Timo Glock in...

[carsten66]

... it's fact... I've just read it on his website where he reportet that he has signed a contract with Rocketsports...

That's great and now we have one more good driver on the grid!

[Dov]

Thanks for the info, carsten. Glock will be a great addition to the CCWS. Let's hope that PG can provide him with a decent car. AR1 is reporting that Wirdheim has signed with HVM and some European businessmen are going to buy the team. Business is starting to pick-up around here!

[Jordi]

Great. I think Glock is a very worthy addition.

[Mosport67]

Good news. I thought Glock was impressive in the Jordan last year. Look forward to seeing him race a ChampCar.

[BootsOntheSide]

Clearly the Sauber testing option he hoped for didn't come about, or he (or DHL) decided ChampCars was a better option. He's a good addition for ChampCars, and should be a good rival for RHR, and certainly the championship's most successful German/Germanic driver ever.

Dov, I'm saddened that you appear to consdier Keith Wiggins selling up to be a good thing. Keith's a great guy who's put a lot into trying to be successful, and he's always done as much as possible with the available money and talent, even in F1 when the team struggled. Even if it means a 2-car team out of the Herdez ashes, it'd be a shame to lose him

[Hazard]

Finally. The Rocketsports ride is a better opportunity than the Sauber testing option (except that's one of the test seats most people would think might turn into a full time ride!).

Based on his times so far, and that he's got an equally new to the team highly rated driver to compete against, this could be Glock's golden opportunity. (Ready to eat words if his race pace is as, shall I say, unfortunate in a Champcar as Guy Smiths).

I know I'll get flamed for the Smith bit, he's a great sportscar driver - but something clearly went wrong there for him and CART.

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

Dov, I'm saddened that you appear to consdier Keith Wiggins selling up to be a good thing. Keith's a great guy who's put a lot into trying to be successful, and he's always done as much as possible with the available money and talent, even in F1 when the team struggled. Even if it means a 2-car team out of the Herdez ashes, it'd be a shame to lose him

I don't think slating Wiggins performance as a manager at all is even fair. Okay, Pacific was a bit of a mess, but those were the tail end of the days were independant F1 teams had no chance of surviving and were just finding that out.

Since taking over Bettenhausen, the Herdez Competition team's increase in form has been nothing short of incredible. I'd probably have slated the team for death within a year at the time. I would have been quite wrong. (I should have said 4 )

[luke]

Originally Posted by Hazard

Finally. The Rocketsports ride is a better opportunity than the Sauber testing option (except that's one of the test seats most people would think might turn into a full time ride!).

Based on his times so far, and that he's got an equally new to the team highly rated driver to compete against, this could be Glock's golden opportunity. (Ready to eat words if his race pace is as, shall I say, unfortunate in a Champcar as Guy Smiths).

I know I'll get flamed for the Smith bit, he's a great sportscar driver - but something clearly went wrong there for him and CART.

Great news on Glock!

Smith is a great sports car driver, but I can't remember him doing bad in Champ Car, I thought he did alright.

[Mosport67]

Originally Posted by luke

Smith is a great sports car driver, but I can't remember him doing bad in Champ Car, I thought he did alright.

I would say he was disappointing. I really had expected more from him after stepping in for NP. There were times where I was thinking the NP might have been right about the equipment he was working with.

[StickShift]

Any word yet if the car is going to be sponsored DHL? Or are they just signing Timo's cheque?

[carsten66]

Originally Posted by StickShift

Any word yet if the car is going to be sponsored DHL? Or are they just signing Timo's cheque?

... it was a first of all note from Timo on his own website, and more, he is writing, we will know within a short time from the speed-academy-webside...

The DHL speed-academy webside is in German only but I will keep you informed...

[Dov]

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

Dov, I'm saddened that you appear to consdier Keith Wiggins selling up to be a good thing. Keith's a great guy who's put a lot into trying to be successful, and he's always done as much as possible with the available money and talent, even in F1 when the team struggled. Even if it means a 2-car team out of the Herdez ashes, it'd be a shame to lose him

Boots, i'm not sure where you get that impression from. All I did was state a fact that some European businessmen might be buying HVM. Then after that I said, "business is starting to pick up around here"..... all I meant was things were starting to get done around here, new and old drivers were signing contracts and some new sponsors are getting on board.

I have alot of respect for Keith Wiggins, just like I had for Mr. Bettenhausen. I'm one of the few people in this forum who is upset that Champ Car is going to lose the Walker Racing name. But that's another team and another story.

[Raven]

I'd rather have Timo Glock than Tagliani too.

[mac]

Originally Posted by StickShift

Any word yet if the car is going to be sponsored DHL? Or are they just signing Timo's cheque?

That would be the first sponsor I have ever heard of that is keen to sign a cheque without getting anything in return.

Where do you find sponsors like that?

[Mantom]

I have removed this post.

Please refrain from such actions in future.

[D.R.T.]

I deal circumstance with HVM, would be that Keith Wiggins stays on in a Team Management role if the team is to be sold. It would be a shame if he was not to be involved.

[trout]

Originally Posted by Raven

I'd rather have Timo Glock than Tagliani too.

Whoa!! There's a shot! We may be in the Commonwealth and Lizzy may be on our currency, but don't pick on a Canadian!! Tag is a good driver and, even more than that, like a true Canuck, he landed a babe!! Ahem... Should I mention Charles, um, babe?

Tag's driving can't be that bad!!

Let's see Timo do that!

Vivre le Canada libre! Vetchez la vache!

[Snrub]

Good about Glock, I look forward to seeing what he can do.

It really is a shame that guys who were with the series through thick and thin are no longer able to float their teams themselves (Walker and Wiggans). It seems like such a horrible change of fortunes for Wiggans. His cars were the only ones properly loaded with sponsors and now he may have to sell his team?

[Mosport67]

I would expect Wiggins to stay in a management role. It would be hard to find someone better.

[Ac.]

Originally Posted by Dov

I'm one of the few people in this forum who is upset that Champ Car is going to lose the Walker Racing name. But that's another team and another story.

You're not the only one Dov. Walker may not have fielded the best effort over the last couple of years, but I respected his effort during tough times.

[BootsOntheSide]

I'm sad at losing the Walker name as well, as Derrick has done so well, and it's a major link to the old days - a Walker car nearly won the last pre-split Indy 500, and he also gave de Ferran a real shot at the title. If two of the most successful and loyal ChampCar teams have to reduce their ownership and sell shares to people who want to choose drivers themselves (due to nationality rather than merit) then it's not the ideal kind of progress, if it is progress at all.

[mac]

You're a "glass is half empty" kind of guy, aren't you Boots?

[Mosport67]

Lets keep this in perspective. For sometime it looked like Walker was going to sit out the season.

He is going to continue his involvement. I'm willing to bet Walker is quite happy about things just now.

[Dov]

Mac, I think your taking this a bit personal. This has nothing to do with Team Australia, but losing Derrick Walkers name.

[racinthestreets]

I think Mr. Walker is fine and happy now that some others are responsible for securing sponsorship;

This is from Champ Car's site:

Said team owner Derrick Walker, “I first approached Craig about the Team Australia Racing concept as a way he could be involved in the sport by bringing in sponsorships and also share in some ownership of the race program element only. This involvement provides sponsorship assets without having to buy into my race team. Walker Racing is still 100% owned by me and continues to look for business opportunities. As the months passed the idea began to gain support from Craig and he introduced another businessman, John Fish, who has major plans to introduce his Australian wines (Aussie Vineyards) to the US market. From there the program quickly took shape and we have an exciting fresh race program that symbolizes the New World order in Champ Car today. “

From CCWS Site