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
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
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
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
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
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
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
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
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
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
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
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
¡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!
Jaime Enrique Santos
JHS
Saturday, May 28, 2005
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.
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.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
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
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
Monday, May 16, 2005
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
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
Saturday, May 14, 2005
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
Thursday, April 21, 2005
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
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
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
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
Monday, April 04, 2005
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
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
Thursday, March 24, 2005
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
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
Monday, March 14, 2005
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
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
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
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
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
Monday, February 14, 2005
RULES CHANGES FOR 2005
Hi everyone:
Champ Car today announced the rules changes that have been done over the winter. Have a look!
"In an ongoing effort to provide the best racing and most entertainment for Champ Car fans, as well as the best competitive environment for the teams and drivers of the Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford, the series has implemented a number of rule changes that will go into effect for the 2005 season.
The rule changes address issues both on the track and in the paddock and are designed to allow teams to invoke a wide variety of strategies in their pursuit of the checkered flag. Other changes were designed to increase activity throughout the weekend in order to give the multitudes of Champ Car fans more on-track action to watch when they come to an event.
Pit intervals and mandatory pit stops have been abolished this season, meaning that teams no longer have any directives on when they must pit and what they must do during that stop. The previous rules forced teams to pit at specified intervals and forced teams to change four tires during that stop.
“The goal is to take it out of the hands of the officials and put the onus back on the teams,” said Champ Car Vice-President of Operations Tony Cotman. “There’s definitely more than one way to win a race, and we want to leave it up to our teams to find the best way for them to get to the front.”
Rules regarding full-course caution periods have been addressed, with the pits being automatically closed during full-course yellow flag conditions. The pace car will slow the field as soon as possible once the caution flag waves, allowing the Champ Car Safety Team to address the situation. When conditions warrant, Race Control will open the pits so that all cars may pit at their discretion.
“One main point here is, once we have a full-course caution, all racing ceases,” Cotman explained. “We want to give the Safety Team every opportunity to do their job safely.”
The Friday and Saturday morning practice sessions will be shortened by 15 minutes, a move that is expected to lead to more on-track activity as teams will spend more of their morning hour on the track working on their machines. The process of determining where they sit on Pit Lane has been changed as well, with pit selection order set by the previous event’s results instead of qualifying order as it had been in the past.
“Any team can have a good day at any given time and we want to reward them when they do have a good event,” said Cotman. “Anything can happen in a race whether it be good or bad, and we want a team to get something out of it for their efforts when they do well.”
The rules concerning a wet track have been abolished as well for 2005. Previously, teams would have an unlimited number of qualifying laps if Race Control called a wet track prior to the session. Now, teams will only have 15 laps to use (for each qualifying session) regardless of track conditions. "
JHS
Champ Car today announced the rules changes that have been done over the winter. Have a look!
"In an ongoing effort to provide the best racing and most entertainment for Champ Car fans, as well as the best competitive environment for the teams and drivers of the Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford, the series has implemented a number of rule changes that will go into effect for the 2005 season.
The rule changes address issues both on the track and in the paddock and are designed to allow teams to invoke a wide variety of strategies in their pursuit of the checkered flag. Other changes were designed to increase activity throughout the weekend in order to give the multitudes of Champ Car fans more on-track action to watch when they come to an event.
Pit intervals and mandatory pit stops have been abolished this season, meaning that teams no longer have any directives on when they must pit and what they must do during that stop. The previous rules forced teams to pit at specified intervals and forced teams to change four tires during that stop.
“The goal is to take it out of the hands of the officials and put the onus back on the teams,” said Champ Car Vice-President of Operations Tony Cotman. “There’s definitely more than one way to win a race, and we want to leave it up to our teams to find the best way for them to get to the front.”
Rules regarding full-course caution periods have been addressed, with the pits being automatically closed during full-course yellow flag conditions. The pace car will slow the field as soon as possible once the caution flag waves, allowing the Champ Car Safety Team to address the situation. When conditions warrant, Race Control will open the pits so that all cars may pit at their discretion.
