2004 OWRS Champ Car Line-Up ?!?!

[indycool]

After the "confirmed self-sustained teams," only Herdez' second car is even a lean toward confirmed. Walker is now rumored to be running an IRL car for Patrick. Coyne has said he's running Keohane off to the side, but no official announcement (i.e., money hasn't shown). With all the bluster, Fittipaldi doesn't HAVE a team yet. Bachelart is dead in the water after losing Phillippe to Gentilozzi. There ARE the three CART-owned Reynards that OWRS got in the asset purchase. who'll run 'em under what circumstances is anyone's guess.

[zerO]

Originally posted by indycool
After the "confirmed self-sustained teams," only Herdez' second car is even a lean toward confirmed. Walker is now rumored to be running an IRL car for Patrick. Coyne has said he's running Keohane off to the side, but no official announcement (i.e., money hasn't shown). With all the bluster, Fittipaldi doesn't HAVE a team yet. Bachelart is dead in the water after losing Phillippe to Gentilozzi. There ARE the three CART-owned Reynards that OWRS got in the asset purchase. who'll run 'em under what circumstances is anyone's guess.

Little refresher:

COYNE - at Sebring testing where Dale was just a spectator, he said that the Keohane team is almost in place and he's working on the second car team which now it seems will be either Ralph Firman or Jaime Melo...

WALKER - latest from their camp is that there definitely will be one car in CCWS for either Jonathan Macri or Michael Valiante... the Patrick thingy has stemmed from Walker's abandoned desire to run Robby McGehee in IRL; last year Walker was crewing two cars, this year he'll just do one - ergo: half his staff went to Patrick's Unser effort since Patrick's staff went to PKVR when Kalkhoven purchased Patick Racing assets...

EMMO - ...and from those assets Emmo got his Lolas - one car will definitely materialize: both Emmo and KK had said it on Brazilian TV two weeks ago... Mika Salo is expected to be the driver... still working on getting sponsorship for Gaston Mazzacane or Ricardo Sperafico for Emmo's planned second car...

BACHELART - will definitely materialize - whether Mario Haberfeld or Patrick Carpentier is yet to be seen... second car for Justin Wilson isn't a dead concept either...

and for desert: Gigante/Jourdain will stay in CCWS, but whether it will be with Raha is yet to be seen - latest rumor is that this will become a 3rd NHR entry or 3rd PKVR entry or 2nd RuSPORT when Rahal kisses CCWS "bye-bye" ?!

zerO

[indycool]

zerO, IF that stuff is done, where're the announcements?

Coyne's talked that way for a couple months, but no cash, no formal announcement. Remember Camathias....same scenario.

Walker -- Where's the money for that? The Patrick IRL deal for Al Unser Jr. is reported back "on."

Emmo -- If he has Lolas, he has 'em. If he has a free driver in Carpentier, he has one. If he has Salo, then he has to pay and Kalkhoven gave Salo a lowball offer that ran him off. Where's the rest of the budget come from?

Bachelart -- Will "definitely materialize" "Definitely" would mean the "how" is known. How?

[Ac.]

Here's an opinion on how the teams should have stacked up provide the best chance at a full grid. Regardless of rumours of poaching, it would have made sense for OWRS to have sponsorship dollars shore up some of second tier teams.

1. FORSYTHE - Paul Tracy
2. FORSYTHE - Patrick Carpentier
3. NEWMAN/HAAS - Sebastien Bourdais
4. NEWMAN/HAAS - Bruno Junqueira
5. HERDEZ - Mario Dominguez
6. HERDEZ - Ryan Hunter-Reay
7. KALKHOVEN - Jimmy Vasser
8. KALKHOVEN - Mika Salo
9. GENTILOZZI - Alex Tagliani
10. GENTILOZZI - Oriol Servia
11. RUSSO - AJ Allmendinger
12. WALKER - Rodolfo Lavin
13. WALKER - Michael Valiante
14. FITTIPALDI - Nelson Philippe
15. FITTIPALDI - Gaston Mazzacane
16. COYNE - Michael Keohane
17. BACHELART - Mario Haberfeld
18. BACHELART - Roberto Gonzalez
19. RAHAL - Michael Jourdain

Who knows how it will really line up. Zer0, what are you predicting now?

[Snrub]

Originally posted by indycool
only Herdez' second car is even a lean toward confirmed.

That's not a particularly unbiased statement.

Herdez team announced Friday that it has chosen its second driver

http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=7570

[indycool]

Sure, Snrub, I'll agree....they've said all along they were running two. My meaning was that Herdez was closer to running an additional car that has not been confirmed with driver than anyone else.

