"WHEN ART EXISTS...

...there is nothing else."

Or so goes a quote from the final episode of Sex and the City. No competition updates until I finish my latest trick, a commemoration of the 250th Champ Car win by a Cosworth engine which occurred in Edmonton. I usually pour ten-tenths into getting stuff finished for a deadline (something Diane reminds me about often) and it'll be done Wednesday so the original can be presented to Cosworth during the pre-reace ceremonies in San Jose.

Upon my return from Computer Valley, expect an update from the three July races, including the largest-ever event in Canada. I will toss this latest Cosworth image up for you to see when I can... Until then, try to remember who, where and when was Cosworth's first Champ Car victory? Yes, we don't run there anymore!

Later,

JHS



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GORDY AT HOME

We are happy to hear that Gordy has returned home and Connie is printing out your emails for him. You can now communicate with him directly at ensgc@att.net . They have a slow connection at home, so please avoid photos and broadcasts (group mailings). Send personal messages directly to him. Don't flood them with phone calls. They have been through quite a bit, and still have plenty ahead, but please take a few moments to let them know how you feel!!!

JHS

MID-SUMMER UPDATE

MILWAUKEE

One of the most experienced oval crews in the history of the event gathered at Milwaukee for our first DAY race in three years, albeit SaturDAY, back in early June. There was only one rookie, and very few novices, and I want to thank Milwaukee Mile Chief Observer Ray George and his crew of stalwarts for organizing and pulling off a great effort. As part of the renovation and new construction that occurred during the winter of 2004, the land line was pulled out by its roots and no replacement for it is planned, leading us to use radios for the only time in 2005. And as most of you know, radio comm is dodgy at best, and downright scary on ovals. However, the Milwaukee Mile crew made the LEAST of a good thing and kept communications very brief and down to a minimum, and we slid through the 2-day event without a problem. Thanks again, everyone for keepin’ it green!!

One of the highlights of the event had to be the performance of our starter JD Wilbur. Our new Race Director, Tony Cotman, had his first opportunity to monitor and pay close attention to the actions of the starter during a busy oval race, and was very pleased. Tony stands down by the operations communicator, the safety communicator and me through most of an event, and has a good habit of talking out loud as he keeps a tab on competition, especially the front-runners’ progress through lapped traffic. We never really have to ask him what he’s thinking. He would see a situation develop in turns one or two and lean in to say “JD really needs to lay down a big blue flag on this one,” and un-prompted, out the blue flag would undoubtedly come, prompting Tony to exclaim “JD’s on fire!” mid-way through the race. As mentioned before, Tony is still very impressionable in his first season as race director and we have not disappointed him.

The Wisconsin State Fair Park, owners of the Milwaukee Mile, would love to have us back, and we’d like to return, but that will be up in the air pending the finding of a promoter/operator for the facility, which is currently without one. We shall see when the 2006 schedule is released. Probably in August.


PORTLAND

Our return to Portland, which was also in jeopardy of continuing for a while, came off pretty well. We had a healthy turnout of Marshals, and for the most part they did a great job of keeping the track dry! That helped a little at the gate on race day and Kevin Kalkhoven announced in victory lane that the event would stay on the calendar – but his team had just won its first race a few minutes earlier!!

First-time event flag chief Ken Killam did a first-class job, his TMs supported us well, and thanks to all who came out and flagged, communicated, or intervened (there were a few, which were given a big nod of approval by our safety team) The crews in the Festival Curves had their hands full as usual, but were aided tremendously by the re-design of the 2nd turn during the off-season by Circuit Director Chris Kneifel and the PIR staff. I think we went four-for-four getting through the Festival Curves as far as the Champ Car sanctioned events went (2 Atlantic races,) but the biggest event of the weekend had to be the Drifting Car blowing up and catching fire on the backstretch…

Last year at mid-season, I started timing course clearances and converting them into speed around the track. It’s a great and fun way to snap all to attention, team-build and polish up the comm and listening skills. Two tracks not on our schedule this year set the bar pretty high, Road America with its long distances clearing at just over 1200 mph and Laguna Seca’s communicators shattering that record with an incredible 1740 mph (almost 3 times the speed of sound) later in the year. The good folks at Portland put together a fine first effort at 651mph. More to come.