“One main point here is, once we have a full-course caution, all racing ceases,” Cotman explained. “We want to give the Safety Team every opportunity to do their job safely.”
The Friday and Saturday morning practice sessions will be shortened by 15 minutes, a move that is expected to lead to more on-track activity as teams will spend more of their morning hour on the track working on their machines. The process of determining where they sit on Pit Lane has been changed as well, with pit selection order set by the previous event’s results instead of qualifying order as it had been in the past.
“Any team can have a good day at any given time and we want to reward them when they do have a good event,” said Cotman. “Anything can happen in a race whether it be good or bad, and we want a team to get something out of it for their efforts when they do well.”
The rules concerning a wet track have been abolished as well for 2005. Previously, teams would have an unlimited number of qualifying laps if Race Control called a wet track prior to the session. Now, teams will only have 15 laps to use (for each qualifying session) regardless of track conditions. "
JHS
Friday, February 11, 2005
TONY COTMAN SPEAKS
http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=8687
Tony Cotman, Champ Car's new VP of Operations, was recently interviewed on the CCWS website, and I'd like to make it mandatory reading for all of you, if you haven't already. Tony and I had a long chat last week, as he did with the other members of Race Control, past and present.
What he says about communications filters down directly to you, when it comes to either making or helping us make decisions out there. The more you are informed about where, when, how and why we make calls, the better and more integrated you all will be in the process! Please have a look at the URL above. I have a really good feeling about Tony and where he is coming from...
In related news, we have filled John Anderson's vacated Director of Operations post with another Kiwi, long time member of the Champ Car family Paul "Ziggy" Harcus. He will be in charge of Tech inspection and pit lane officiating. I have known Ziggy since he was a member of the Galles-Kraco team back in the early 90's and he also spent time at PacWest with their Champ and Lights teams, as well as Carl Russo's Atlantic Team. He was recently with Kelley Racing in the IRL until they closed up shop over the winter. Through it all, he has been nothing but a pleasure to work with, and I'm thrilled to have another outstanding, honest and fair-minded ex-competitior on our side of the wall!
See you at the track!
JHS
Tony Cotman, Champ Car's new VP of Operations, was recently interviewed on the CCWS website, and I'd like to make it mandatory reading for all of you, if you haven't already. Tony and I had a long chat last week, as he did with the other members of Race Control, past and present.
What he says about communications filters down directly to you, when it comes to either making or helping us make decisions out there. The more you are informed about where, when, how and why we make calls, the better and more integrated you all will be in the process! Please have a look at the URL above. I have a really good feeling about Tony and where he is coming from...
In related news, we have filled John Anderson's vacated Director of Operations post with another Kiwi, long time member of the Champ Car family Paul "Ziggy" Harcus. He will be in charge of Tech inspection and pit lane officiating. I have known Ziggy since he was a member of the Galles-Kraco team back in the early 90's and he also spent time at PacWest with their Champ and Lights teams, as well as Carl Russo's Atlantic Team. He was recently with Kelley Racing in the IRL until they closed up shop over the winter. Through it all, he has been nothing but a pleasure to work with, and I'm thrilled to have another outstanding, honest and fair-minded ex-competitior on our side of the wall!
See you at the track!
JHS
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
THE REST OF WHAT I KNOW ABOUT 2005…
...is now a bit more than the last blog I posted! Maybe worth waiting for?
RACE CONTROL
As we got into December, the Champ Car office experienced another RIF – a “reduction in force.” Race Director Chris Kneifel , Steward Derek Higgins, and Technical Director Lee Dykstra were let go. Chris had been on the hot seat for a while (as the Race Director/Chief Steward normally is) and so had Lee, but the definition of an “RIF” comes with no detail other than it is a cost-cutting measure. Just remember, all three were employees of the company, not “contractors,” and our series owners are still GENEROUSLY footing a major part of our racing bill these days. All departments within Champ Car were subject to the RIF and a half dozen or so others were affected.
