Cooper Tires Atlantic Championship Powered By Mazda

[Jonerz]

IMSA?

...

It has become apparent to me that the Atlantics were left out of the unification deal. The cars banging around in the IPS should be out and out replaced with Atlantics cars, and these two series should have merged as a part of the deal if you ask me. No apparent big changes are expected in the series, some former Champ Car only events will now be out of the question I suppose. But now they haven't a sanctioning body. I reckon we will see them under the IMSA banner fairly soon and providing a (terrific) sideshow to the ALMS circus. I, being a long time fan of the Atlantics, felt a little shafted and almost offended that the IRL didn't pick up the Atlantics. Heck, Indy Lights and Atlantics survived - even thrived together for a while, who doubts we could have seen with the IPS and Atlantics? Any ideas on where Atlantic will land and what this means for the future of America's best open-wheel feeder series? I think it is a serious oversight on the IRL's part not to pick up the Atlantics. Though both IPS and Atlantics are fairly healthy am I wrong to say the Atlantics are "healthier"? They do bring two title sponsors to the table! Perhaps their non-oval nature was jive in the IRL's eyes.

Chris

[paul-collins]

I wouldn't worry too much Chris - Atlantics will survive in one form or another - the series is on solid managerial and financial footing, and will continue to fill its niche.

IMSA is a very logical choice in the long run, unless the IRL wants to maintain it alongside IPS.

[Tenoch]

I'm sure the Atlantic series will continue to do very well if anything better than when it was teamed with CCWS. Obviously with Rafael Matios (spelling) exiting to the IPS the series was not working as part of a ladder system.

[johntt]

Originally Posted by Tenoch

I'm sure the Atlantic series will continue to do very well if anything better than when it was teamed with CCWS. Obviously with Rafael Matios (spelling) exiting to the IPS the series was not working as part of a ladder system.

As good a championship as Atlantics is its always stuck me as being below IPS, like F3 to IPS's Gp2. Matos exicted to IPS because he couldn't see much of future in Champ Car.

[Jonerz]

I think that the better driving talent existed in Atlantics in the past, up to 2007 even. I think now with IPS being the official "GP2" of American open-wheel racing they will see a strong growth of driving talent and will assume the place, both officially, and talent-wise, as the IRL's GP2. Here's hoping the Atlantics don't suffer too much as a result though, because I am the kind of guy who loves the history of racing series and it kills me when series like Trans-Am have to close their doors. I just wouldn't want the Atlantics to become another Trans-Am.

Chris

[JohnSSC]

For all the criticism Matos took, it seems his decision might turn out to have some really good career consequences. He gets to learn ovals in a lower-pressure environment plus as the teams sort themselves out this season he can perhaps judge which team would be his best bet in '09 at the top level.

[mountainstar]

I don't see Atlantics going anywhere or a need for it to go away. Back in the day it fitted just fine in between barber saab/dodge and indy lights and can continue to fulfill the same role today. Mazda and Cosworth are both committed to it so it should be fine.

[Jonerz]

I don't see it going away - I'm just a little miffed it was discluded in the merger agreement.

Chris

[Go_For_Pole]

So Sierra - Sierra is out, I would think more are to follow.

[gttouring]

yes the Atlantics is a good proven formula,IPS talk about blah and ugly...these were a reaction to make a pre indy style car for open wheelers...as IRL had no access or link to atlantics at the time, never mind IRL wanted a USAC pavement link...which Tony "the biggest Blunder in racing george" has all but ignored and disregarded...i bet any Silvercrown and pavement USAC guy would show up can do some damage in the IPS...

[icemachine]

http://www.champcaratlantic.com/News...le.asp?ID=3305

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company and Mazda Reaffirm Support for Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda

Glad to see Mazda & Cooper continuing their sponsorships, hopefully an updated schedule includes the ALMS date at Mosport

[jbzspace]

There were 19 drivers and 20 cars at Laguna Seca for the Atlantic open test today (2-day event). It's a small but fairly high quality field. Nine or ten could be winners this season. Carl Skerlong was very quick this morning.

Nigel Mansell was there with Greg and Leo. Both did laps in the Skip Barber School cars on Sunday and ran in Derrick Walker's cars today.

There should be a season schedule announced tomorrow, Tuesday.

[Boro]