CLEVELAND

Cleveland’s annual splash at the lakefront is CART/Champ Car’s oldest event that it created on its own. It has tried to disappear twice, to no avail, but may be on the block again, pending the results of this year’s event. The organizers, trying to give on-track-value-for-the-price-of-admission, loaded the schedule to the gills with Champ Car, 2 Atlantic races, Trans-Am, Speed World Challenge ST and GT, and FF2000. Yes, very, very long days, and yes, we rightfully heard about it from those marshals that came out and those who did not. Point very much taken. Plus, there was a vintage event at Mid-Ohio, and the June Sprints at RA. First time event chair Lauri Burkons, her asst. Dave Bueno, and first-time flag chief Dale Strimple rousted out a crew of only about thirty five strong, but everyone really, really delivered. Champ Car, Race Control, our stewards and I thank you all immensely.

The quality of the work on course was truly outstanding, especially on Friday when we had less than 30 out there from 10AM to 8PM. We tried as best we could to make it easy as possible for those who came to help out, and knocked some of the early pace car & two-seater sessions and evening drifting sessions from the marshals responsibilities, trimming where we could, and mustering without a meeting on Saturday Morning. Despite the heat, conditions, hours and work load, it sounded like there were far more than two or three per station. The Champ Car race itself was somewhat of a rodeo, with a lot more off-course action that your typical Cleveland race. Yeesh!!

Several Champ car drivers lobbied Tony Cotman before the weekend to stop the dive-bombers we often see at Cleveland’s infamous first turn. Some kind of “foul line” was bandied about in the weeks leading up to the race, as well as a plastic road construction barrel that was placed in the center of the wide entrance to turn one for Saturday’s Atlantic race, to which drivers had to stay left of while entering the turn. Didn’t work. Katherine Legge found herself too far right approaching the barrel and pushed left to avoid it, and cars went a-flyin’. So we did the Champ Car start sans-barrel and only lost two at the start. Coulda been worse. Just like the 17th hole at the PGA Golf tournament at Sawgrass ( a green surrounded entirely by water but for a skinny bridge) Cleveland’s first turn is just something we have to deal with, period.

Have I thanked the Cleveland Marshal’s enough? Just one more time. Thanks everyone for coming out and lifting us up through trying circumstances… THAT, as well as our third-ever four digit course clearance speed of 1673mph!!! We had a few Canadians come down to help, and they are on for our next two races, in Toronto (the 20th running) and our new airport circuit (which is even more wide-ass open than Cleveland) in Edmonton.

See you at the track, Eh????

JHS

GOOD NEWS ON GORDY

Hey, Gang:

This just in from Verne Wandell:

It is with pleasure that I report that Gordy continues to improve. Following is a portion of an email I received from Connie this morning:

"Gord is doing so well now. He was up and walking 3 times yesterday and sits in a chair the full day. He still has an IV so is not able to take a shower yet but is able to do the basics on his own. His breathing is still labored and he is still on oxygen but is able to use a portable tank to walk around.

Spud has been under a lot of stress worrying about Gord. The weather here has been in the 90's each day. Spud needed to stay home yesterday and just rest.

Gord called me last night from his new room. After 7 nights in intensive care he is now in a private room!! He can now receive cards if people have been sending them I don't know if they were returned or if they hold them until they get into a regular room. Gordon's smile is back, it was gone there for awhile."

You can send those cards or flowers (or whatever) to:
GORDON ENSING
C/O SPECTRUM HEALTH - BUTTERWORTH CAMPUS
100 MICHIGAN ST NE
GRAND RAPIDS MI 49503

This looks to be a better day. I will let you all know if I hear anything new. On my behalf, thanks to the folks at MTM and at Cornerworkers.net for helping keep the information accessible and to all of you who have expressed your care and concern for this wonderful man.

Regards,
Verne

OK, TRY THIS ONE...

Does ANYONE out there with some F&C experience speak fluent Korean? Or perhaps you know of someone who does? Please have them e mail me at swintal@cox.net or jhs@champcar.ws

Over and out.

JHS

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS FOR GORDY

Hello everyone:

As a number of you already have heard, longtime CART Chief Observer and Indy Lights Starter, Gordon Ensing has been hospitalized and is intensive care, suffering from a rare condition called Relapsing Polychondritis.

