and Paul Tracy has the whole season to reel him in.

Fish On!

Karting Note: Scheduled for May 13 & 14, South West Road Racing Association brings its IKF open competition to MSRH. Considering his heavy involvement in karting in the past, and ownership in a line of competitive karts, it's a good bet the above mentioned P.T. will make an appearance trackside one day this weekend. ICC and ICA classes will be represented, and talent of European flavor is always expected.

-Katykarter