Robin Miller's Open Wheel Notebook
Written by: Robin Miller Indianapolis, Ind. – 11/15/2006
Following last Sunday’s Champ Car season finale
at Mexico City, there were more pressing questions than cars
on the lead lap.
1) What will become of RuSPORT Racing?
With Carl Russo wanting out to supposedly take his company public,
RuSPORT’s future was the talk of the weekend. President
Jeremy Dale assured us this Denver-based team would answer the
bell in ’07 but wasn’t sure in what form. We heard
PKV partners Dan Pettit and Kevin Kalkhoven as potential buyers
but that’s not going to happen.
The latest rumor making the rounds was that Thierry Phillipe
(father of Champ Car driver Nelson and Atlantic driver Richard)
had entered into a partnership with Dale, who responded “That’s
news to me.” But Dale did say things were progressing.
“It’s looking good that we’re going to find
the help we need to keep going and move forward,” he said
late Wednesday. “A lot of people want to help us and there’s
still a lot of things to button up but I feel positive we can
keep the essense of this team together.”
2) Where will Justin Wilson land?
As of last Sunday night, everyone had the talented Brit signed,
sealed and delivered to Forsythe Racing as Paul Tracy’s
new teammate. Not so fast.
“We’ve been back and forth with Justin’s people
with offers and counter-proposals for the past six weeks but
it doesn’t look like we’re going to get together,” said
Gerald Forsythe, whose team won five races with A.J. Allmendinger
this year before the only American in Champ Car decided to pursue
NASCAR.
Dale says besides keeping the doors open, his top priority is
keeping Mr. Wilson.
“Justin and I had a good chat over the weekend. He likes
it here and we have a mutual respect and desire to keep things
moving forward. CDW loves Justin and we’ve got a commitment
from them so obviously we want to keep this relationship.
“He’s a helluva talent and a helluva guy.”
3) Is there suddenly a bidding war for Ryan Briscoe?
The quick 24-year-old Aussie impressed RuSPORT during his two-race
stint to replace Cristiano da Matta and Team Australia is very
much interested in the ex-Formula 1 tester. And Newman/Haas may
also be in the mix as well as Paul Stoddart’s new team.
“I don’t have anything signed and everything is unsure
at the moment,” said Briscoe, who ran an IRL car for Chip
Ganassi in 2005. “I had a good time running for RuSPORT and
our objective was to see where it might lead for the future.
“I loved driving the Champ Cars and I love road racing, so
hopefully I can find a drive. If not here, then maybe Indy cars
since they’re running more road courses. Racing at the top
level is what I want to do.”
Derrick Walker said over the weekend that he’d “love” to
have Briscoe team with Will Power at Team Australia.
“Obviously, our goal when Craig Gore and I formed this team
was to have a pair of Australian drivers and Ryan certainly demonstrated
his skills,” said Walker. “Would he be a perfect fit?
Absolutely. Will we have discussions with him? Absolutely. Right
now I’d say it’s 50/50 we can get him.”
To which Dale adds: “We’d love to keep Ryan, he drove
the wheels off our car and he’s an enjoyable kid to have
around on top of that. Is there a committment either way? No, but
we’re committed to talking to him.”
4) What will become of veterans Alex Tagliani, Bruno Junqueira
and Oriol Servia?
Tag appears to be sitting pretty, compared to the other two.
It looks like he could rejoin RocketSports, where he won his
lone Champ Car race in 2004, or possibly move over to Dale Coyne,
who may have a nice sponsor already locked up for 2007.
“I want to stay in Champ Car and I think I’ve got
another four or five more years before sports cars,” said
the 34-year-old Montreal native. “If you go to sports cars
too soon, they forget about you in open wheel.”
A three-time runner-up in Champ Car and an 8-time winner, Junky
came back from his serious injuries from the ’05 Indy 500
this year but only managed three podiums.
“I usually have a contract by now and I’m hopeful
that Newman/Haas can find a sponsor for my No. 2 car,” said
the 30-year-old Brazilian. “If not, I want to stay in Champ
Car because I think I can still win the championship.”
The steady Servia has been with seven different teams during
his 7-year career in Champ Car and has no guarantees for 2007.
“Bruno and I have been loyal to this series and I think
we’re assets but we’ll see because money will talk,” said
the 32-year-old Spainard. “If owners don’t have sponsorship,
then they’ll go with paying drivers even though having
a veteran with the new cars next year would seem to put us in
a good spot.”
5) Does Buddy Rice have a chance with Forsythe?
The 2004 Indianapolis 500 winner and 2000 Atlantic champion
didn’t have the weekend everyone expected after his
test and was out-qualified by teammate David Martinez, who
finished one spot ahead of him in the race (ninth and 10th).
But the first day of practice and qualifying was a disaster
(the Forsythe team took full blame) and that put Rice behind
all weekend. He did have the fourth fastest lap in the race
and knows how to set up a car as well as win races.
“I’m going to be testing some drivers in the
next six weeks and Buddy will be one of them,” said
Forsythe, who plans to field only two cars in 2007. “I
thought David and Buddy both did a nice job in a tough situation
and we’re going to do some more testing with them.”
Nelson Phillipe, the most improved driver who scored a win
at Australia, is also thought to be in line for the Forsythe
test.
6) Where will Simon Pagenaud take his $2 million?
“I think I can say I’ll have a ride, I just don’t
know where,” said the 24-year-old who won the Atlantic
title and $2 million towards a Champ Car ride. “I’ve
literally been talking with everyone in the paddock.”
Team Australia, his Atlantic squad, would be the obvious
place although it’s possible he could end up with fellow
Frenchman Sebastien Bourdais at Newman/Haas along with fellow
rookie Graham Rahal.
7) Which team will run Katherine Legge?
The first female to ever lead a lap in Champ Car has a contract
with Kalkhoven for 2007 and a promise.
“Katherine will definitely be in Champ Car next year,” said
Kalkhoven, who signed her to a two-year deal and ran her
this season at his PKV stable. “I’m just not
exactly certain where.”