Early this year Gordy came down with what he thought was going to be a just a nagging chronic condition, but it is a rare illness that can take several forms, usually affecting any tissues in the body which are cartilage or cartilige-like in nature. His condition began to worsen as he worked two weekends ago as the Starter for the USGP in Indianapolis, where due to the nature of the event, Gordy got to display the checkered flag for the first time. This round has compromised his pulmonary function severely. He was taken to the hospital last Thursday and had deteriorated until he was put on a ventilator over the weekend. He remained mostly unconscious through the weekend, but started to show some recovery progress Monday.

There is no definitive prognosis as of yet but, once his lungs are clear, the doctors can determine a course of treatment and provide one. Anyone interested in reading an overview of the disease can go to: http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/6412/RelapsingPoly.htm for general information.

The thoughts and prayers sent thus far must be working, as there is better news as of Tuesday evening. Although clearly not out of the woods, doctors removed the respirator and chest tube on Tuesday and Gordy continues to breathe on his own. He was also able to sit up in a chair and talk. This is all very good news. He is still quite weak and needs lots of rest. He is still in ICU as well, so no cards or flowers can get to him. They were hoping to remove the rest of the tubes today so he could move around a bit.

I have been receiving my prime updates from Verne Wandell of the Michigan Turn Marshals, and he is collecting any emails that he will forward on to Gordy, his wife Connie and his dad "Spud" whenever appropriate. You can send your thoughts to verne@valleyedit.com Connie has asked that she not get calls at this time, so please confine your inquiries to Verne's email.

Verne further writes: "For those of you who responded directly to me, I have saved all of your emails and will forward them to the family when they have the time and ability to read them. For now I am just collecting them. Please do not hesitate to write as it is no inconvenience and I am sure Gordy will appreciate reading them when he is able. On behalf of Spud and Connie I would like to thank you all for your concern and thoughts. As Gordy continues to improve I will update you regularly. He has a long battle ahead but with the strength your love provides I am sure he will prevail. "

I would encourage anyone who has been touched by this wonderful and caring man who has done so much for the cause of volunteers and Flaggers in this country to keep him and his family in your thoughts, and to drop him a line when you can.

JHS

NO TIME FOR UPDATES

Hey everyone:

Yes I know I'm falling behing as usual, but my drawing board and travel schedule is calling. I should be able to post some thoughts on Milwaukee, Portland and Cleveland when I return next week. Stay on the CCWS website for the latest features!

If anybody is still on the fence for Cleveland, we are really short of Marshals this year, going up against the mighty June Sprints and a Lake Erie event at Mid-Ohio! Contact Dale Strimple RubberChicken74@msn.com We'd LOVE your help!!

Thanks!!

JHS

GORDON KIRBY'S THOUGHTS

Hi Gang!

Milwaukee over, Portland next, thankfully in my own time zone. I'm up to my neck in work, trying to get a piece done for the 20th Running of the Molson Indy Toronto.

In the mean time, PLEASE have a look at this Gordon Kirby article from Champ Car's website. In Gordon's always excellent and often poigniant way, he sums up why in his opinon there will never be a unification during someone's lifetime...

http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=9091

Later,

JHS

¡MUCHO MONTERREY!

Como nuestro héroe Bart Simpson usualmente exclama “Ay Caramba!” Amen! Nueve Banderas amarillas, el Pace Car lidero mas vueltas que cualquier piloto, y ese resulto ser Nelson Philippe!! Nada paso mas allá de lo ordinario, pero solo el puro VOLUMEN de lo que todos tuvimos que hacer para pasar por esta carrera, hizo que escribiera en mi libreta de apuntes al finalizar “HIJA DE LA …….” Amen. Ustedes pueden preguntarle a Fritz, esto es verdad!

As our hero Bart Simpson often exclaims, “Ay Carumba!” Amen! Nine full course yellows, the pace car led more laps than any other single driver, and that happened to be Nelson Philippe!! Nothing was too far out of the ordinary, but just the sheer VOLUME of what we all had to do to get through this one made me write in big bold letters in my note book at the end of the race: “SONOFABITCH.” Amen. You can ask Fritz, it’s true!