I will always be indebted to Chris for looking out for me after I was moved from the start stand. Frankly, I’m enjoying this position much better than Starter. And I will miss Derek’s knack for anticipating driver complaints, issues and questions (being a fresh former driver - he actually competed against a few of the guys in our field in 2004.) He was instrumental during racing incidents, having learned quickly how to handle and analyze race control’s replay equipment. We will continue to see Chris at our road course events as he will be kept on as our circuit construction consultant, so most of you will see him in the very same places you did last year.
Right after the new year, VP of Operations, John Lopes left his position to return to the IRL as Vice President of Andretti Green Racing. Last week, Director of Operations and Steward John Anderson also moved to Andretti Green Racing, linking back up with his former teammates when they raced in CART as Team Kool Green. Yeah sure, I know what this looks like - the nay-sayers will quickly point out that these guys have lost confidence in us and our product and are “jumping ship.” But, knowing these two personally, I know that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Just trust me on it. I certainly can’t go into any details in a forum like this, and to do so would be to violate theirs and Champ Car’s privacy which I simply won’t do.
As further evidence, A former Andretti Green employee is now with us. Tony Cotman has been named VP of Operations and will handle a good portion of the duties that both of the above did. He had been team manager with Team Green and AGR for a long time and although I have never officially met him, I hear good things. Our Operations Communicator, Paul Leyton, speaking from his experiences in pit lane says: “I can be confident in saying that he always was one of the true gentlemen out there, even in a competitive moment. He understands the side of the competition that we take care of. He always showed a great deal of respect to all of the officials prior to and during events. I think he will bring a very interesting perspective to this job.”
So the dice tumble for the third straight winter. I should be talking to Tony Cotman soon about all of you and our plans for 2005. He doesn’t have a “reinvent the wheel” approach, and I anticipate Steward Beaux Barfield, Ops Com Paul Leyton, Safety Com Joanne Jensen, Data Analyst Tara Sillert, Starter JD Wilbur and myself will stay put and be ready to go, come Long Beach. Don’t know anything about a new race director yet…
TV PACKAGE
Also since I last posted, our 2005 TV Package has been finalized. Long Beach, Monterrey, and Montreal will be on NBC. Milwaukee, Portland, Cleveland and Toronto will be on CBS. The balance of the events will be back on Speed TV, where they were in 2003. The TV production company will be none other than our good friends to the north Molson Entertainment, and THEY know how to cover auto racing, although I will get my first joke out of the way now, and say that in deference to them, we are abandoning all our current starting procedures and all events next year will begin from a face-off! Also our international coverage is much improved from last season and our events will once again be live in Europe which means more European drivers (AND THEIR FUNDING!) will be interested in coming over to race with us!
SPEAKING OF DRIVERS…
Today, we got another one back!! As I assured some of you toward the end of last season, 2002 Champ Cristiano da Matta is returning to the fold from F1, and has signed with PKV Racing. This news has finally given me the itch to get back to racing again, and it’s welcome. The following is a round-up of what I know, what I’ve heard, and some of the internet rumours going around about who will be driving for who in 2005:
NEWMAN/HAAS is set with Bourdais and Junqueira. If funding can be secured, they might run another car.
PKV RACING is also in with two cars for Vasser and da Matta. Rumor has it that possibly Emerson Fittipaldi may run a third car out of the shop (as he did with Conquest in 2003) with a TBD driver.
RuSPORT is set with Allmendinger and Wilson. Jourdain has gone to the NASCAR Busch series – they will race in Mexico this year…
HERDEZ is now called HVM Racing. Dominguez will drive one car in ‘05, but could be working on a deal to head to F1 with a new team in ‘06. Look for a second car with possibly another Mexican driver.
ROCKETSPORTS: Tagliani is expected to be back with a second car TBD.
COYNE RACING has signed Gaston Mazzacane back and could field a second car again for Servia.
FORSYTHE is set with Tracy and Lavin returning. Carpentier has gone to the IRL. A host of other drivers are rumoured for the vacated third seat, including Hunter-Reay, Jarek Janis (who ran with Coyne in Australia) Mathias Lauda (yes, Niki’s son) and former F1 driver Jos Verstappen. Some people have even thought they might run 4 cars if funding can be found!
