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