Dale Coyne To Field Two Cars In 2004 Champ Car

[Flavinha]

Long-Time Champ Car Competitor To Announce Drivers Shortly

DALE COYNE RACING ON BOARD FOR TWO CARS IN 2004 BRIDGESTONE PRESENTS THE CHAMP CAR WORLD SERIES POWERED BY FORD SEASON
INDIANAPOLIS (March 19, 2004) – Long-time Champ Car competitor Dale Coyne Racing today announced plans to field two cars in the entire 2004 Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season.

“When I came on board at Champ Car, many people told me the loyalty and dedication that Mr. Coyne had for our sport,” said Champ Car president Dick Eidswick. “Dale Coyne Racing has been part of the Champ Car family for more than 20 years and has played a major role in recognizing and developing young talent through the years. We are pleased to have an owner the caliber of Dale Coyne continue our vision and growth for the future.”

The team will announce the drivers of its two-car effort in the near future. The Plainfield, Ill.-based operation is also busy preparing its Ford-powered Lola chassis for testing.

“We have had a long, successful relationship with Champ Car since our beginnings back in 1984,” said Coyne, a former Champ Car driver. “Now is the time that those of us who believe in the product must support the series. We plan to have our drivers finalized within five to 10 days, and will begin testing immediately thereafter.”

Last year, Dale Coyne Racing entered two cars in all 18 rounds of the Champ Car World Series, with drivers Gualter Salles, Geoff Boss, Joel Camathias, Alex Yoong, Roberto Gonzalez, and Alex Sperafico each making starts for the team. Salles earned the squad’s best result of the season with a sixth place run at Surfers Paradise.

Another great news!!!!

[Flatspot]

Coyne deserves a special award for tenacity.

[Dov]

Even though I rag on Dale Coyne Racing sometimes, I would like to thank him for his loyalty to the CCWS!!! Your the Man Dale!!!

[sgw2]

I think this is a non-announcement announcement.

Dale Coyne, at the request of OWRS, is simply saying he'll bring two cars with seat-for-rent signs to Long Beach. The three amigos will make sure some warm bodies occupy them, just as they have contacted some Infiniti Pro teams to hustle some crews for the rent-a-rides.

Four to go.

[sgw2]

er ... make that three (3) to go

[Amar7605]

Probably, sgw2. It might be no more than a glorified 'help wanted' sign to any driver who's interested.

[GTRMagic]

Can DCR field 6 cars comfortably?

[Duffacus]

We need more people like Dale Coyne! I'm glad he chose this decision

[indycool]

The good sign with an incomplete announcement like this is that OWRS opened its checkbook and is cutting deals to find some race cars for Long Beach. As far as drivers go, they'll go for whoever they can saddle up cheap or try to cut the deficit required to make the deal with Coyne. I hope this process doesn't reach the level of dangerous.

As sgw2 said, this is a "non-announcement announcement"

[Straightup]

Glad to hear it, but I'm having a tough time getting excited about Coyne Racing entering 2 cars. Maybe because its another of the announcements with a forthcoming announcement or maybe because in the past his teams have never been contenders(exception is with Alex Barron).

Here is what I read. I'm committed to the series, but I cannot tell you who my driver(s) will be at the first race let alone the season nor can I announce any sponsorship deal at this time.

It is a positive announcement comming out of OWRS and sounds good on the surface, but I'm to the point I want to know who's driving the car(s) and is the deal for the entire year. Then and only then will I consider this chicken hatched. I guess we need to wait another week or so to find out the details. Show me the money....

[racinthestreets]

I guess we need to wait another week or so to find out the details. Show me the money....

Exactly what Dale Coyne is asking from the drivers available

[Snrub]

Even the most overly optimistic Coyne supporter would have to conceed that he's getting money from the OWRS guys, especially when he's running TWO cars. There is no other way he could do it. This brings up a couple of questions:
1. Why would Forsythe spend money to field Coyne when he could spend money on his own team to run Pat?
2. If Fernandez had a mere fraction of what Coyne must be getting would he still be in the series? Not giving money to Fernandez ment taking a gamble so great it could end the series. I have trouble understanding this...

Odd stuff.

[indycool]

Valid points, Snrub.....I can't even think of "maybes" for answers, unless Coyne came cheaper.

[JohnSSC]

Snrub - good points. One would wonder what value Geoff Boss brings to the series (aside from sponsorship $$ for Coyne) that would make it more of a priority to keep him rather than Fernandez.

I wonder what the difference is between some of the teams who have gone to IRL and are criticized for following the money and guys like Coyne who really do nothing more than subsist off of someone else's sponsors and someone elses aspirations?

(editing like crazy today - can't type worth a darn this afternoon!)

[bella]

god DAMN it i though that was going to be something i needed to hear. poo!

i hope justin wilson isn't one of the drivers. he deserves better.

will everyone please (i'll only say it maybe 5 times more ) get over their high horses about people bringing money. it's the only way your series will survive.

[Marcel ten Caat]

Is Dale Coyne teaming up with Eddie Jordan?

2 yellow cars, 2 Irish drivers...what's next, Giorgio Pantano and Timo Glock? :P

[Flatspot]

Originally posted by bella
will everyone please (i'll only say it maybe 5 times more ) get over their high horses about people bringing money. it's the only way your series will survive.

Thank You bella!

[macdaddy]

Interesting post there, Stranger.
I didn't realize the Irish-thing until now.
My new favourite team, should that happen!
OWRS should work on a race through Boston!

[bella]

michael did carry 'ireland' in dirty great big letters on the side of his car when he tested - potential extension to stranger's point?

and how many "irish" americans will jump on that bandwagon if it happens? smart thinking by coyne if everything comes together.

[Tenoch]

Does anyone know why the coyne cars are always as long as I can remember yellow?

[GBoehm]

If both drivers are Irish I can imagine the beer comercials now... by the way my humor is in jest

[corkholio]

Originally posted by Tenoch
Does anyone know why the coyne cars are always as long as I can remember yellow?

So the corner workers wouldn't have to wave the flag the entire race.

[GBoehm]

that was a bit harsh corkholio but sorta true

[Flatspot]

That's not true...
They would have been blue with yellow stripes if it were.

[Snrub]

Given the current circumstances I'm glad Coyne exists to get the season going. We needed him last year too. I have to admit that towards the end of the season I was a bit frustrated with the fact that they did not have the slightest hint of success. The only exception being Yoong who showed he deserved to be in the series on merit. The lack of success begged the question why did they deserve to get their cars paid for when someone else could have taken that money and run much more successfully?

Everyone talked of how Coyne ran on fumes (money-wise) and did something special. Manning ran far more successfully with a Reynard and didn't break ANYTHING. Coyne drivers were chronic accident causers and ran through more parts than half of the field combined.