MI-JACK CONQUEST most likely will run a car for Nelson Phillipe and a possible 2nd car for a driver TBD. Names that have been linked in rumours are Dutchman Bas Leinders, Ricardo Sperafico (cousin of Alex who drove for the team last year) and Matt Halliday, a Kiwi that drove for the team in Indy Lights.
WALKER RACING has tested a number of drivers this winter. We could see a return of Haberfeld and those who have tested are Valiante (who drove in Mexico City – damned well,) Andrew Ranger and Bryan Sellers from Atlantic, and Nicky Pastorelli from F3000.
OTHER DRIVERS rumoured to be working on deals are Atlantic runner-up Ryan Dalziel, David Rutledge, Timo Glock, Richard Lyons, Tarso Marques, and F3000’s Bjorn Wirdheim. We WILL have at least 18 cars on the grid for LB, my guess with the TV package we now have we will see more than that… time will tell.
"SPRING TRAINING"
Ain't gonna happen this year, at least not as on on-track activity. From what I understand, it came pretty close to happening in Las Vegas, but no dice. There will be a press and fan-related activity in Indianapolis, similar to the one that happened last year in Long Beach with all drivers in attendance. Keep an eye on www.champcarworldseries.com
* * *
THE DA MATTA ANNOUNCEMENT is yet another big boost. We are experiencing Santa Ana winds this week in Southern California, the hot dry winds that blow out of the east from the desert. Just a reminder for me of another long, hot summer heating up for all of us. I will be again joining those in white this weekend at California Speedway for a Cal Club Regional/National. Hope I don’t screw up on Comm…
JHS
RACE CONTROL
As we got into December, the Champ Car office experienced another RIF – a “reduction in force.” Race Director Chris Kneifel , Steward Derek Higgins, and Technical Director Lee Dykstra were let go. Chris had been on the hot seat for a while (as the Race Director/Chief Steward normally is) and so had Lee, but the definition of an “RIF” comes with no detail other than it is a cost-cutting measure. Just remember, all three were employees of the company, not “contractors,” and our series owners are still GENEROUSLY footing a major part of our racing bill these days. All departments within Champ Car were subject to the RIF and a half dozen or so others were affected.
I will always be indebted to Chris for looking out for me after I was moved from the start stand. Frankly, I’m enjoying this position much better than Starter. And I will miss Derek’s knack for anticipating driver complaints, issues and questions (being a fresh former driver - he actually competed against a few of the guys in our field in 2004.) He was instrumental during racing incidents, having learned quickly how to handle and analyze race control’s replay equipment. We will continue to see Chris at our road course events as he will be kept on as our circuit construction consultant, so most of you will see him in the very same places you did last year.
Right after the new year, VP of Operations, John Lopes left his position to return to the IRL as Vice President of Andretti Green Racing. Last week, Director of Operations and Steward John Anderson also moved to Andretti Green Racing, linking back up with his former teammates when they raced in CART as Team Kool Green. Yeah sure, I know what this looks like - the nay-sayers will quickly point out that these guys have lost confidence in us and our product and are “jumping ship.” But, knowing these two personally, I know that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Just trust me on it. I certainly can’t go into any details in a forum like this, and to do so would be to violate theirs and Champ Car’s privacy which I simply won’t do.
As further evidence, A former Andretti Green employee is now with us. Tony Cotman has been named VP of Operations and will handle a good portion of the duties that both of the above did. He had been team manager with Team Green and AGR for a long time and although I have never officially met him, I hear good things. Our Operations Communicator, Paul Leyton, speaking from his experiences in pit lane says: “I can be confident in saying that he always was one of the true gentlemen out there, even in a competitive moment. He understands the side of the competition that we take care of. He always showed a great deal of respect to all of the officials prior to and during events. I think he will bring a very interesting perspective to this job.”