De vez en cuando tenemos una de estas, pero usualmente suceden en los canijos circuitos callejeros. Me imagino que esto también debería de pasar. Espero que haya sido un buen show de TV, aunque todavía no he tenido tiempo de ver mi video de la carrera.

Every once in a while we have one of these, but they usually happen on mean-ass street courses. I guess this too shall pass. Hope it made a good TV show, but I haven’t paused yet to look at my copy…

Mis mas profundos pensamientos van nuevamente a otro esfuerzo maravilloso de OPM, nuestro grupo de oficiales Mexicanos, que todavía es el único grupo de oficiales que cubre DOS de nuestras carreras al año. Ellos siempre nos dan un gran apoyo y esta vez respondieron bien a pesar de todos los retos y las temperaturas de mas de 40° C. Los dramas del viernes regresaron otra vez, pero esta vez no fue la “Land Line”.

My utmost thanks goes out again to another sterling effort by OPM, our Mexico City marshaling group, which still is the only Marshaling organization that does TWO of our races. They put up with a lot and responded well despite all the challenges and 100+ degree weather. The Friday dramas were back again, but this time not the land line.

Como algunos de ustedes saben, el área de Monterrey tiene MUY POCOS oficiales de pista, así es que se contratan varios autobuses para traer como a noventa valientes y adoradas almas, desde las alturas de la Ciudad de México y Puebla. Los primeros autobuses llegaron el Jueves por la tarde y no hubo ningún problema., pero el ultimo autobús que trae a los que no pueden salir de sus trabajos, sino hasta el Jueves por la noche, se retraso 5 horas en su salida y arribo a mediodía del Viernes! Eso nos dejo un “esqueleto” de oficiales como del 60% para cubrir toda la pista. Champ Car quiere agradecer profundamente a todos aquellos que mantuvieron las piezas unidas del rompecabezas hasta que los refuerzos llegaron. Muchas, Muchas gracias, mis Buenos Amigos.

As some of you know, there are VERY FEW Marshals in the Monterrey area, so two buses are hired to bring over ninety brave and loving souls “down” from the high altitudes of Mexico City. The first bus that arrived on Thursday afternoon was no problem, but the second bus that carries up those who cannot leave work until Thursday evening was about 5 hours late and arrived around noon on Friday!
That left us with a “skeleton” crew of about 60%, and Champ car would deeply like to thank all of those who kept all the pieces glued together until reinforcements could arrive! ¡Muchas, Muchas gracias, mis Buenos amigos!

HABEMUS PINES DE PARTICIPANTES

Otra de los detalles mas importantes del fin de semana, fue la primera visita del Reverendo Phil DeRea, que asistió a la junta de oficiales del Domingo por la Mañana para impartir su Bendición, naturalmente en Español y para la Bendición Tradicional de los Pines de participantes de Champ Car. Para los que no lo saben, el Padre Phil creció en Nazareth, Pensilvania junto a Mario Andretti y por muchos años fue el Capellán Católico Romano de los ministerios de la Champ Car. En el 2004 acepto un puesto en EL VATICANO como el pastor de la parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Sagrado Corazón, que es el lugar donde van todos los que trabajan en el Vaticano. El dice que adora Roma y que se la esta pasando muy bien, pero para los que lo recuerden entenderán, que a los sacerdotes Italianos les debe de estar hablando con su estilo rápido de decir las cosas tirando sin desenfundar. Esto me recuerda, para todo el que tenga curiosidad de saber como estuvo la votación, para que el Cardenal Ratzinger fuera elegido Papa tan rápidamente, que solo me lo tienen que preguntar algún día.

HABEMUS PARTICIPANT PINS

Another one of the highlights of the marshaling weekend was a first-time visit by Rev. Phil DeRea to the Sunday AM briefing to give the invocation, in Spanish naturally, and for the traditional Blessing of the participant pins. For those who do not know, Father Phil grew up in Nazareth PA along with Mario Andretti, and for many years he was the Roman Catholic Chaplain of Champ Car Ministries. In 2004 he accepted a posting at THE VATICAN as the pastor of Nostra Donna del Sacro Cuore, the “official” parish of all those who are employed by the Vatican. He says he loves Rome and he’s having a great time, but those of you who remember him will understand that he is giving all the Italian priests fits with his "shoot-from-the-hip" style. That reminds me – anyone who is curious as to how the voting went down, and why Cardinal Ratzinger was elected Pope so quickly, just ask me some time, I got some inside info...