[Snrub]

Okay fair enough. I initially thought you ment Herdez wasn't definately running a second car. I think from most people's perspective is that we've got lots of good potential drivers, we've got lots equipment and people willing to do it. It's simply a matter of money. Herdez has the money so we're happy.

Sidenote: That was your thousandth post, congrats.

[indycool]

Thanx, Snrub.....you noticed before I did!

[rustyfan]

Something in an article over at Autosport caught my eye today;

A longtime and former IRL owner is also considering a Champ Car team, while Derrick Walker is still searching for a deal (besides helping Pat Patrick in the IRL with Al Unser Jr.).

Does anyone know anything about that former IRL owner supposedly coming in?

[BootsOntheSide]

Could be Hemelgarn? Their team is still in existance but hasn't been on track this year.

Getting to 18 cars will be a real struggle, no doubt about it. The real concern is that so few drivers have been retained from last season, and although lots of promising would-be rookies are in the fray (Vailante, Wilson, Allmendinger, Macri) it's unclear how many will actually happen, and what the series needs the msot is North American drivers.

[zerO]

Here's a line-up picture update.

Confirmed self-sustained teams:

1. FORSYTHE - Paul Tracy
2. FORSYTHE - Rodolfo Lavin
3. NEWMAN/HAAS - Sebastien Bourdais
4. NEWMAN/HAAS - Bruno Junqueira
5. HERDEZ - Mario Dominguez
6. KALKHOVEN - Jimmy Vasser
7. KALKHOVEN - Roberto Gonzalez
8. GENTILOZZI - Alex Tagliani
9. GENTILOZZI - Nelson Philippe
10. RUSSO - AJ Allmendinger

Non-confirmed self-sustained teams:

11. WALKER - Jonathan Macri or Michael Valiante ?
12. NEWMAN/HAAS - Michel Jourdain
13. HERDEZ - Ryan Hunter-Reay
14. COYNE - Michael Keohane or Justin Wilson ?
15. BACHELART - Mario Haberfeld

OWRS aided non-confirmed teams:

16. COYNE - Ralph Firman or Jaime Melo ?
17. FITTIPALDI - Mika Salo or Oriol Servia ?

OWRS aided possible teams:

18. FORSYTHE - Patrick Carpentier
19. BACHELART - Townsend Bell or Justin Wilson ?
20. FITTIPALDI - Gaston Mazzacane or Ricardo Sperafico ?
21. RUSSO - Michael Valiante


btw, see the updated picturesque version = http://www.planet.nl/~f1/cart2k4.htm - note: "confirmed" is in black ?!

zerO

[indycool]

zerO, still, from "non-confirmed self-sustained" teams on down, with the possible exception of Herdez' second car, they're all in various stages. A lot of this stuff is being leaked out to try to make it look better, and maybe some of it will happen in time for Long Beach, but they're just not done.

I have no doubt Long Beach will take place with at least 16 cars, but how they get there better start happening soon.

[Flatspot]

The field just increase 30% with RHR and 2 for Coyne. Things seem to be starting to happen.

[Fogelhund]

Solid deals - or at least announced
1. FORSYTHE - Paul Tracy
2. FORSYTHE - Rodolfo Lavin
3. NEWMAN/HAAS - Sebastien Bourdais
4. NEWMAN/HAAS - Bruno Junqueira
5. HERDEZ - Mario Dominguez
6. HERDEZ - Ryan Hunter-Reay
7. KALKHOVEN - Jimmy Vasser
8. KALKHOVEN - Roberto Gonzalez
9. GENTILOZZI - Alex Tagliani
10. GENTILOZZI - Nelson Philippe
11. RUSSO - AJ Allmendinger
12. COYNE - Ralph Firman??
13. COYNE - Michael Keohane??


Looking for money/finalization

14. BACHELART - Carpertier??
15. FITTIPALDI - Gaston Mazzacane

Has funding and sponsor, needs team
Jourdain - Gigante

[Amar7605]

Down to the wire, folks! But I am glad to see that things are getting set before Long Beach.