So the dice tumble for the third straight winter. I should be talking to Tony Cotman soon about all of you and our plans for 2005. He doesn’t have a “reinvent the wheel” approach, and I anticipate Steward Beaux Barfield, Ops Com Paul Leyton, Safety Com Joanne Jensen, Data Analyst Tara Sillert, Starter JD Wilbur and myself will stay put and be ready to go, come Long Beach. Don’t know anything about a new race director yet…
TV PACKAGE
Also since I last posted, our 2005 TV Package has been finalized. Long Beach, Monterrey, and Montreal will be on NBC. Milwaukee, Portland, Cleveland and Toronto will be on CBS. The balance of the events will be back on Speed TV, where they were in 2003. The TV production company will be none other than our good friends to the north Molson Entertainment, and THEY know how to cover auto racing, although I will get my first joke out of the way now, and say that in deference to them, we are abandoning all our current starting procedures and all events next year will begin from a face-off! Also our international coverage is much improved from last season and our events will once again be live in Europe which means more European drivers (AND THEIR FUNDING!) will be interested in coming over to race with us!
SPEAKING OF DRIVERS…
Today, we got another one back!! As I assured some of you toward the end of last season, 2002 Champ Cristiano da Matta is returning to the fold from F1, and has signed with PKV Racing. This news has finally given me the itch to get back to racing again, and it’s welcome. The following is a round-up of what I know, what I’ve heard, and some of the internet rumours going around about who will be driving for who in 2005:
NEWMAN/HAAS is set with Bourdais and Junqueira. If funding can be secured, they might run another car.
PKV RACING is also in with two cars for Vasser and da Matta. Rumor has it that possibly Emerson Fittipaldi may run a third car out of the shop (as he did with Conquest in 2003) with a TBD driver.
RuSPORT is set with Allmendinger and Wilson. Jourdain has gone to the NASCAR Busch series – they will race in Mexico this year…
HERDEZ is now called HVM Racing. Dominguez will drive one car in ‘05, but could be working on a deal to head to F1 with a new team in ‘06. Look for a second car with possibly another Mexican driver.
ROCKETSPORTS: Tagliani is expected to be back with a second car TBD.
COYNE RACING has signed Gaston Mazzacane back and could field a second car again for Servia.
FORSYTHE is set with Tracy and Lavin returning. Carpentier has gone to the IRL. A host of other drivers are rumoured for the vacated third seat, including Hunter-Reay, Jarek Janis (who ran with Coyne in Australia) Mathias Lauda (yes, Niki’s son) and former F1 driver Jos Verstappen. Some people have even thought they might run 4 cars if funding can be found!
MI-JACK CONQUEST most likely will run a car for Nelson Phillipe and a possible 2nd car for a driver TBD. Names that have been linked in rumours are Dutchman Bas Leinders, Ricardo Sperafico (cousin of Alex who drove for the team last year) and Matt Halliday, a Kiwi that drove for the team in Indy Lights.
WALKER RACING has tested a number of drivers this winter. We could see a return of Haberfeld and those who have tested are Valiante (who drove in Mexico City – damned well,) Andrew Ranger and Bryan Sellers from Atlantic, and Nicky Pastorelli from F3000.
OTHER DRIVERS rumoured to be working on deals are Atlantic runner-up Ryan Dalziel, David Rutledge, Timo Glock, Richard Lyons, Tarso Marques, and F3000’s Bjorn Wirdheim. We WILL have at least 18 cars on the grid for LB, my guess with the TV package we now have we will see more than that… time will tell.
"SPRING TRAINING"
Ain't gonna happen this year, at least not as on on-track activity. From what I understand, it came pretty close to happening in Las Vegas, but no dice. There will be a press and fan-related activity in Indianapolis, similar to the one that happened last year in Long Beach with all drivers in attendance. Keep an eye on www.champcarworldseries.com
* * *
THE DA MATTA ANNOUNCEMENT is yet another big boost. We are experiencing Santa Ana winds this week in Southern California, the hot dry winds that blow out of the east from the desert. Just a reminder for me of another long, hot summer heating up for all of us. I will be again joining those in white this weekend at California Speedway for a Cal Club Regional/National. Hope I don’t screw up on Comm…
JHS
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)