¡Viva Champ Car y Viva Mexico!

También conocido en el bajo mundo del automovilismo como:

Jaime Enrique Santos

JHS

GLENN MILLER

A LOSS TO OUR FAMILY...

I'm sure that many of you have now heard that Lake Erie Communications Marshal Glenn Miller was killed in an accident at Nelson Ledges earlier this month. This tragedy hit home particularly close to our race control staff, as his daughter Candi had been our RC "Recorder" the past two seasons at Mid-Ohio and Cleveland.

This loss was heavy on our minds down in Monterrey, and our thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to his wife Carol, and his daughters Mindy and Candi, his son Doug and all his family and friends throughout Lake Erie Communications.

Those who volunteer for the love of our sport give a lot, but when a sacrifice like this comes along, it leaves a lump in your throat and a scar on your heart that only time and a lot of God -given strength can ease. Thank you Glenn, for all your time and talent given to our series, and to your family for all the support they have also shown.

God bless you and keep you Glenn, and all your family and friends.

LBGP NEWS AND MANDATORY READING

Hello Everyone:

Back from Monterrey. While I collect my thoughts on that slam-banger, let me assign some reading in the meantime. Champ Car WILL be back at Long Beach in 2006, having basically purchased the event from Dover entertainment:

http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=9029

And please, whether you are a technically oriented gearhead or not, look at what the engineers are saying about our plans for a new chassis in 2007. Great stuff!

http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=9022

Toodles,

Señor JHS

IN BETWEEN...

Hi everyone:

Two items got sent over here and have already gathered dust, so I will share them with you to tide you over until we are back from Monterrey. Maurice Pijpers, who resides in the City of Eindhoven in the Netherlands has done a few of our events here over the years and also helped us out with some local English skills when we raced at the Lausitzring in 2003. He has some very nice photos from his trip to LB posted here:

http://orangemen.demon.nl/

Included are a lot of Drifting shots that you are all gonna learn to love (or else) as they will be featured at many of our events this year and are a key attraction to the younger demographic market (good deal!) Enjoy them , Nice work Maurice!

For those of you who use and enjoy Bob Griffith's work on the "verbal" Spotter's Guide for each race, you can access an updated version before each race at his website:
(pssst! Hey Bob! Monterrey - 52 - PKV - Jorge Goeters - all white car...you heard it here first!)

http://home.columbus.rr.com/ragriffithsr/index.html

Talks continue here and there between Champ Car and the IRL for a common chassis formula for 2007, but don't hold your breath for right now, and no word just yet on Long Beach in 2006. Enjoy the race from your easy chairs and please say a little prayer en español for your Hermanos en blanco before the race... We'll do our best!

JHS

CCWS FLAG CHIEFS FOR 2005

FEEL LIKE HITTIN’ THE ROAD?

Below is a revised list of Flag Chiefs/Contacts for all of you who are considering traveling to one of our road or street races. Ovals are severely limited on Observers and are essentially full right now for the upcoming season. If you absolutely, gotta, hafta work an oval this season, drop me a note at Swintal@cox.net and I’ll see what can be done, no promises!

See you at the track!

JHS

CHAMP CAR FLAG CHIEFS - 2OO5

Long Beach: Ceci Smith
race.flaggers@Verizon.net

Monterrey: Fritz Herrmann
fritzipaldi@yahoo.com
Héctor Gómez
hgomez@dutymexico.com

Portland: Ken Killam
orsccaf-c@comcast.net

Cleveland: Dale Strimple
rubberchicken74@msn.com

Toronto: Peter Corley
gavia.paradox@sympatico.ca

Edmonton: Rudy van Woerkom
Rudy@vanwoerkom.net

San Jose: Mike Neff
proraly@inetmail.att.net

Denver: Stan McLaughlin
stan@ucar.edu
(I like him already - "laugh" is in the middle of his name!)

Montreal: Claude-Olivier Malepart
com@asrq.com

Korea: Still no clue... oh boy.