Dane Cameron, No. 17 Genoa Racing, 1:16.465, 105.366 mph.
Carl Skerlong, No. 28 PCM/USRT, 1:16.492, 105.329 mph.
Junior Strous, No. 6 Condor Motorsports/Team Holland, 1:16.580, 105.208 mph.
Daniel Morad (R), No. 70 Eurointernational, 1:16.958, 104.691 mph.
James Hinchcliffe, No. 3 Forsythe Racing Inc., 1:16.969, 104.676 mph.
Jonathan Summerton (R), No. 36 Newman Wachs Racing, 1:16.983, 104.657 mph.
Kevin Lacroix, No. 25 Walker Racing, 1:17.142, 104.441 mph.
Greg Mansell (R), No. 5 Walker Racing, 1:17.232, 104.319 mph.
Edoardo Piscopo (R), No. 16 Eurointernational, 1:17.244, 104.303 mph.
David Garza, No. 7 Forsythe Racing Inc., 1:17.411, 104.478 mph.
Markus Niemela (R), No. 11 Brooks Associates Racing, 1:17.618, 103.801 mph.
Simona De Silvestro, No. 34 Newman Wachs Racing, 1:17.874, 103.459 mph.
Alan Sciuto, No. 26 Mathiasen Motorsports, 1:18.170, 103.068 mph.
Leo Mansell (R), No. 15 Walker Racing, 1:18.558, 102.559 mph.
Adrien Herberts, No. 45 Paladin Motorsports, 1:18.594, 102.512 mph.
Dominick Muermans (R), Condor Motorsports/Team Holland, 1:18.643, 102.448 mph.
Frankie Muniz, No. 29 PCM/USRT, 1:18.662, 102.423 mph.
Imran Husain, No. 37 Genoa Racing, 1:21.844, 98.441 mph.

[D.R.T.]

Great to hear an announcement is coming.

Would love to see it remain with Indycar and IPS creating quite package.

However ALMS would be a great addition aswell.

[Boro]

1. Dane Cameron (R), No. 17 Genoa Racing, 1:15.447, 106.788 mph.

2. Carl Skerlong, No. 28 PCM/USRT, 1:15.812, 106.273 mph.

3. Daniel Morad (R), No. 70 Eurointernational, 1:15.906, 106.142 mph.

4. Junior Strous, No. 6 Condor Motorsports/Team Holland, 1:16.026, 105.974 mph.

5. James Hinchcliffe, No.3 Forsythe Racing Inc., 1:16.084, 105.893 mph.

6. David Garza, Forsythe Racing Inc., 1:16.309, 105.581 mph.

7. Greg Mansell (R), No. 5 Walker Racing, 1:16.366, 105.502 mph.

8. Kevin Lacroix, No. 25 Walker Racing, 1:16.386, 105.475 mph.

9. Markus Niemela (R), No. 8 Brooks Associates Racing, 1:16.403, 105.451 mph.

10. Edoardo Piscopo (R), No. 16 Eurointernational, 1:16.600, 105.180 mph.

11. Simona De Silvestro, No. 34 Newman Wachs Racing, 1:16.760, 104.961 mph.

12. Alan Sciuto, No. 26 Mathiasen Motorsports, 1:16.887, 104.788 mph.

13. Jonny Reid (R), No. 36X Newman Wachs Racing, 1:16.904, 104.764 mph.

14. Frankie Muniz, No. 29 PCM/USRT, 1:17.006, 104.626 mph.

15. Adrien Herberts, No. 45 Paladin Motorsports, 1:17.101, 104.497 mph.

16. Leo Mansell (R), No. 15 Walker Racing, 1:17.109, 104.486 mph.

17. Felipe Guimaraes, No. 27 Genoa Racing, 1:17.246, 104.301 mph.

18. Douglas Soares, No. 11 Condor Motorsports, 1:17.268, 104.271 mph.

19. Dominick Muermans (R), No. 9 Condor Motorsports/Team Holland, 1:17.611 103.810 mph.

20. Imran Husain, No. 37 Genoa Racing, 1:19.182, 101.750 mph.

laptimes from day 2 of the Laguna test

[gomick]

MSR Houston open test combined times

1. 26 Jonathan Bomarito Mathiasen Motorsports 1:19.007 109.357
2. 28 Carl Skerlong PCM/USRT 1:19.577 108.574
3. 3 James Hinchcliffe Forsythe Racing Inc. 1:19.695 108.413
4. 7 David Garza Forsythe Racing Inc. 1:19.704 108.401
5. 27 Alan Sciuto Genoa Racing 1:19.714 108.387
6. 25 Kevin Lacroix Walker Racing 1:19.767 108.315
7. 6 Junior Strous Condor Motorsports/Team Holland 1:19.838 108.219
8. 17 Dane Cameron Genoa Racing 1:19.871 108.174
9. 5 Greg Mansell Walker Racing 1:20.062 107.916
10. 9 Dominick Muermans Condor Motorsports/Team Holland 1:20.416 107.441
11. 34 Simona De Silvestro Newman Wachs Racing 1:20.480 107.356
12. 11 Douglas Soares Condor Motorsport 1:20.808 106.920
13. 29 Frankie Muniz PCM/USRT 1:20.837 106.882
14. 15 Leo Mansell Walker Racing 1:21.009 106.655
15. 13 Brett Van Blankers Jensen MotorSport 1:21.248 106.341
16. 2 Henri Karjalainen Jensen MotorSport 1:21.723 105.723
17. 88 Andreas Wirth Brooks Associates Racing 1:22.109 105.226
18. 36 Simona De Silvestro Newman Wachs Racing 1:24.589 102.141
19. 8 Markus Niemela Brooks Associates Racing 1:28.527 97.597