[sgw2]

Here is the way I see it now

Solid deals
1. FORSYTHE - Paul Tracy
2. FORSYTHE - Rodolfo Lavin (Corona)
3. NEWMAN/HAAS - Sebastien Bourdais (McDonald's -> team)
4. NEWMAN/HAAS - Bruno Junqueira (Pacific Care -> team)
5. HERDEZ - Mario Dominguez
6. HERDEZ - Ryan Hunter-Reay
7. KALKHOVEN - Jimmy Vasser (bought team onwership stake)
8. KALKHOVEN - Roberto Gonzalez (NII)
9. GENTILOZZI - Alex Tagliani (Johnson Controls -> team)
10. GENTILOZZI - Nelson Philippe (LeasePlan)
11. RUSSO - AJ Allmendinger

Field Filler
12. COYNE (ride-for-rent)
13. COYNE (ride-for-rent)

In Progress
14. TBD - Jourdain (Gigante)
must be a good ride; NHR said no 3rd, Gentilozzi said no;
that leaves PKVR or Forsythe using Fittipaldi as a front
15. BACHELART - TBD
serious fence mending required.

won't happen
- Carpentier
working to get his release from Forsythe. Contract stipulates a top ride, and that pretty much means Forsythe or NHR, neither of which will happen. Forsythe does not want to let him go to Rahal's IRL team. Ugly situation.

[indycool]

Think the announcement on Coyne is to throw it out there for drivers with money to bid on the deal. It certainly isn't for veteran talent with salaries attached.

[Flatspot]

Originally posted by indycool
Think the announcement on Coyne is to throw it out there for drivers with money to bid on the deal. It certainly isn't for veteran talent with salaries attached.

In the last several seasons has a ride with Coyne been anything else? Nobody really expected any different, did they?

As I've said before: We're glad to have him, Go Dale Go!

[indycool]

Point well-taken, Flatspot.....

[Shaggy_SoCal]

zerO,

Nice 2004 line up webpage. How about a graphical update now that we know what the PKVR cars look like?

I'm working on a CCWS carset for CART Racing. If I have extra time, I'll try and post more updates.

[zerO]

Originally posted by Shaggy_SoCal
zerO,

Nice 2004 line up webpage. How about a graphical update now that we know what the PKVR cars look like?

I'm working on a CCWS carset for CART Racing. If I have extra time, I'll try and post more updates.

Thanks a lot, buddy... will send this to "Stranger" who makes up the line-up page ?!

zerO

[zerO]

Line-up update:

Word from the NHR camp is that the Gigante/Jourdain team will be their third entry - expect an announcement next week ?!

1. NEWMAN/HAAS - Sebastien Bourdais
2. NEWMAN/HAAS - Bruno Junqueira
3. NEWMAN/HAAS - Michel Jourdain
4. FORSYTHE - Paul Tracy
5. FORSYTHE - Rodolfo Gonzalez
6. HERDEZ - Mario Dominguez
7. HERDEZ - Ryan Hunter-Reay
8. COYNE - Michael Keohane or Justin Wilson ?
9. COYNE - Ralph Firman or Jaime Melo ?
10. KALKHOVEN - Jimmy Vasser
11. KALKHOVEN - Roberto Gonzalez
12. GENTILOZZI - Alex Tagliani
13. GENTILOZZI - Nelson Philippe
14. WALKER - Justin Wilson or Mario Haberfeld or Jonathan Macri ?
15. BACHELART - Mario Haberfeld or Patrick Carpentier ?
16. FITTIPALDI - Mika Salo or Oriol Servia or Mario Haberfeld ?
17. RUSSO - AJ Allmendinger

Possibles:

18. FORSYTHE - Patrick Carpentier
19. BACHELART - Townsend Bell or Justin Wilson ?
20. FITTIPALDI - Gaston Mazzacane or Ricardo Sperafico ?
21. RUSSO - Michael Valiante or Jonathan Macri ?
22. HEMELGARN - Robby McGehee or Ralph Firman ?

btw, updated picturesque version = http://www.planet.nl/~f1/cart2k4.htm - note: "confirmed" is in black ?!

zerO

[rodrigomarban]

Originally posted by zerO

5. FORSYTHE - Rodolfo Gonzalez

Lavin

[Marcel ten Caat]

Originally posted by Shaggy_SoCal
Nice 2004 line up webpage. How about a graphical update now that we know what the PKVR cars look like?|...| If I have extra time, I'll try and post more updates.

Thanks a lot for a) the comment on the page and b) the PKVR cars Shaggy.
I tried to make them myself aswell, but they look more like a Crayola figure than the real racecar.

The updated picturesque version with your cars can be found at http://www.planet.nl/~f1/cart2k4.htm

Hope you can find some spare time

[zerO]

Originally posted by rodrigomarban
Lavin

That's what happens when Kamikazees kick in

zerO