Gold Coast: Margo Jones
jjmsm01@hotmail.com

Mexico City: Fritz Herrmann
fritzipaldi@yahoo.com
Héctor Gómez
hgomez@dutymexico.com

GETTING A LEG(GE) UP AT LONG BEACH

Katherine Legge & the Queen
©2005 Phil Sedgwick LAT

The 2005 Season is underway, and I’d like to give a hearty “thank you” to all who came out to LB to send us on our way. Because we actually knew we had a season ahead of time this year, there was a great turnout. Special thanks from all of us in the Champ Car family for those who came from Canada, Texas, Florida, the Midwest and even England and the Netherlands, who combined with Ceci Smith’s dependable crew of Southern California flaggers to put on another fine show. We all participated in an historic day on Sunday as Katherine Legge became the first female winner of a Champ Car sanctioned race in her first go, toughing her way to the top in a rough-and-tumble Atlantic Race.

I did my best to put together a spotter’s guide from what I knew and from what the cars looked like at Sebring testing, but totally abandoned it after looking at the cars on Thursday. Too many changes. Thanks to Bob Griffith for again completing his “verbal” spotter’s guide at the 11th hour. Kudos also to all our comms who suffered through the 60 cycle hum from hell on the land line and the non-working backup radios as we got things going on Friday morning. Palmer Audio found a simple little loose connection about an hour into the day and it sounded sweet the rest of the weekend.

I wasn’t as sweet however!! I was rough and rusty around the edges. Kinda thought I would be. I knew Friday would be tough, and we had a lot to respond to on track. When multiple calls come in that fast (which was good,) it took me some time to keep up with it all (which is bad.) Harumph. But with one busy day under my belt, Saturday was easier, which leads to our supreme compliment of the weekend.

Tony Cotman, our new Race Director for CCWS, listened in a bit to the land line on Saturday and spent the rest of his time in RC within easy earshot. It was his first weekend in RC as an official, after putting in 15 seasons as a competitor and a team manager in both CART and the IRL. “Jim,” he said, “I had no idea that you get that much quantity, quality and accuracy from your people out on the corners. The information we get from them is astounding.” So there… as I mentioned before the event, Tony is very impressionable at this point as he comes to terms with his new role, and we made a damn good impression our first time out.

The idea that recently got let outta the bag by Robin Miller, about Champ Car and the IRL sharing a common chassis, was a vision that Tony Cotman shared with us at the RC meetings in March. You can read mor e about it at www.champcarworldseries.com We’ll see where it goes. My take is that the press has it right that CHAMP CAR is the side that’s really trying to make this happen, and teams and fans on both sides of the split can see that…

T’sabout all I’ve got to say right now. The Long Beach crowd really know how to put on a street race. We should know in 60 day if we will be back next year as our contract to run there has expired. Rest assured that if we don’t, that there is a plan B. Monterrey is next, I think on Speed TV. I will listen to the land line en Espanol, and talk to the room in English. With the help of Fritz Herrmann and his merry band of Hermanos, it's always a pleasure.

See the rest of you at the race track!!

JHS

LONG BEACH BUZZ

Remember that this is the first year in quite a while that NBC will broadcast our Long Beach race. As part of our pre race promotion, look for PAUL NEWMAN and SEBASTIEN BOURDAIS to helicopter up to the NBC studios in Burbank on Friday night for an appearance on NBC's TONIGHT SHOW with Jay Leno. Plans are to feature the two-seater with Leno as the passenger, and apparently it will be the first meeting between PLN and Jay. Ahhh, Hollywood...

I have also received a number of emails regarding the status of our two support events at the LBGP.

The TRANS-AM Series expects 24 0r 25 cars at Long Beach. The Race Director for the series will be Beaux Barfield and will operate with the same Race Control team that run Champ Car. The pit lane and series race staff have no major changes from 2004.

The TOYOTA ATLANTIC Series expects 15-20 cars at Long Beach. Race Director KC van Niman will operate with the same pit lane and series officials as he did last year.

Looking forward to another great Long Beach Grand Prix. Away we go for 2005!

JHS

LINEUPS! GET YER NEWLY REVISED LINEUPS!

Hey Everyone:

With a little over a week to go, most teams have completed their “unofficial” Spring Training at Sebring, our Race Control personnel lineup is set, and marshal assignments are already made to staff the Long Beach Grand Prix. Spring’s in the air and I smell race cars.

IN RACE CONTROL...

TONY COTMAN will be our Race Director. He brings many years of race-winning experience in two series to race control, and will now jump into the job of looking after 18+ cars during a race rather than just one! Tony has shown us very quickly that he will be a positive, forward-thinking and hands-on VP of Operations, and sensed that there was no better way to be immersed in the operation of Race Control than to run it himself. After meetings with Tony and all of our Race Control staff in Indianapolis, I and the team are very happy about his approach, and he will continue with the framework that Chris Kneifel created over the last two seasons.



MR. HAPPY HIMSELF, TONY COTMAN


BEAUX BARFIELD returns as Steward, and has spent the winter – as usual – committing our 2005 leaned-down rulebook to memory. He will be joined by a returning GARY BARNARD, who will assist Tony and Beaux with rules interpretations and will look after our Intellex replay machine.

Playing in front of this officiating “backfield” will be the “front five” or the operational core of Race Control. PAUL LEYTON returns for his third season as Operations Communicator, and is our link to pit lane officials and race teams. JOANNE JENSEN is back for another season as Safety Communicator, and will dispatch and relay info from our Safety Team. TARA SILLERT begins her second full year as Data Analyst, our direct liaison with Timing and Scoring who gathers and informs us of data collected from the various electronic time-lines around the course. A new addition will be Champ Car Manager of Technology STEVE SEWELL, who will be our Pace Car Dispatcher. Steve has plenty of RC experience going back to the days when he operated Race Control for the Barber Dodge Pro Series, and he was our Ops Comm in Australia last year when Paul couldn’t make the trip. I will be stepping up to my third season in your collective ears as Clerk of the Course.

As mentioned in an earlier post, CHRIS KNEIFEL has assumed the duties of Circuit Construction consultant, which is an outgrowth of a function he spent lots of time on last year. He has a seat on the FIA Circuit Safety Committee whenever they meet in Paris. He was involved in all of our planning over the winter, and will continue to be a welcome and valuable reference source for Tony and the rest of us. JD WILBUR continues as our Starter, and KC VAN NIMAN, known to many of you, will be the Race Director for the Toyota Atlantic Series, operating with our same Race Control Team.

Also added since my last post is a new Director of Technology, SCOT ELKINS, who comes over from NASCAR's Robert Yates Racing where he was Chief Engineer. Haven’t met him yet, but Tony assures us he’s the man for the job! You can read more at http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=8755

...AND ON THE TRACK

We are just about there with having all 18 cars announced for Long Beach. (Confirmed drivers are in BLUE)

COYNE
#11 Oriol Servia
#19 TBA??

FORSYTHE
#3 Paul Tracy
#7 Mario Dominguez

HVM
#4 Bjorn Wirdheim
#55 Ronnie Bremer

MI-JACK/CONQUEST
#27 Andrew Ranger
#34 Nelson Philippe

NEWMAN/HAAS
#1 Sebastien Bourdais
#6 Bruno Junquiera

PKV
#12 Jimmy Vasser
#21 Cristiano da Matta

ROCKETSPORTS
#8 Timo Glock
#31 Ryan Hunter-Reay

WALKER/TEAM AUSTRALIA
#5 Marcus Marshall
#15 Alex Tagliani

RuSPORT
#9 Justin Wilson
#10 AJ Allmendinger

JENSEN
#? TBA

So I think that’s about all I have to say for the winter of 04 – 05. The rest of the car/driver combos will flesh out soon, maybe even something that isn’t on this page yet. Keep watching http://www.champcarworldseries.com/ for updates. Those of you who can’t make it to Long Beach, please watch our event, LIVE on NBC, the first one for many a year. Rick Benjamin, Derek Daly, Jon Beekhuis and Calvin Fish will be our on-air talent, with help during the season by Ralph Shaheen and Chris McClure.

Looking forward to seeing you all again soon!!

JHS

SEBRING TESTING

For many of you who are curious as to who may fill those unannounced spots in our starting field at Long Beach, please have a look at this recent story on the Champ Car web site:
http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=8770

Since my last entry, Walker Racing announced Alex Tagliani and Aussie Marcus Marshall, Andrew Ranger will drive the second Mi-Jack/Conquest car, and Eric Jensen will be moving his Atlantic team up to do a full season of CCWS, with the driver TBA for now. Have a look at the driver/car combos that are busy this week in Sebring... pretty interesting!!

JHS

ps - Anyone know Chinese? http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=8771

DON'T MISS THIS ONE!

As I'm sure most of you already do, please be sure to have a look at Robin Miller's latest take on the car-driver lineups that are falling into place for this season.

http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=8746

I spent last weekend in Indianapolis working with Tony Cotman and the rest of our Race Control staff finalizing our Race Control lineup for the 2005 season, and reviewing rules changes and procedures. The rule book is about half the size it was last year. Everything is ready to go, and I will be able to fill you in a little more after a few official announcements are made by Champ Car.

As for Robin's info, it's very accurate, although I must say I now know a little more about some of the subjects of which he speaks than he does, and a little less about some others. When he says that "who will be driving what car" won't be known until the very last moment is quite true. Remember last year that Dale Coyne announced his driver lineup one half hour before the first practice session of the year!

There is a lot of internet buzz going on about the Tagliani/Rocketsports ride. This one will be handled, trust me. We will have at least 18 cars at Long Beach, if not more. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT panic!! Long Beach marshals, you'll have to get along without a spotter's guide this year. There will not be time to make one!

Keep Watching!

JHS

BIG DO-IN'S IN THE PACIFIC RIM...

Hi everyone:

The following is a pretty tasty story from Robin Miller regarding Kevin Kalkhoven's recent recon to the far east. Have a look.

While we wonder which drivers and teams will fill out the 2005 roster, one of Open Wheel Racing Series’ principals spent the past few days on the other side of the world working on Champ Car’s future.

In eight days Kevin Kalkhoven visited Korea, China and Japan and returned positive that Champ Car can be a hit in all three countries within the next couple years.

“We had solid expectations going over there and they were more than fulfilled,” said Kalkhoven following the whirlwind trip in his trusty Gulfstream 5.

“It was very, very encouraging.”

The Far East Tour began in Korea, where Champ Car’s next-to-last race of ’05 will be staged in Seoul in October.

“They had the ground breaking for the road course we’ll be running on and there were 1,000 officials in attendance,” said Kalkhoven. “It was just unbelievable and they are so enthusiastic. We’ve got the support of the city and national government.

“They have no big national events until 2012 and we’re going to be their next big sporting event.” From there, Air Kalkhoven flew to the capitol of China.

“I was blown away by Beijing,” he admitted. “It’s a gorgeous city with huge, modern buildings, wonderful landscaping and big traffic jams. It makes downtown Dallas look puny.

“We were greeted by the Beijing State Asset Management Company and they were very enthusiastic. Shanghai has a track for Formula One and Beijing wants a race of its own. They like Americans and they like the idea of marketing their products in the USA through us.

“I left confident we’ll have a race there in 2006.”

The final stop was Hokkaido – the northern island of Japan.

“They would very much like a race too,” said Kalkhoven, whose presentations to each country were shown on DVDs narrated by Paul Newman in Korean, Chinese and Japanese.

Asked if having a driver of each nationality was in the works, Kalkhoven replied: “Yes. For example, I think we’d like to provide training for Korean drivers through Formula Atlantics into Champ Car with Korean sponsors.

“Our eventual goal would be to have a Team China, a Team Koren and a Team Japan competing in Champ Car.”

Kalkhoven, who is putting a Champ Car office in the Far East, has said for the past two years that the Pacific Rim is a key to putting Champ Car back on the map, so to speak.

“We’re going to places that want to see us and that will pay some big sanction fees,” he said. “And I see the development of national teams to give these country’s spectators something to cheer about.”

But the first order of business is showing his potential partners what Champ Car looks like up close.

“We’re bringing 60 officials from Korea, China and Japan to Long Beach next month,” said Kalkhoven. “We want them to see what we’re all about.”

In another development we've been waiting for, Ryan-Hunter Reay signed with Rocketsports today, and Newman/Haas is rumoured to announce a new sponsor soon. LB is only a month away!

JHS